Job Discussion Forums

[Phil_K]

[Tretyakovskii]

Hey, Phil, I said just what I meant, and can think of no better way to say it, myself.

If you can write a better, single sentence, incorporating all of the qualifiers to the statement that I intended, and included- using whatever punctuation you think is necessary to make it work- I'm happy to be instructed.

(You get no credit for taking several sentences to manage to get said all that I said in one.)

By the way, on your point that if you work hard and are resourceful, you can enjoy a good life in TEFL, I'm totally in agreement.

[Phil_K]

Didn't mean to criticize, just having a bit of fun!

[Tretyakovskii]

Thanks for cutting me some slack, Phil!

I would like to add, just so as not to discourage any "up and coming TEFLers" that if I didn't think I could make it in Mexico, I wouldn't be here; and there's jobs advertised right here on Dave's, from time to time, that I think could provide a fairly comfortable living. I made crap in the first few years I was teaching, and I didn't die, or suffer any great hardships. In fact, I had a blast. I came abroad, and haven't looked back. It's hard work, but it can be a great life! Beats the hell out of sitting behind a desk.

[chenn0]

Tretyakovskii, could you tell me a little bit of your experience ? ie How and when did you start? How old were you? What qualifications did you have? What was the hardest part? Do you now and did you start off working legally or illegally? Any Do's or Don'ts (dont's?)?

anything would help out Tretyakovskii

and these questions go out to any one who would like to answer as well

[NinaNina]

My favorite topic...

We're a family of four living in Oaxaca City. Our monthly expenses run $2500 and include private school tuition for two kids, health insurance for all (traveler insurance for husband and kids, US insurance for me due to a preexisting condition), utilities, internet, once-a-week cleaning, clothes, school uniforms, doctor visits, groceries, entertainment, extracurricular classes, health club, property taxes, car maintenance, visas, the whole enchilada, with the glaring exception of travel to get back north to visit family once a year, which is just terribly expensive for four people, no matter how you slice it.

We're vegetarian/vegan, nondrinkers for the most part, but we do love to eat out, as long as it's cheap. In general, I find that services are far cheaper in Mexico, and products comparable or more expensive (I lived in Oakland, CA and Portland, OR before).

[Prof.Gringo]

[chenn0]

Wow Nina, that seems like it is working fairly well for you and your family. Congrats

Where do y'all teach at?

[Tretyakovskii]

ChennO, my c/v's in the mail!

You're asking for more detail than I care to give but, I've worked for a number of years, I have a graduate degree, my first teaching job was in a university (the worst paying of any work I've done as a teacher, but that depends on the country, to a large extent); most of the time I've taught privately, and I've always had permission of the government to teach.

If you lack teaching experience, a CELTA or TEFL, will help you get started: there's a awful lot to learn in order to be a reasonably competent teacher of English. You won't learn it all in a month long course, but it's a start. Even better, if you know the country you'd like to work in, do the course there. You will have some help getting set up that way, and have some time to learn the environment in which you'll be living/working.
____________________

Now, back to the topic, eh?

[Ruffle the cat]

I live in Queretaro which is the middle of Mexico 3 hours by bus north of the DF for those of you outside the country. I have lived in San Luis Potosi and San Juan del Rio. Q is an hour bus ride from San Miguel de Allende and San Miguel has an english library my life line here in Mexico.

Here in Q the cost of living is high compared to other places but not as high as the resort towns people have mentioned.

I pay 4000 pesos a month for an unfurnished 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom house newish. The landlady is my exstudent and friend so the rent is really good for Q. I have been the souce of all her tenents in the past all gringos and friends of mine so the rent remains affordable.

I have found that in non tourist spots there aren't any furnished places or if there are I have never found them.

My phone, internet and all Mexican long distance is about 600 pesos a month. It is a deal from the phone company and as all my friends are a long distance phone call from here it is good for me, but ofcourse you don't have to spend that I think the land line and internet can be had for around 350 a month.

I eat well and go out when I feel like it not to expensive places, down the street to a seafood spot that has a hugh shrimp cocktail for 55 pesos and a beer for 20 the cocktail is enough for my lunch or a light supper. The new Indian place in centro is more expensive but I can eat for about 75 pesos there.

Cat food for Ruffle the cat is very expensive but she is a world traveler and used to paying lots to eat her special diet. She is Azeri and a bit fussy.

I use the local buses and taxis, no car, the buses are 6.50 pesos a ride taxis vary from my house 35 or 45 depending on where I am going 45 to Home depot, Sam's and Costco. There places are more expensive than the marcado but they also have stuff I want so I shop there. Fruit and Veg are cheap Meat expensive, my local Mega is really expensive but it is four short blocks from my house so ofcourse I go there rather than the Marcado which is a bus ride away.

I am semi retired, and can't afford to live in my own country Canada as well as I live in Queretaro. If I wanted to live somewhere else (small puebla) it would be a lot cheaper, I do live in a Mexican suburb not the expensive gringo places in the north of the city.

[geaaronson]

Your living expenses living here in Mexico will be within a wide range depending on lifestyle needs with an absolute bottom minimum salary that will satisfy basic necessities, just as you would anywhere in the world.


I don`t know if this fulfills your requirement for brevity and lucidity, or even mine.
Considering that my own writing can be convoluted, it`s a joy to cut through the verbiage from time to time.

[chenn0]

I'm sorry, Tret. I didn't mean to ask too much from you.
Thank you for the reply and I'm sorry to have gone off of topic y'all.
I know nothing about the living expenses in Mexico other than what I read. However, it's a really cheap vacation for me

[norwalkesl]

[Tretyakovskii]

Quoting me: