Job Discussion Forums

NinaNina · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Oaxaca

Feliz dia de MLK! I posted this message in the Newbie Forum, but they recommended I post here as well:

My family and I are moving to Oaxaca in August, perhaps for the rest of our lives. I'm a bilingual elementary teacher who has taught ESL in the classroom. My boyfriend and I lived in Oaxaca city in 1997, before we had kids, and the prospect of moving back brings up new issues.

Should I get at TESOL certification even though I have my BA in English, a MA in Library Science, and a teaching credential with cross-cultural teaching/second language acquisition certification (called a CLAD)?

I would love to get a job in a bilingual preschool or elementary school in Oaxaca, perhaps a place where my son could attend (he's in bilingual kindergarten now). Are these the kinds of jobs that a TESOL program can attempt to secure for a student? It seems most programs that guarantee jobs emphasize jobs for private language schools or universities.

MamaOaxaca · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 201 Location: Mixteca, Oaxaca

Nina
In one day your post almost got pushed to page two of the board!
Bad timing on your part, I almost missed it and you deserve responses as much as the next guy.
I don't think you NEED to get a TEFL cert, but it wouldn't hurt. What about your partner? what's his background? He might want to get one, to give you more possiblities.
Since you lived in Oaxaca before, I'm sure you realize that it's not the cheapest place in the world to live, It would be hard to support a family on one teacher's salary. There are few schools that are truely "bilingual" English-Spanish, but the private elementary schools do teach English. One K-12 collegio with native English speaking teachers is the Insituto Blaise Pascal, I've had some of their grads at the university. They don't come out bilingual, but have the best English of any of our students, not counting the ones who have actually lived in the US for a number of years.

I'm sure you are aware that parenting in a foriegn culture is a lot different from simply living in one.

NinaNina · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Oaxaca

MamaOaxaca, you are a great resource!

I thought about maybe doing an online cheapie TEFL certificate program since I have the practical experience already. Do you think that's worth it?

My husband is a graphic artist and illustrator who can telecommute for some of his clientele, so he's set up. We also will be renting out our house NOB, so we'll have the income from that. My teaching salary would be the extra bit of money, and it seems that it would only be a bit! I'm intrigued by a progressive-ish elementary school called Teizcalli. I know you're not in the city of Oaxaca, but do you know of the school?

I appreciate your point about parenting in a foreign culture. I'd love to hear more of your ideas on that topic, when you have the time.

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

MamaOaxaca · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 201 Location: Mixteca, Oaxaca

Nina,
I with LS, I doubt an online certificate will teach you much at this point. A TEFL course like the CELTA or others, might give you some ideas into teaching adults. But since you are interested in working with kids... But you might find it easier to find classes teaching adults or young adults.

Another possiblity would be to set up private kids group lessons. I taught kids when I was in Japan and went through a young learners training course there. Several years ago, a group of Mexican professors from the university where I work asked me to teach their kids. They got together a group of 8 similar aged kids and even provided the class room I chareged them each 50 pesos an hour, which was the going rate for other kids lessons (dance, music, art, etc.) only in the other lessons, materials are extra and I provided materials--which I got off the internet. 8 X 50 = 400 pesos an hour. Much more than you probably find a job to pay you.
Something to think about. When you look for your place in Oaxaca City, scout out for a place with a room near the entrance (or with it's own entrance) near the bathroom(!), that you could turn into a classroom. The longer you are in Oaxaca and the more contacts you make, the easier it will be to have students coming out of your ears.
If you worked at a school where you wanted to enroll your son, you could also offer the parent "additional" English above and beyound what the school day alows for. Those parents will also have nieces, nephews, godchildren, who go to other schools but want to learn English from this great teacher who works at their child's school. No need for advertising, word of mouth is the best way to go in Southern Mexico. A private school might allow you to work in exchange for tuition for your son. Then what you make on the side would be your extra money.

I haven't hear of the school you mentioned. I do now some pretty cool alternative elementary schools here in Mexico, unfortunately none are in my town Sad

nor do they teach English.

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

NinaNina might want to see if she can track down a CELTYL (Young Learners) type course. She probably wouldn't learn much new but it might give her the extra paper she's looking for.

NinaNina · Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Oaxaca

Fascinating suggestions from all--thank you. You are opening up doors for me.

If anyone has a CELTYL class they enjoyed, I'd love to hear about it.

I agree, MamaOaxaca, that, once you're in a system, students spring up from everywhere. So perhaps one solution is to stop obsessing from NOB and pursue these opportunities SOB, once I'm there.