Job Discussion Forums

[gregd75]

hello.

If you are interested in coming to GDL, I can help you with accomodation here in Tlaquepaque- its a 20 minute bus ride from TLA to downtown GDL.

I can recommend homestay families where your room and food are included in the price or there are some small self catering apartments that are competetively priced too.

Of course being in lovely Tlaquepaque is an added bonus!

If you'd like mopre details, private message me!

Greg

[choi413]

I did the TEFL course at ITTO in GDL. There were positives and negatives. As said before, it is INTENSE.. a lot more than i thought. you're there from 9-2.. and then you do a practice teaching at the language center across the street at 3,4,5,6, or 7pm. You spend at least an hour at 2 or 3pm to start your lesson preparation. before each class you have to fill out a lesson plan sheet and get it checked by your trainer.

I didn't know they'd throw you in right away to start teaching. And they should have told us to bring dress clothes. The students are mostly university students and above, and they're really cool and easier to teach than kids. the teacher trainers, 2 or 3 of them, are really cool. i had rodolfo, and he's hilarious. there is homework and papers to write and that took away some free time that i could have spent going on a daytrip or a night out.

once you finish the course, you will have taught 140 or something hours and you get used to it and you'll probably gain confidence in the classroom and will be ready to teach anywhere. a somewhat disappointing thing was that i thought they would set up more activities and excursions like it seemed on their website. but we didn't end up having much time, and the students/trainees, we were the ones that had to take initiative to set up gatherings for a night out or going to a soccer match. other than that, the staff were very kind and helpful and it was overall a good experience despite the improvements that i think are needed.

[gdlmx1229]

Hi!

Thank you for the information!

When did you take the course?

Where did you live during the course?

What kinds of job offers did you receive after the course? Were you satisfied with your job placement?

Thank you for your help!

[choi413]

[gdlmx1229]

Was it easy for you to find a job that you wanted? Did you have a job before the course ended? Did it seem like other students in the course were happy with their job placements?

Thank you again for your help! I really appreciate it!

[choi413]

[gdlmx1229]

Thank you for your advice!

Did you only want a job in Korea or did you also consider offers in Mexico?

Considering the job you have and the positions that other graduates of the course found, do you think that the ITTO course was worthwhile?

Do you recommend that I check out the schools before signing anything because some of the offers aren't legitimate?

Thank you again!

[choi413]

[gdlmx1229]

Thank you so much for all of the information! I really appreciate it!

What did you like about Guadalajara? Was there anything you really didn't like about it?

Like you, I decided to enroll in a TEFL course because I think it will create more job opportunities and that it will allow me to be more selective in choosing a position. I hope it works out that way! However, I have heard of many people who have found teaching positions without any certification or with very minimal training but I don't want to take that risk.

At this point, I definitely want to live in Mexico. My entire purpose for pursuing teaching English is to be able to have a somewhat guaranteed, legal and paid position in Mexico. I hope to eventually have a job in Mexico that primarily involves Spanish. Although I haven't visited before, I think that I would like to teach in Guadalajara. Where in Mexico did you consider teaching positions?

Thank you again!

[choi413]

[gdlmx1229]

That is very reassuring that you felt that Guadalajara was safe! Did you ever have any encounter with crime at all there?

I'm sorry to hear that the food was so horrible! Did you ever get sick from the food or water? Did you only eat at restaurants or did you shop at markets and grocery stores also? I'm trying to figure out how to save as much money as possible and it seems like it may be cheaper to buy food from markets and grocery stores rather than eating out.

Thank you for all of your advice!

[choi413]

[deeb]

If you are worried about getting bored of Mexican food, you might want to read the posts on ethnic food in Guadalajara. Personally, I don't get bored of Mexican food because I don't eat out that often - I find it expensive on my budget.

Also, I would have to disagree with choi413 on the comment about things closing early. I'm not sure exactly what was referred to by "everything" but dinner time only just starts at 8pm, so any restaurant serving dinner would be getting ready for the rush at 8pm. I've been to several art exhibit openings at the MAZ or the Ex-Convento del Carmen and they start at 8pm - people arrive at 9pm. Then they go out to sit-down dinner AFTER, and on a weeknight. If you are into bicycles, there are plenty of late night bici-events. Of course, there are bars and taco stands, but also there are cafes and dance lessons in the plazas and plenty of other options.

After moving here from the San Francisco area, I find there are more things to do here after 10pm than in the bay area.

One thing that does end early is the bus. But, taxi's are not that expensive and run all night. Just be prepared if you head out on the bus to come home in a cab.

[Meanjean]

Hello,

I'm planning on taking a TEFL course in Guadalajara very soon. I read some of the great communiques below and grateful for the info. ITTO sounds just fine, but wondering abut TEFL Institute Mexico. It costs almost $600 more, web pages aren't as welcoming and doesn't include materials and other services provided by ITTO. Just wondering about these differences. Has anyone attended the TEFL Institute? Does anyone have info. on why it's so much more?

Muchas gracias!

[jhhnow]

I've known several people who have taken the TEFL course through ITTO, and they were all happy with the course and the job assistance.