Job Discussion Forums

[BJardIm]

Hello All!

Its all been planned, thought about and finally, paid for. I'm leaving London on the 12th Feb and flying to cancun via newark (how exciting!!) where I'll spend 4 hours browsing duty free shops before embarking on a flight to Cancun. An airport transfer has been arranged by IH to take me to the student residence in Playa del Carmen, where I'm due to commence an intensive 4 week Celta course!

Wonderful!!

Any Brits out there teaching English in Mexico? do schools prefer N.Americans teaching in their classrooms?

I'd Love to teach and live in Mexico City although I'm open to other options too. I'm fluent in Portuguese although diferent to Spanish it does give me a decent understanding of the language as many words and structures are similar. Like English and Scottish!

What I'd really like to know, is if �500 (roughly $1000 USD according to XE.com) enough to get me set up before finding a teaching job? i.e after the course is over and upon successfull completion(fingers crossed), ideally I should have 500 quid left, to re-locate, find a place to stay(deposit and 1 months rent),for an fm3 visa and all the other bits and bobs to get started.

Your Help and advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Guy Courchesne]

Congrats on making the leap across the pond to lovely Mexico!

I think you'll want a bit more than 500 quid. Several factors here..the Mexican Riviera is not cheap, and being there for a month, I think you're likely to spend more than you think, especially during the winter high-season. Next, given the timing, you are not very likely to start a job immediately after completing the CELTA. Easter break this year falls in late March. This means you aren't likely to start a job until April. As well, you often have to wait up to 4 weeks for your first pay, regardless of which region of Mexico you choose for work.

If you can swing it, double, or even triple the amount you have as a safety net, or have a credit card handy.

[thelmadatter]

and here I thought he was all excited over his layover in Newark....

[geaaronson]

The fact that you speak Portuguese would be a great boon here in Mexico City. I have heard through the ESL grapevine that Portuguese teachers can command up to 400 pesos per hour to teach in business environments, more than twice the going rate for English teachers. You might seriously think about coming to DF right after the Playa de Carmen program and put an ad in the Universal daily newspaper, complete with your phone number and do private students until the end of the summer. You can always supplement private students with jobs from recruiters and language schools and then should you decide to work for a university or prepa in the fall, you would have a job with benefits.

[TheLongWayHome]

[MELEE]

I second Guy that I think you may need a little bit more money.

I usually recommend people arrive with 2000 US. Not that they will spend all that, but that will make sure you don't end up pennyless in Mexico.

Your FM3 will cost a little more than 2000 pesos. Places to live may be unfurnished so you may need to buy a bed.

If you travel off the main path, people will just assume your American but they won't descriminate against you for not being. You'll probably have this conversation several times.

"Where are you from?"
"England"
"What state is that in?"

Welcome to Mexico, try to enjoy the course.

[Phil_K]

[geaaronson]

I checked it out in the Guiness Book of Records, and it says there that our language was first started in New England, transferred to Great Britain and then brought back to the new country where it has reached its linguistic apex. How�s that for American jingoism?

[MO39]

[TheLongWayHome]

[TedSeastrom]

I met a Mexican English professor who teaches at an engineering school in D.F. He invited me to sit in on one of his classes--and corrected my American usage at times.

He says the school insists on teaching British English to its science students, as it is perceived as a higher class of English. It wasn't so much the accent (his parents are Mexican nationals, but he was born in the US and moved back at age 10) but turns of phrase and how some auxiliaries are used.

Of course, as an American, I'm hoping there's a place in this market for that lower form of English! I'm also from Indiana. In addition to the warmth Americans naturally inspire around the world (lol), I'm concerned that my diction devolves into a trailer park trash patois when I'm tired. And to add insult to injury, Americans love a British accent. Is there anyplace in the world that likes an American accent? (It doesn't help that Bush sounds like an uneducated hick from Texas--even to most Americans.)

[gypsygirl1475]

Properly spoken British English, in my opinion, is the the best. I think it is more understandible and has a nice educated chime. Wish I could relearn English with a British teacher. All the properly speaking British I have known don't have a strong accent, there words are more formal and pronunciation is more refined.
I am American.

[TheLongWayHome]

[MELEE]

[Phil_K]

I've had the opposite experience to MELEE!

I'm a Brit (for those that are new here!) and I'm now saying "Priddy", "Thirdy", etc. and referring to "Gas" for the car and "Trash can". I think, because I starting talking that way so that people would understand me better (bedder?!)

I never had that "typical" British accent and when I watch Channel 22 (which I call BBC Mexico) I find all those "daaaaaaance" and "Paaaaaaast" slightly embarrasing. My wife, although she likes the British accent, says she hears "t-t-t-t-t" when those actors with cut glass accents are speaking.