Job Discussion Forums

Chantella · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Hello everyone.

I just thought I'd post and introduce myself. My name is Chantalle and I'm from Canada. I finally bought a ticket to Mexico and will be in Puerto Vallarta April 2nd. I'm pretty sure I'll end up teaching in Guadalajara or Mexico City. I only have a TESL certificate.

For the most part, I'm really excited.. but then all of a sudden today it hit me. I'm going to a new country alone and I don't know anybody. I guess I'm nervous and it doesn't help when people constantly remind me that a "young girl" shouldn't travel alone. Just wanted some insight to your feelings before leaving your home. Were any of you terrified before you went? Did you go with friends? Did you make friends online before you went? Any advise on easing into a new country would help, too. Anyways, thank you to anyone who responds. Smile

I'm generally a very friendly person and even though I can be quiet or shy at times I get along with almost everyone. I like meeting new people.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Do you have a Bachelors degree? Are you planning on getting a work permit so you can work legally?

Dragonlady · Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:04 am Post subject:

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Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Sorry about the first response...not sure what that was all about. You can definitely work legally in Mexico with only a TESL certificate. Dragonlady nailed it...bring your common sense, use your instincts and don't trust the types of people you wouldn't trust at home. If you always remember that, you will be fine.

Get your TESL certificate apostilled in Canada, if you haven't already done so. You will have a bit of a vacation when you first arrive, since school will be out for 2 weeks for Semana Santa (2 week school holiday surrounding Easter). Bring enough money to tide you through this time period. Puerto Vallarta, being a beach resort, has costs which are "touristy", and maybe out of budget for new teachers unless you get the inside track early on.

Check the schools there before you move on, as you never know if they will be down a teacher after the holiday. You will have no problem meeting others, so don't worry. Good luck and stay in touch!

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Mrs L · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 72 Location: Rainy England

I lived and worked in Mexico quite happily for 2 years w'out a batchelors degree but with a few HE credits, a TEFL certificate, and some experience in Asia to help me find work. It was fine, so don't judge.

Incidently I've now got that batchelors but am working on my MA Applied Linguistics (which is taking over my life at the moment, aargh) and that piece of paper I got last year hasn't opened up any new jobs to me that weren't available before I had a degree.

Anyway, back on topic, I arrived in Mexico, alone with no Spanish, and everyone kept telling me I was crazy before I left. I was also absolutely terrified before I flew, and probably for the first few days/ weeks as well but I can't remember it in that much detail now. I never got rid of that nervous excitement before a new trip no matter how much I travelled, in fact I think it got worse as I got older because I fully understood what I was letting myself in for. Your feelings are normal, Chantella, don't worry.

Follow the advice of dragonlady and samantha, post again if you need more specific advice on jobs or anything once you arrive, and have fun.

Chantella · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Thanks for responding everyone!

DragonLady: I don't have any jobs lined up, but I just chose those two cities since they are large and I'm more likely to find a job considering I have no teaching experience. I've applied online at a couple in Guadalajara, but so far no response. I may just show up in person as well as apply to the ones that are on my list of schools. I have a few thousand saved up so I think I should be fine. I'd say I'm pretty good humoured and I know how to laugh at myself. Razz

Samantha: You know, I read on these forums about getting your TESL cert apostilled in Canada and I brought this up with my TESL teacher and he said that he's never been asked that question before. I took my course with Oxford Seminars and he said that Oxford is well known and that I wouldn't need to so I'm not sure. I had no idea about Semana Santa.. haha so that is an interesting surprise.

Jetgirly: well that's discouraging.

Mrs L: Thank you. I often get jitters for no reason at all. I try not to sweat the small stuff.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Chantella wrote:

Dragonlady · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:22 am Post subject:

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Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Thank you DL, yes, it's called "legalization" or "authentication" in Canada. I will search for the unbroken link and add it to this post. The process does take a bit more time now than it used to but it's worth getting done. It's a matter of working legally in Mexico or not.

http://www.international.gc.ca/about-a_propos/authentication-authentification_documents.aspx

Chantella · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Wow, I feel really stupid now. I've seen a billion times how important it is to get the documents legalized, but was told that that is more for online TEFL certs or if it's from a really small local school. I can't blame my professor though because a) he's never taught in Mexico and b) I should have did more research.

It takes about 5 weeks (from the time they receive my documents) to process and I'll be in Mexico in about 3 weeks so should I send my certificate to be legalized and then get my sister to mail me my documents to Mexico? It sounds like an easy enough process. The only problems is I don't have a permanent address. Can you get mail from a hostel/hotel? It looks like I'm going to be without work for a little while.

Ugh.. now I'm stressed! haha

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Chantella, you've got another problem, I fear. Oxford Seminars courses don't include one vital bit of basic newbie training: practice teaching on actual students with feedback from experienced teacher trainers. I know Oxford's advertising is great, but you may well find that many employers will consider your certification substandard. Adding to that your apparent lack of a degree doesn't make your job application stand out very well.

I suggest that you will need to really emphasize your reliability, responsibity, and enthusiasm for the job...in your situation, I'd go for more formal dress and be prepared to have to teach a demo lesson or two to establish that you can actually do the job.

Dragonlady · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

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spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Canadian officials don't recognize Oxford certs (I can say this with some degree of certainty as the Canadian uni where I was working was visited 2 years ago by the 'certification police' with a list of accepted certs - no joke, it really happens).

You can't reach at any reputable private language school in Canada with an Oxford cert, either - the minimum is 100+ hours on site with the actual supervised teaching practice, meaning CELTA or generic equivalent. At least, this was true 2 years ago when I was there. Maybe I should clarify that my own quals are solid - thank god I wasn't led astray by adverts 12 years ago when I was in Chantella's position!!

This means that Chantella can get anybody to put a notary stamp on her Oxford cert - it will definitely not take 5 weeks.

Yes, she'll be kind of at the bottom of the barrel in terms of the job market, but Dragonlady's right - it's a reasonable chance to try things out and find if you like the job or not - if you do, obviously you'll need better qualifications later on!!

Chantella · Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 7

Spiral78: Thanks a lot for your help. If I start at a chain school then at least I'm getting the experience I need because you are right.. we had no teaching practice. We did have to do a lesson with the class, but that was it. I think I was in front of the classroom for 30 minutes. I hope I will find my Oxford somewhat useful because.. well, right now I feel like I wasted $1000.

Dragonlady: I'll call a notary on Monday and just wish for the best when I go.