Job Discussion Forums

[Laurel7]

Hi all, I have just started looking at the possibilities of teaching in Mexico. Is it too far fetched to think of teaching somewhere near the coast? Can any of you look out your hacienda and see the sea? Thought if I am going for the dream, not to be shy. Or am I just out there in never never land? Thanks so much for responding.

[MELEE]

I have a fantastic view, but no sea in it. There are at least four people who on the forum I know are on the coast in three different states. And if cwc were to come back, that would be 5 in 4 different states.

[PlayadelSoul]

My school is 5 blocks from one of the most beautiful beaches you are ever likely to see. I see it on my way in, every morning. Thats about all I see of it, however. Thankfully, Christmas vacation is just around the corner.

[danielita]

I live about 1km from the sea, although the view isn't so nice. However I am fortunate enough to have a car and can drive less than 20 min to beaches that are very sparsely populated even on weekends with some of the best shrimp I have ever tasted!

[cshel]

I live across the street from the Sea of Cortez...it's fabulous. They're always looking for folks to teach English to kids at the private schools here.

[ChitownBadger]

I don't think it's far fetched at all. In fact, it's my understanding that everywhere, especially in Mexico, there's two places where the demand for English teachers is huge- large/growing cities and touristy places. Places like Acapulco, Cancun, Los Cabos, PV, Playa del Carmen, Maztlan, Ixtapa, have a high demand for English-speaking employees, which would lead me to believe they also ahve a high demand for English teachers. And they're all on the sea.

[Guy Courchesne]

I lived in Acapulco for 2 years...right by the sea. I loved it at first, always looking at it. Then, I just took it for granted. Now living in DF, it would be nice to look out over it again.

Have to differ with you CB, at least on Acapulco. There is little demand there for English instruction. I thought there would have been and pitched a program idea to the state secretary for tourism there, but she informed me that Acapulco tourism was comprised of 82% domestic and 18% international (of which only a part speak English) and that 18% is dropping like a stone.

I was quite surprised in Cancun to find few language schools, when I'd assumed there would be many (and no, I wasn't looking for them on the beach). I was told by an English-speaking Chilango that one doesn't go to Cancun if one doesn't already speak English. The hotels and major employers do not provide English classes and can afford not to for the large amount of people wanting to work there, so I was told.

Not sure about the others, but I wouldn't be surprised if PV, Playa, Ixtapa fit the same pattern.

[Laurel7]

Thanks all, honestly I'm still blown away that I can communicate with you people actually living there. I've never checked my mail this much. You probably wonder if I'm just finding out about email.... no really I am just glad there are some options in life. Thanks a bunch.

[PlayadelSoul]

[delacosta]

I'm about 50 yards from the ocean. I have a veiw of the open pacific and also of Zipolite beach. I still don't take it for granted and appreciate its beauty most days. Especially sunsets. At night I fall asleap to the sound of the waves crashing into the shore.

There's 3 universities (Universidad del Mar) within a 100 km radius of each other, all in towns on the coast of Oaxaca: Huatulco, Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido.

I'm in the smallest of the three, Puerto Angel, and from what I've seen the other two are much more expensive to live in. I haven't met any profs from there who have a sea view. For example most of the profs and students in Huatulco live in Infonavit (social housing) style apartment blocks.

[Samantha]

I concur with Guy re his comments on Acapulco. Same goes for Mazatlan and quite likely Ixtapa-Zihua as well. There is almost zero opportunity to get a good job if you drop into town and begin searching. For some reason the HR departments are very skeptical of foreigners being reliable, and after being burned by the working vacation types, would rather go with the sure thing...those who are established here and can hack the summer climate. (That is NOT easy). The majority of English teachers hired are Mexican nationals. There are a handful of established foreigners who have been here for ages and they are on waiting lists for any good vacancy that may surface.

The low wages vs the higher cost of living you find in some tourist areas makes it really tough for a teacher to make it. Private classes, in my opinion, are the only way to go if you want to have a winter at the beach and if you have materials and experience. Mazatlan is one of those in the lowest pay bracket on the National minimum wage scale so many local workers simply can't afford English classes even if it was a priority for them.

[Guy Courchesne]

It's always tricky when job seeking in resort areas...the biggest factor, IMO, is time of year. Winter has a lot of people looking to Mexican beaches for working vacations, but the capacity to absorb so many TEFL job seekers isn't that flexible. I've always believed that excess in supply is what keeps pay rates so darn low.

You know who would be able to offer the best insight on this? There are two course providers on beaches in Mexico...one in PV and IH/CELTA in Playa. If anyone from either of those places is reading, maybe you could provide a rough estimate of the numbers of people going through the respective courses that are being placed, or that find work in the same city.

[PlayadelSoul]

I have actually gone to IH in Playa looking for potential employees. They have yet to send one over (5 blocks) even though we are the biggest ESL school in the Riviera Maya. Go figure.

[Guy Courchesne]

Well now that's odd, and telling IMO. That IH course draws 15-20 people per month, and probably more in winter months. I don't know if they have a job placement scheme, but if they aren't sending anyone or you aren't even getting resumes/CVs dropped off as the biggest ESL school in the region (?) at only 5 blocks away, that tells me that few, if any of their course graduates are staying in the area for work. Why?

Do most go home? Head inland? I think Merida would be the first place to receive people on the move, and I've already heard the city is saturated and a hard place to find stable employment.

[Ben Round de Bloc]