Job Discussion Forums

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I am currently living in Merida and am finding it slim pickings. I am currently teaching ESL at three different schools and still don`t have enough to make what would consider a living. (ie. my best week was 1430 pesos). and may have to bail out and cut my losses come December. If I should do so I would like to come to DF to teach ESL. I know there are substantially less positions at that time of the year but my question is are there enough to take the plunge and transit to the big banana.
I have a BA in English, MFA in photography, NO formal ESL training or certficate, and 7 years of university teaching (of Photography) plus about 6 years of teaching children as a substitute teacher in organizational setups. I am also over 40.
Advice anyone?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Doing the same thing in DF...patching together classes...will yield a bit more, but with travel to companies. 20 hours a week at 100-150 per hour is a good target. From what I've read over the last while, I think this is your best and most realistic bet.

There are not only substantially less positions in December but substantially no positions in December. You won't start anything until the 2nd week of January.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

With your quals I'd be trying to get a job in an international or bilingual school.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

I think the catch phrase here is "organizational setups." Substitute teaching children in an organizational setup could mean substitute teaching art or basketball or dance in a community center's after-school program for kids.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Thanx Guy-
No, I know they are not going to start me in December. But if I come in December I have a month to line up work for January 2. Which raises the question as to whether if I did come, out of unforseen necessity, the first week in January would I still be able to gain employment along the lines you suggest.
I can see this happening only if my TEFL program ran so close to the end of the year that I would have to jump to town after 1/1/07

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Ideally, you should have the work lined up before people break for Xmas, in order to start no earlier than Jan. 8th or so. At that, you'd be building a schedule, on the type of classes I described, so, it wouldn't be until late January to get a comfortable schedule.

MELEE · Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:49 pm Post subject:

"La Cuesta de Enero"

For most North Americans, starting a job Jan 2nd seems very logical. But for most Mexicans it doesn't. No one has any money for new English classes in January. They've spent all their savings and possibly even taken out loans for the Guadalupe-Reyes spend-a-thon from Dec. 12 to Jan. 6th. I've never lived much less worked in el DF so Guy knows way better than me, but I'd say you'd be more realistic counting on a Feb. start date.

I'd also recommend a good TEFL cert. Heck if you had one, I'd offer you a job! Wink

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

It's like a slow wave that builds in January as people start coming back to classes, for language schools. When the companies pay for the classes, and not the students directly, things are back up a little more quickly.

Melee is totally right on January poverty...I'm always broke right after the Xmas spending bonanza.

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

We changes semesters in February, so usually we advertise in December for a two or three instructors. The OP would be well-qualified for our school if only he/she had a TEFL certificate of some type.

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

Not much work gets done in December after about the first week and a half (if that). This is one of the months for procrastination at work in Mexico, so I would rule it out in general as a month for job hunting, unless you did have some solid leads previously. Everyone is thinking of and planning for the upcoming festive season, relatives coming for Christmas, etc.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Okay, So I am looking at Daves TEFL, TESOL, etc. list of schools and I am thinking, I don`t want to hole up in Costa Rica for the month of November to take an $800 course. Actually I would but it means about another $1,500-2,000 loss in savings and I am looking at these online course that are substantially less expensive and I don`t have to disappoint any present employers by suddenly leaving in the middle of a semester. Is a 20 hour TEFL course for $295 from International a decent program. Will it disadvantage me in gaining employmetn if I don`t take a 140 hour intensive TEFL program at some glorious out of the way resort where I am torn between snorkeling and studying for next mornings ESL test.

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

It would be best to take the course in person, in Mexico, otherwise be very sure you will be able to get an apostille for your shiny new credential. (for INAM purposes).