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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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 Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:46 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry TLWH, I was trying to make a constructive and hopefully useful point for any readers of the post.
I didn't mean for you to take the post personally and feel the need to defend your decision to take the job.
You are absolutely right- any institution could well end up with a last minute vacancy to fill. I'm just saying to readers to be wary of the situation... not to avoid it completely. |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
| You are absolutely right- any institution could well end up with a last minute vacancy to fill. I'm just saying to readers to be wary of the situation... not to avoid it completely. |
It's leave everything to the last minute culture though. I don't know of many places that hire teachers more than 2 weeks in advance, especially in the run-up to xmas.
I would advise getting hold of teachers that have worked in a place rather than ones that currently work there when researching a position. You'll get a more balanced viewpoint.
There's only so much research you can do though. I've left places for things I couldn't possibly have found out through research. |
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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:16 pm Post subject: |
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| My institution hires teachers more than two weeks before courses start, as do a number of other language schools, bilingual schools and language centres here in the Guadalajara metropolitan area. Plenty of educational establishments do 'succession planning' as its known. |
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Spector
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
Posts: 66
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| Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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| I seem to remember somewhere TLWH saying that before leaving a language school, he had to find a replacement for his vacated position! Is that true, or have I misread it? |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| Spector wrote: |
| I seem to remember somewhere TLWH saying that before leaving a language school, he had to find a replacement for his vacated position! Is that true, or have I misread it? |
Yes, in two language schools they were very insistent that I find a native speaker willing to work for peanuts to replace me. I mean, I don't mind being casually asked if I know anyone who might like the job but being practically ordered to find someone is really the last straw.
Reminds of another type of language school owner to be wary of: the one that insists on doing you relentless favours only to later hold them against you/call them in 'de mala gana'. |
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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| Reminds of another type of language school owner to be wary of: the one that insists on doing you relentless favours only to later hold them against you/call them in 'de mala gana'. |
Very good point TLWH.
But this could just as easily be the boss in any organisation; language school, private university, public university, high school, bilingual school, a restaurant, a bus company, an airline, an accountants office etc. |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 5:45 pm Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Reminds of another type of language school owner to be wary of: the one that insists on doing you relentless favours only to later hold them against you/call them in 'de mala gana'. |
Very good point TLWH.
But this could just as easily be the boss in any organisation; language school, private university, public university, high school, bilingual school, a restaurant, a bus company, an airline, an accountants office etc. |
That's as may be but at least in the places you mention you're more likely to be dealing with human resources, implying some kind of universal procedure for all staff, rather than directly with the language school owner.
What I'm saying here is that I'd rather have human resources take care of my contract, documents and pay etc. than a language school owner. |
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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| What I'm saying here is that I'd rather have human resources take care of my contract, documents and pay etc. than a language school owner. |
Simple solution here then.... don't accept any more jobs in language schools. We all know you're at a University now and that you worked at 5 different language schools before this.
Here's to hoping that everything works out in your sixth position. |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:49 am Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
Simple solution here then.... don't accept any more jobs in language schools. We all know you're at a University now and that you worked at 5 different language schools before this.
Here's to hoping that everything works out in your sixth position. |
You make it sound like I change jobs every 5 minutes! I've been here 5 years remember and held my main job for more than 3 years. If I don't like a place, I'll look for something better.
It's been a long time since I last worked in a language school, for obvious reasons. Perhaps they're better where you are. In SLP, most of them are horrid places to work or as they say here, 'una negreada'. |
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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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| Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 3:09 am Post subject: |
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Guilty conscience on your part I'm afraid TLWH. I don't make anything sound 'one way or the other'
I was just stating facts from previous posts. |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:29 pm Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
Guilty conscience on your part I'm afraid TLWH. I don't make anything sound 'one way or the other'
I was just stating facts from previous posts. |
Guilty conscience?! For wanting a better job instead of working for peanuts in a language school? Please.
Reminds me of another kind of language school owner to be wary of: the one that will ward you off working anywhere else (getting a better job) even though he has never set foot in these places and probably wouldn't get hired there anyway. |
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gregd75
Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 360
Location: Tlaquepaque, Jalisco
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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No, not a guilty consience for wanting a better job and better conditions.
Maybe a guilty consience because it took six attempts to find a position that you finally liked. Six jobs in 5 years and ultimately taking a University job on very short notice. I seem to remember you talked about business classes being cancelled just before Christmas. I thought that happened in 2009, but then you say you haven't worked in a language school for some years. Confusing. nevermind.
Good point about warning people of language school owners who don't help you to develop and encourage you onto bigger and better things. Same could be said, once again about any program co-ordinator, mind you.
Anyone hiring would start to wonder about a person who doesn't hold down a job. Changing position more frequently that once a year, but in the same city. Hiring people - be wary! |
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AdrianG4
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 160
Location: Harbin, China
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| Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Language institutes are definitely the bottom of the barrel as far as teaching english gigs. Here in Guanajuato, between three LIs, Ive seen the pay range from 30 pesos in hour to 65 pesos an hour. Hours seem hard to come by too ..
The living situation for a room here is about 1500 pesos a month .. so while it is possible to make it, you may need two LIs to make it .. or get at least 20 hours ..
Colegios (private schools,) seem to pay about 80+ pesos an hour. Ive seen a private prepa pay about 100 pesos an hour .. which isnt too bad and you get guranteed hours within a contract. |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| gregd75 wrote: |
| Maybe a guilty consience because it took six attempts to find a position that you finally liked. Six jobs in 5 years and ultimately taking a University job on very short notice. I seem to remember you talked about business classes being cancelled just before Christmas. I thought that happened in 2009, but then you say you haven't worked in a language school for some years. Confusing. nevermind. |
For your information the least amount of time I spent in a language school job is just less than a year, in one nearly 2 years. I even did the various owners the favour of giving them plenty of notice even though they didn't give me such things as contracts, real paystubs etc. Again, why on earth would you stay in a place you don't like? I've been at one university for more than 3 years, and yes I've just started at another one but what's wrong with that?
| gregd75 wrote: |
| Anyone hiring would start to wonder about a person who doesn't hold down a job. Changing position more frequently that once a year, but in the same city. Hiring people - be wary! |
We're not talking about holding down a job. I have never been fired. I left these places because I wanted something better and I got it. Unfortunately, arrogant language school owners such as yourself can never see it this way. |
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TheLongWayHome
Joined: 07 Jun 2006
Posts: 1016
Location: San Luis Piojosi
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| Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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| AdrianG4 wrote: |
| Language institutes are definitely the bottom of the barrel as far as teaching english gigs. Here in Guanajuato, between three LIs, Ive seen the pay range from 30 pesos in hour to 65 pesos an hour. Hours seem hard to come by too .. |
Exactly. Maybe Greg can tell us why the wages are so low.
I see another language school has gone under here in SLP. You see, the people here actually need to learn English and are cottoning on to the fact that being taught by barely qualified party teachers isn't cutting it anymore. Schools that 5 years ago had 20+ 'native speakers' on staff now have 2 or 3. Perhaps because the wages are the same as they were 5 years ago, I'm not sure, but things are changing here. Even Berlitz have stopped using all native speakers. |
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