Job Discussion Forums

[buterbean]

I have finally landed a job at Tech de Monterey - Colima campus. Ill be starting in August and am wondering if anyone has any work experience in Colima and possibly offer me any tips or advice for the area.

[Samantha]

Congrats Jason! I've always wanted to visit Colima city. I don't think there are many foreigners there. What will you be teaching?

[buterbean]

Ill be teaching at Tech de Monterey. I dont know the details other than a loose description of the classes. one is advanced english and the other is writing and presentations class. Im not sure whether it will be high school level(probably since i dont have a MA) or university.

[M@tt]

i've never been to colima but i was also offered a position at the tec there a few years back. i ended up at the campus in cordoba, and i can just give you some relevant advice (esp if you end up in the prepa). be strong! DO NOT under any circumstances start out as a buddy to them. it will backfire and you will spend the rest of your time there trying to maintain control. your students will most likely be very friendly brats. you will like them, and you will want them to like you, but start out strict until you get a reputation as a hard-ass, and then loosen up very selectively.

that's my two cents after a very difficult but basically rewarding year at the tec. the students were really nice people, but they will just naturally take advantage of any perceived weakness.

have fun!

[Endie]

Hi

I presently work for TEC and M@tt is pretty much on spot with what he's saying. You don't have to be a hardass, but be firm with your decisions and keep a sense of humour and you'll do very well there.

Generally the students are great although some will definitely try to push and test how far they can go with behavior. You'll have your spoiled little kids and the studious scholarship types and sometimes the in-between. Overall it's been a pleasure to teach there and I'm pretty happy with my time there.

I'm certain you'll be teaching at a prepaTEC, which is at high school level, yes.

I havent' been to colima so unfortunately I can't give you much insight there.

However, for the prepaTEC system. Please, please, please maintain a professional image at all times. I don't think it's exclusive for TEC but in general for all foreign teachers, that sometimes students think foreign teachers are just transitory and therefore we're all here for a good time. And drunken nights of debauchery and revelry are the norm for us. The schools here are very image-based and behavior and rumours that may spoil that image of professionalism may work against you.

I know how most of us are used to the "what happens outside of work is my own personal life and mutually exclusive of my work life", but for them it is not necessary mutually exclusive!

[Samantha]

Excellent piece of advice on maintaining professionalism for all foreign teachers coming to Mexico.

[M@tt]

another reason you will want to do this is that many students already consider english their "joke" class. at least that is what they repeatedly told me when i asked them why they never did homework, screwed around, etc. i only taught at the profesional, so maybe it's a little different in the prepa. anyway, they saw the technical classes as important and serious, and the english class was kind of like fun time.

of course, you will also have some becados who are just serious about everything and love you and want to show you their best effort, which can be nice or a bit uncomfortable. however, i'm guessing that the colima campus will be very similar to the veracruz campus--laid back with just a few students who are intense about evertything they do. if you teach in DF or monterrey is a whole different population.