Job Discussion Forums

[norianai]

Hi everyone.

I`m a new poster to these boards, although I`ve been reading them fairly consistently for the last 8 months.

I just got my TESL certificate last year, and now I`ve come to down to Puebla to try to find a job. I`ve got a list of potential schools that I found in the phonebook, but I was wondering if anyone out there had any advice or comments on anything about Puebla. I`ve looked through all the past threads on this board, but all the information on Puebla seems to be fairly old.

I unfortunately don`t have a university degree to go along with my TESL certificate, and I`m not expecting much. I`ve seen lots of comments on here about how people without degrees don`t have much of a chance at a job, except for the bottom of the barrel jobs. But that is actually what I expected to find anyways. You gotta start somewhere, right?

Any information anyone could help me out with would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[jillford64]

Actually, bottom of the barrel would be if you didn't have a TESL certificate. With a good resume, good attitude, and a TESL certificate you should be able to land a job with a private language school. The general consensus seems to be that the TESL certificate is all you need at most immigration offices to prove that you are qualified to teach English and get an FM3 work visa. If you have any teaching experience at all that will help. You may not start out making a lot of money, but you'll be able to live OK if you can do without a lot of frills. Don't sell your self short just because you don't have a degree. Good luck and keep us posted.

[norianai]

Thanks, that actually makes me feel a lot better!
I actually do have some ESL tutoring experience, working with Mexicans, so I was planning on really playing that up to help me out.
I`m hoping to head out on Monday and pound the pavement a bit. I`m desperately trying to find someplace to live first. But I`m having issues with people getting back to me. Oh well. The only thing that bothers me is that I`m staying in a hotel in the meantime, and it`s starting to get expensive. Hopefully everything will have worked itself out by this weekend.

[sweeney66]

If I were you, I would definitely mention that you have experience teaching adults in the US, but not specificly mention that you taught immigrants from Mexico. There is a weird kind of snobbery that I don't completely understand among middle class, educated Mexicans toward those who immigrate.
As far as looking for a place, it's best if possible to talk in person.
A BA is not required to teach English in Mexico, legally, anyway, so don't worry too much about that.
Very best of luck to you!