Job Discussion Forums

[raulyn]

I have decided that I can and will do this. What I need now are a couple of tips from those of experience.

So far, I have 4 years of experience as an English instructor at an English institute in NYC. This organization has offices in NYC, NJ, Miami, and Vancouver; so it's not an unrecognizable hole-in-the-wall, so to speak. I teach foreign students and immigrants (mostly Latino). I have experience teaching absolute beginners to TOEFL prep. Recently I won the 'teacher of the quarter'; due to student evaluation scores.

I took a 100 hour TEFL certification course from ITTT on-line. I have a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma and am a fluent speaker of English with a completely neutral American accent. ---VERY hard to come by while being from OK/TX. I am not as fluent in Spanish as I am in English, but I do quite well.

I have been vacationing in Mexico for many years and finally want to make the plunge to work and live there. I am setting my sights on early 2009 to make the move from NYC to DF. A friend is going to let me use his apartment until I find something decent and get my own. So while I am in NYC, I thought I could use the advantage of having a close proximity to federal and international offices. ---This is where I need the advice.

What do I need as far as certificates, diplomas, and other paperwork? I have read about getting things 'apostilled'. Do I just pop into the embassy and say, �I�d like to go on vacation to Mexico and need these things notarized." What needs to be apostilled exactly: Birth certificate, Diploma, TEFL Certificate? My passport expires in 2011. I can get a renewal in D.F.

Lastly, my friend works at UNAM and is telling me to get certified in CELE with them. How important is that? Would I get a better job with one of those? Can I do that from here or do I need to be there? Anyone have any knowledge of this certification?

I am SO looking forward to this. NYC has been fantastic, but my dream has been to live and work in D.F. I'd appreciate any help or words of wisdom you'd like to bestow. So, for now, I'll wait for a response and save every penny for my move. Guess that means no D.F. for Las Posadas and the New Year.

[sweeney66]

You do need the CELE to work for UNAM, if that's what you're hoping for, but your quals could get you a very good job elsewhere. I work with some CELE profs in another school, and the system is rather rigid, not that well paid, but has the prestiege. Also not very good quality in general. Best thing to do is show up and apply in person. Decide if you're willing to work with kids or corporate, or not. Best of luck,pm if you like.

[raulyn]

Oh.. so it's a prestige thing, and not a necessity? Thanks! That's great news. I have heard it takes a year to get one. I just want to cover as many bases as I can, while I am here. I don't want to arrive in D.F. and have regrets that I could have spent my time more wisely while I was in NYC. I know I have 9 months or so, but this is a big jump.

Okay... one off the checklist.

If I need a CELE, and it sounds as if I don't, then I can get it in D.F.. I would rather work with adults or more mature students, since that is where my experience lays. --But if there is more money in teaching children, I suppose I could branch out and do that.
_____________________________________________________

Things to be apostilled? What to tell them at the embassy?
.... Anyone?

-thanks in advance for your responses.

[sarliz]

[MO39]

I got my apostilles done by mail, for my birth certificate and two university diplomas. I was a little nervous about sending these precious documents off in the mail, but they were all returned in a reasonable amount to time with apostilles duly affixed. Two documents were issued in Pennsylvania and the other was from Wisconsin.

[MO39]

Oops, almost forgot - check out the Important Apostille Information sticky on this board for more details.

[Not-th@-m@]

[MO39]

[Not-th@-m@]

[raulyn]

Yes, This would be very helpful to know. I live in NYC and to spend: a round-trip airfare, hotel, and transportation to Norman Oklahoma, just to get my diploma stamped by admissions? That's just insane!

[throwdownyourcrutches]

raulyn. I think you are in for a big shock. It does not sound like you have researched the "apostille" process in much detail. I am a long way from my university too and am trying to get this all done by phone and mail and it is no simple task and it has taken some time. Don't put this off until the last minute. Good luck to you!

[raulyn]

I just contacted the university. They sent me a form to get a copy of my diploma. But when I asked them about getting it apostilled, they wrote : " I do not understand your second question. You will get a new diploma to replace the old one."

So, they think I just want a replacement. When I informed them that in order to use the diploma abroad, it must be apostilled by the issuing state university. They wrote back again and said, " Thank you for the explanation. If you mean to have the seal of the university on the back of the diploma to authenticated, we can do that. Please specify that in the form.

You see... I am not the only one that hasn't done much research into this.

This doesn't sound like what I need.. "The university seal on the back of the diploma to be authenticated" ???

[throwdownyourcrutches]

I am getting a copy too and that is why I am having the delay. My Uni only prints them 4 times a year. Once I get the copy this is what has to happen to it (for me) in the state my Uni is in. Uni takes copy to a Notary on campus and gets notary seal. They send diploma to me. Once I receive it I put it back in the mail with the proper paperwork and send it back across the country to an office in the state government that is responsible for the apostille process (verifying the Notary seal). The last step being the quickest if the state is to be believed. I went to a Uni that has 30,000 students per year and it is like the first time they have ever heard of this. There is another Uni, much smaller in the same system, that has the detailed steps on their website and handles everything for their students (the forwarding on to the state). Things may be different in your state but you are smart to get this process started as far in advance as possible.

[raulyn]

Just getting a copy of the diploma will take between 90 and 120 days, according to the form I have to fill out. But, I did find this on the internet.

How do I obtain an apostille for Oklahoma documentation?
Send a self addresses envelope, $25 money order (per document) and a cover letter requesting the apostille and stating
- Name
- Phone
- Country (where the documents will be sent)

to

Office of Secretary of State
2300 N Lincoln Blvd Suite 101
Oklahoma city, OK 73105

So, I suppose I have to get a copy of the diploma and then send all my documents to this office.

So, now that I have this information, I pose this question again. What documents should I have apostilled? Diploma, Birth Certificate, and ???? - I'm not married.

[MO39]