Job Discussion Forums

[Linda T.]

Are bi-lingual schools the same thing as prepas? The reason I ask is that I may have the opportunity to teach 5th-6th graders at a bi-lingual school. I'd MUCH rather hold out for something in a language school or university (as both my preference and strength lies with teaching adults and/or teens), but . . . I suppose an open mind is something I might want to try-on for size before leaving the states. If bi-lingual schools are NOT prepas (not planning to stretch my expanding mind quite far enough to include prepas), I'd be most interested in hearing about your experiences with them. This job would involve being an English teacher with 2 sets of students throughout the week.

[guatetaliana]

I did this - bilingual school (4th grade). I also had two classes every day (one in the a.m, one p.m). It's not the same as prepa because prepas are teenagers (High School). But these kids are future prepa students. Unless this school is extraordinary, be prepared for lots of obnoxious behavior, hassles from parents, and little support from the administration. The parents are paying to have their kids in an exclusive school and things can be kind of crazy. If your preference is teens/adults, I would hold out for that. I don't think teaching primary here is something you should commit to unless you're really prepared for it. Maybe someone else has a different opinion....

[Samantha]

guatetaliana, I would have to agree with you there. I've done my time in 4th - 6th grades in such a school (which also had Prepa). My class sizes were impossibly huge. I was treated respectfully by the English co-ordinator, but the work load was incredible and the students were exhausting (read: bratty beyond belief). One day a heavy tennis shoe (aimed at a student across the room) crashed through the classroom window causing a bit of a stir. The little bugs are fast and it's amazing what they can pull off while your back is turned for 20 seconds. Parents paid for the window, no discipline administered by the powers that be.

Linda T., private bilingual schools (which generally include prepa) differ from private language schools. In language schools you may not get paid as much, but your students will most likely be more enjoyable and you will have more variety in age groups and backgrounds. It's a good place to begin.

[Linda T.]

Thanks Guatetaliana and Samantha. My instincts were in line with your advice, but it's always comforting to have one's instincts confirmed by those who have already been there.

[sarliz]

Can we maybe put a sticky post somewhere to clarify the school system for everybody? I think the term "prepa" sounds a lot like our idea of prep school, or a generally snotty private school, which it isn't always, and thus the confusion.

Primaria = Elementary School. Secondaria = Middle School. Prepatoria (or Prepa) = High School. Sorry if my spelling is off. There are public and private versions of all of these, where the obnoxiousness of the kids may vary according to wealth and upbringing. From what we've heard here, some private prepas have some nighmareish students.

Private language schools are a-whole-nother beast, where you may teach kids, teens, or adults, depending on the clientelle of the particular school. Classes there will typically be before or after work/school hours. Snottiness and motivation levels are a crap shoot.

Hope this can help somebody in the future!

[notamiss]

[MikeySaid]

bi-lingual schools you say? 6th grade too? Sam and guateitaliana have alredy warned you... so I don't have to.

Just to clarify something...

Colegio means the school is private.

In the US we know if it has a religious affiliation or has a word like "prep" it's almost always private.

However, in Mexico, preparatoria refers to a school where you do your bachillerato. If it is tecnica or abierta (technical or open), in all likelihood it is either public or does not offer much or any instruction in English.

So, generally it's the colegios that you'll be looking to teach at if you want to teach elementary, jr high, or high school.

[GueroPaz]

Speaking of false cognates, col�gio in Mexico is not college in the USA, where it it nearly interchangeable with university, right? And baccalaureate in English (a bachelor's degree) is not a bachillerato, right?

[MO39]

Right and right!

[sarliz]

Yeah, I'd avoid telling people you went to college at such and such, even in English here, because they'll just think that you're telling them that you went to a private grade school or something. I always end up saying "university", even though I feel vagulely British doing so.

[hlamb]

[notamiss]

As hlamb says, we Canadians say "university" too. We do have some university colleges, but if we say "college" without further qualification, the first thing we think of is community college.

[MELEE]

[TheLongWayHome]

[Betty Rubble]

So is there anything nice about teaching at a bilingual elementary school? I was really excited about the offer I just got, specifically because it isn't at a language school, but at a bilingual elementary school that has a well established curriculum to use and I would be teaching other subjects besides English. Of course, I am an elementary school teacher here in the States, so I am used to large class sizes and a demanding work load. But after reading this post and some others, I got nervous about what I'm getting myself into. What are some red flags I should watch for?? I am negotiating contract terms at the moment, and they are wanting my decision soon, so any advice would be helpful... thanks