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Samantha
Joined: 25 Oct 2003
Posts: 2038
Location: Mexican Riviera
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 Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:26 am Post subject: |
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| I may have missed something but is there any reason you want to stop over in Chihuahua? If you are heading to points south, a through bus might be a better option. |
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Oreen Scott
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 179
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
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| Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 2:46 am Post subject: |
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Hello Samantha:
Answering your question. I'm stopping in Chihuahua to explore the area, including Pancho Villa's Mansion. Just a 2 day stop over, I think.
I don't think you've missed anything. I think I haven't been clear. |
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dixie
Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 644
Location: D.F
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:10 am Post subject: |
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Have you found any possibilities in Zacatecas all ready? I have heard conflicting things about there being/not being jobs there.
I was there for a five day field trip with my kiddies, and...not sure I could live there full time. Very beautiful though. I also never stayed long enough to get on the "inside".
The ladies will be making a return appearance soon. I have a great one of them, mist, and volcano. Just need the tech savvy one to do it for me!  |
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Oreen Scott
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 179
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico
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| Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:02 am Post subject: |
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Hi Dixie:
I haven't looked for work yet - except for an application to Universidad de la Ca�ada, which is situated in the state of Oaxaca in Teot�tlan, a town of about 10,000. I don't need to look for work immediately.
I'm just thinking that by the time I'm in Zacatecas I need to rest a while, and I've heard lots of good things about Zacatecas. I may not stay in Zacatecas for any longer than a month.
On the other hand if a six month contract comes along that seems pretty good I may accept a job before I see the school or place. I don't know. I'm living in/with ambiguity. |
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El Gallo
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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I really would be hesitant to include this:
"A one page synopsis of my educational philosophy"
All the Mexican school owners I have met aren't interested in a foreigners educational philosophy and some even resent lt. |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| El Gallo wrote: |
I really would be hesitant to include this:
"A one page synopsis of my educational philosophy"
All the Mexican school owners I have met aren't interested in a foreigners educational philosophy and some even resent lt. |
That's probably because the educational philosophy of most Mexican school owners is to make as much money as possible while paying their teachers as little as possible!  |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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| MO39 wrote: |
| El Gallo wrote: |
I really would be hesitant to include this:
"A one page synopsis of my educational philosophy"
All the Mexican school owners I have met aren't interested in a foreigners educational philosophy and some even resent lt. |
That's probably because the educational philosophy of most Mexican school owners is to make as much money as possible while paying their teachers as little as possible! |
I thought the same thing when I read that.
Mexican management seems to be from the top-down. There is not much delegation of authority or duties. Schools are no exception. One time the director of the prepa/secundaria I was at asked me my opinion of the school and it's classes. I didn't realize this was a rhetorical question and that the correct answer was "Everything is great and you are an excellent director". I naively gave my opinion, including what I thought was right/wrong and what could be improved. I spoke for about 10 minutes in Spanish. After that I left for the day. The next day I was called in for a meeting with the English director, prepa/secundaria director and English coordinator. Needless to say, there was nothing about "educational philosophy" in that talk. Only that I did not have the "perspective" to offer an opinion and that they (the head honchos) had done a lot of "real and good work" in that school and with the students. Sure, that's why we had teachers that left in tears and one even had a nervous breakdown.
Loyalty is the most important attribute in the Mexican workplace. In a culture where backstabbing is a way of life to get ahead, people are hired and promoted not based on ability, but on loyalty. That is why hiring family is often seen as being safer than hiring a stranger. Family has more incentive to stick together and you could really cut each others throats. An outsider might just tell your boss about your little profiteering scheme, your corruption, your sleeping with the employees for favors or whatever. They don't blow the whistle because it's right. Rather it is done in the hopes of being promoted, hopefully to the position that was just vacated by the fired manager. |
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El Gallo
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 318
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| Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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Amen, Prof. Gringo.
At the "prestigious" private school I worked at in Tuxtla. "La Directora" had her secretaries spy and report on the teachers. She even had students reporting alleged teacher mistakes and violations. When offered ideas on how to retain foreign teachers, I was told to keep my opinions to myself. |
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jfurgers
Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 442
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| The next day I was called in for a meeting with the English director, prepa/secundaria director and English coordinator. Needless to say, there was nothing about "educational philosophy" in that talk. Only that I did not have the "perspective" to offer an opinion and that they (the head honchos) had done a lot of "real and good work" in that school and with the students. Sure, that's why we had teachers that left in tears and one even had a nervous breakdown. |
I don't get it. If you live in D.F. why would you put up with that kind of stupid attitude???? There are PLENTY of places to work here. If one place is full of arrogant morons like what you're talking about, start looking for another job.
If ANYONE talked to me that way...let's just say they would only do it once. I'd be looking for another job...FAST. I'm still in training at the institute I'm at and since my training isn't complete yet, if I do something wrong or not sure how they want me to do something, there's no way I would take the blame for it.
And any teacher who stays at a place until they have a breakdown is just plain idiotic. This is Mexico City folks. There are PLENTY od places to work. |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:11 pm Post subject: |
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| jfurgers wrote: |
| I don't get it. If you live in D.F. why would you put up with that kind of stupid attitude???? There are PLENTY of places to work here. If one place is full of arrogant morons like what you're talking about, start looking for another job. |
Yes, I quite agree, though there is plenty of BS to wade through before you find a good job. After a few years in SLP I now work for a few places I deem to be of the 'least corrupt' variety.
There's a lot of 'when in Rome here' though. The least corrupt boss I've had was actually Mexican. I'm talking about 'corrupt' in the sense that I personally don't get ripped off. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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| jfurgers wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| The next day I was called in for a meeting with the English director, prepa/secundaria director and English coordinator. Needless to say, there was nothing about "educational philosophy" in that talk. Only that I did not have the "perspective" to offer an opinion and that they (the head honchos) had done a lot of "real and good work" in that school and with the students. Sure, that's why we had teachers that left in tears and one even had a nervous breakdown. |
I don't get it. If you live in D.F. why would you put up with that kind of stupid attitude???? There are PLENTY of places to work here. If one place is full of arrogant morons like what you're talking about, start looking for another job.
If ANYONE talked to me that way...let's just say they would only do it once. I'd be looking for another job...FAST. I'm still in training at the institute I'm at and since my training isn't complete yet, if I do something wrong or not sure how they want me to do something, there's no way I would take the blame for it.
And any teacher who stays at a place until they have a breakdown is just plain idiotic. This is Mexico City folks. There are PLENTY od places to work. |
$18,000 pesos per month equals putting up with a lot of crap.
BTW what school are you training for? |
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Milenka
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
Posts: 113
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| jfurgers wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| The next day I was called in for a meeting with the English director, prepa/secundaria director and English coordinator. Needless to say, there was nothing about "educational philosophy" in that talk. Only that I did not have the "perspective" to offer an opinion and that they (the head honchos) had done a lot of "real and good work" in that school and with the students. Sure, that's why we had teachers that left in tears and one even had a nervous breakdown. |
If ANYONE talked to me that way...let's just say they would only do it once. I'd be looking for another job...FAST. |
$18,000 pesos per month equals putting up with a lot of crap.
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Really? Not in my book. |
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jfurgers
Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 442
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 10:31 am Post subject: |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
BTW what school are you training for? |
Harmon Hall. It's too much though. You have to stick with their methodology and if you don't they will let you know. Plus I have learned that working 50 hours a week is TOO MUCH.
I'm already looking for something else. I haven't signed a contract yet nor will I probably because my visa that I'll get next week allows me to work anywhere so i don't want to be tied down to one school.
Here's what they told me yesterday.
Don't sit down during class. (I have to because my back will start hurting if I stand too long)
You HAVE TO KNOW the names of all of your students. That's the deal breaker for me because I'm terrible with names.
I also hate how they always come in your room unannaounced to observe you. I'm not used to nor will I work for a place that constantly monitors one to make sure they're following the method that the "experts" say is the best and ONLY way to learn.
Here's the craziest part. The teachers edition tells one what to say and do. We have to write that down on a class planner. i haven't had timeto do any of that and I won't. Mainly because I won't spend my Sunday (personal time) working on a lesson plan that I'm not getting paid for. Plus the training is a month long and I haven'tfinished it and they have already thrown me into 50 hrs a week of classes.
Insane, yes? |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| jfurgers wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
BTW what school are you training for? |
Harmon Hall. It's too much though. You have to stick with their methodology and if you don't they will let you know. Plus I have learned that working 50 hours a week is TOO MUCH.
I'm already looking for something else. I haven't signed a contract yet nor will I probably because my visa that I'll get next week allows me to work anywhere so i don't want to be tied down to one school.
Here's what they told me yesterday.
Don't sit down during class. (I have to because my back will start hurting if I stand too long)
You HAVE TO KNOW the names of all of your students. That's the deal breaker for me because I'm terrible with names.
I also hate how they always come in your room unannaounced to observe you. I'm not used to nor will I work for a place that constantly monitors one to make sure they're following the method that the "experts" say is the best and ONLY way to learn.
Here's the craziest part. The teachers edition tells one what to say and do. We have to write that down on a class planner. i haven't had timeto do any of that and I won't. Mainly because I won't spend my Sunday (personal time) working on a lesson plan that I'm not getting paid for. Plus the training is a month long and I haven'tfinished it and they have already thrown me into 50 hrs a week of classes.
Insane, yes? |
Yes, if you don't want to be a robot steer well clear of chain schools. They are all exacly the same... or worse, and pay the teachers the tiniest fraction possible of what the school makes whilst raking in up to $2500 or more a month per student. |
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MO39
Joined: 28 Jan 2004
Posts: 1970
Location: El ombligo de la Rep�blica Mexicana
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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| jfurgers wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
BTW what school are you training for? |
Harmon Hall. It's too much though. You have to stick with their methodology and if you don't they will let you know. Plus I have learned that working 50 hours a week is TOO MUCH.
I'm already looking for something else. I haven't signed a contract yet nor will I probably because my visa that I'll get next week allows me to work anywhere so i don't want to be tied down to one school.
Here's what they told me yesterday.
Don't sit down during class. (I have to because my back will start hurting if I stand too long)
You HAVE TO KNOW the names of all of your students. That's the deal breaker for me because I'm terrible with names.
I also hate how they always come in your room unannaounced to observe you. I'm not used to nor will I work for a place that constantly monitors one to make sure they're following the method that the "experts" say is the best and ONLY way to learn.
Here's the craziest part. The teachers edition tells one what to say and do. We have to write that down on a class planner. i haven't had timeto do any of that and I won't. Mainly because I won't spend my Sunday (personal time) working on a lesson plan that I'm not getting paid for. Plus the training is a month long and I haven'tfinished it and they have already thrown me into 50 hrs a week of classes.
Insane, yes? |
Definitely insane, especially the part about teaching 50 hours a week. There's no way anyone could teach that much and do even a minimally-competent job, not to mention the strain it would put on your vocal cords. I've always heard that HH (and similar language mills) are horrible places to work, and now I know why!
Have you looked into International House? That might be a better choice. |
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