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GueroPaz
Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 7:17 am Post subject: Does Mexico Require Cultural Training for Foreign Teachers? |
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Yonder in Thailand, the new cultural imposers are forcing all foreign teachers of all subjects (secondary and below) to take courses in Thai culture,. It is said that Mexico has a similar requirement. True? Would I have to dance the jarabe, wear indigenous costumes, learn pre-Colombian history, cook enchiladas, and roll my /rr/ correctly, to get licensed in Mexico? |
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thelmadatter
Joined: 31 Mar 2003 Posts: 1212 Location: in el Distrito Federal x fin!
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject: cultural |
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Never heard of such a thing. Though it might be fun! |
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El Gallo

Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 318
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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Based on some of the stupid cultural mistakes foreign teachers (including me) have made in the classroom, this wouldn't be a bad idea. |
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MELEE

Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Posts: 2583 Location: The Mexican Hinterland
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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Not only have I never heard of it, I've never heard of any foriegn teachers in the public school sector at secondary and below. To teach grade 9 and below in public schools in Mexico one must be a graduate of the "Escuela Normal" and be a member of the teacher's union. Not something foriegners are exactly beating down the door to do! |
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TheLongWayHome

Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject: enforcing dumb rules |
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GueroPaz wrote: |
Would I have to dance the jarabe, wear indigenous costumes, learn pre-Colombian history, cook enchiladas, and roll my /rr/ correctly, to get licensed in Mexico? |
Mexico is way too disorganised for anything like that to ever be imposed though it might make the adjustment easier for some.
Inconsistency is another problem here. Today, for example, I took my son to the supermarket and gave him a yogurt to drink whilst we were walking around. He's done this a thousand times only today I get told that, 'no se puede consumir adentro de la tienda'. I even got followed to the check-out to make sure I paid for the yogurt. They also give away free samples of bread and such - yet you can't eat in the store? |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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I took my son to the supermarket and gave him a yogurt to drink whilst we were walking around. |
Shame on you. I hope you don't let him sit in the trolley with the food instead of the seat or you are not the upstanding British gentleman I thought you were!  |
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TheLongWayHome

Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Posts: 1016 Location: San Luis Piojosi
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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Phil_K wrote: |
Shame on you. I hope you don't let him sit in the trolley with the food instead of the seat or you are not the upstanding British gentleman I thought you were!  |
Guilty as charged... though there are worse offenders! I've seen trolleys with 2 kids in the food part and another 2 underneath - the food going in the seat of course. I only put him in the seat in Superama - it's like being in Waitrose. |
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GueroPaz
Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:41 am Post subject: |
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Well, the initial rumor about a cultural test or course in Mexico was overstated. Somebody heard from an old buddy that the buddy's mother had to take a cooking test or course to work in a school somewhere in Mexico. Not that every new EFL or science teacher has to take a long course in Mexican culture to teach in Mexico.
Most of us who think the requirement in Thailand is unnecessary (asinine, absurd, xenophobic, etc.) also think that no sane country would impose such requirements on foreign teachers. Especially on such teachers as those in Thailand who have been there five or ten years, learned the language, married and had kids, etc. |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Maybe those countries need a cultural test to learn how to accommodate foreigners!  |
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GueroPaz
Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 2:58 pm Post subject: |
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Phil, do not get me started, please! Y'all may think that Mexicans can be xenophobic, but they have nothing on the Thais. We make English language culture tests for fun.
1. What was Eleanor Roosevelt's maiden name?
2. Who is the Prince of Wales, and why?
3. Describe the differences in french fries, mash, creamed potatoes, and potato pancakes.
What are some good questions for Mexicans  |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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What are some good questions for Mexicans |
I think you've started a whole new thread here!
1) Name 3 Canadian provinces
2) Explain the difference between England and Great Britain
3) What is the name of the Queen? (not Isabel!) |
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EverReady
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Nobody Cares
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:23 pm Post subject: |
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I'm here to impose my culture upon my students, not the other way around. |
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Phil_K
Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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EverReady wrote: |
I'm here to impose my culture upon my students, not the other way around. |
Where are you from? If the USA, God help them!!  |
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EverReady
Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Nobody Cares
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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Hell yeah! I'm from the US of Awesome, and I think it's important for all of my students during the first week of clases to learn the concept of "manifest destiny"! |
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MO39

Joined: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 1970 Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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EverReady wrote: |
Hell yeah! I'm from the US of Awesome, and I think it's important for all of my students during the first week of clases to learn the concept of "manifest destiny"! |
Only if you want to fight the Mexican-American War all over again in your classroom, and Mexico might win this time! |
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