Job Discussion Forums

grace71 · Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 10 Location: canada

Hello everyone! I hope you're all well. I'm in the process of considering a job offering at UNTSTMO in Oaxaca state. I was wondering if anyone can give me some feedback on the school and state? I'm from Canada and have been an ESL/EFL teacher for about ten years now. I have a Bachelor's degree in English literature and a TESL certificate. I've taught in Canada, Italy and Japan. I also taught about eight years in Mexico in the state of San Luis Potosi for four months. I'm looking foward to hearing all your comments, since they'll be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!!

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

What do those initials stand for?

MELEE · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject:

I think you mean
UNISTMO don't you?

Universidad del Istmo, they have two campuses, one in Tehuantepec and the other in Ixtepec.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

It should read UNISTMO. The Universidad del Istmo, which is the skinny little isthmus part of Oaxaca. Having worked in the Oaxacan university system and knowing a bit better now about what kind of place I want to live in, if I came back to Mexico, that university would be the first place I applied to - deliciously hot and humid and conveniently located to main roads and freeways for easy access to great beaches and major cities! Cool

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

jinx Melee! Laughing

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

I googled Tehuantepec and learned something new. Interesting article.

http://www.oaxacatimes.com/html/tehuantepec.html

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I have met teachers from both campuses, and work at a "sister campus".

Of the two towns, Tehuantepec is by far the larger. Ixtepec is quite small in comparison. In both locations you will be "in the real Mexico", so if you are looking for an "authentic Mexican experience", you'll find it. However, both locations are hours from large cities, the beach, etc.

As for the universities themselves, they are reasonably reliable but heavy with bureaucracy. You'll never have to worry about a missed paycheque, but you may well find the paperpushing an annoyance.

danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

Sorry--long weekend in Canada, just crawled back from the cottage and felt obligated to chime in on this one!!
Grace,
Finding information on Tehuantepec can be a REAL challenge--trust me, I have done the internet research and then resorted to the Moon Oaxaca book.
The town is about 52000 people and is situated on a river
It's pretty hot and humid compared to Canada(depending on where you live in Canada --I'm from the banana belt so our summers get pretty sticky here)
You are about 15km from the Pacific, 150km from the Gulf of Mexico.
Oaxaca city is about 3.5 hours by car
There are two larger-ish cities within about 20 minutes (Salina Cruz and Juchitan)
The area is known for mangos, avocados, almonds, coconuts and oranges.
Mango Festival is the first week of April and you can buy your fill of mangos for a few pesos.
There are archeological zones, hot springs and lagoons nearby so if you like outdoorsy stuff, there should be interesting things to do.

I hope this helps!

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

I'm sure Tehuantepec is beautiful. But don't base your decision on the thought that the "larger-ish" city of Juchitan is nearby. I love Juchitan -- hometown of painter Francisco Toledo and the site of some of photographer Graciela Iturbide�s best work. But it is darned small.

MELEE · Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject:

Any city is the state of Oaxaca would be considered a small city by global standards. Even Oaxaca City, which is worth adding takes a lot longer than 3.5 hours to get to if you don't have your own car! I think the bus is takes like 6 hours, but I haven't been down that way in a long time so I could be wrong...

This is not a state for die hard urbanites!

Grace, to read about the university system UNISTMO is a part of see the following old threads

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=38924&highlight=oaxaca+university

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=38508&highlight=oaxaca+university

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=29876&highlight=oaxaca+university

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=29876&highlight=oaxaca+university

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=28240&highlight=oaxaca+university

danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

stllnpt3 · Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 4 Location: M�xico

grace,
the above info should give you some good background to start. if you would still like to hear more about the particular area, tehua and the istmo in general, as well as the uni, feel free to pm me.