Job Discussion Forums

Gosta · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 71 Location: Tamworth, UK

Hi,

I've been asked to go for an interview with a school called La Casa en el Arbol, in San Cris, and wondered if anyone had any experience, present or past, with this school.

Also, can anyone recommend any other places to work for in San Cris?

Many thanks,

Dino

Isla Guapa · Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 2:32 am Post subject:

Hi Dino,

I doubt you'll get many responses to your post since San Crist�bal is not a city where most TEFLers would go to look for work. It's an amazing, wonderful place to visit but is in a very poor area of the country, so I would imagine that there aren't many jobs that would be attractive to a native-speaker teacher. Does this school want you to travel all the way to Chiapas for the interview, or are you already there?

jaimem-g · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 85 Location: The Desert, CA

Isla Guapa's cautions are quite in order. San Cristobal is one of the most beautiful and culturally interesting places in the world, but unless you have some compeling reason for working there, I'd try a little further away.

I liked the school's website and it seems vaguely familiar, but as a school for Americans and Europeans to learn Spanish. It could be they are trying to expand their English program because eco-tourism is making a comeback after the San Cristobal region being considered a danger zone because of the indigenous uprising a few years ago.

Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital, is located not far from San Cris, and is much larger and sort of a prosperous oasis in Chiapas. It's not noted for tourism, but is really interesting and cosmopolitan for that region. It's also a jumping off point for San Cris and the mountain villages and the famous archeological sites in the more junglely parts of Chiapas. A good friend of mine is looking for a job either there or in Oaxaca right now, but unfortunately our direct contacts from there now live near where I am, here in the US!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Comitan is just a little down the road from San Cristobal...a bit better spot for work and a better climate than Tuxtla IMO, unless you are looking for hot and humid.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Also Tuxtla schools have a bad reputation for poor employee relations. I know of at least 3 schools in the area that gringoes should stay away from, considering the rumor mill.
There is a school in Comitan that has a much better reputation for work and several gringoes have gone there. I don�t recall its name, but Guy should have it at the tip of his tongue.

Gosta · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 71 Location: Tamworth, UK

Hi, many thanks for all your replies. I'm already living in Chiapas, in Chiapa de Corzo, which is why I'm looking for work in this area. I don't really like Tuxtla, it's kind of charmless and very hot, San Cris is much nicer. I hadn't thought of Comitan, but will look into it.

The school is offering between $5000 and $6000 a month, does this seem like a reasonable salary for 20-30 hrs a week? I'm not too sure about the cost of living here as I'm working as a volunteer at the moment.

Many thanks,

Dino

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

If it's just the salary, no accommodation, then it's not too good. However, I don't know the cost of living in Chiapas either, but it can't be THAT much lower than the capital. I guess you should be looking for AT LEAST $8 - 9000.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

If you are living at Chiapa de Corzo, head over to the Dunham Institute and talk to Joanna Robinson, its owner. She has the heads up on all the other language schools in Chiapas and would be able to tell you whether the school is recommended or not.
My take is that if I had no job and someone offered me 6,000 to teach there, I would snap it up no matter what. You can�t get a better place in Mexico than San Cristobal.
The rents there are dirt cheap. You should be able to get a palace for 1,000 pesos a month.

Dragonlady · Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 12:19 am Post subject:

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Dragonlady · Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 12:25 am Post subject:

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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Dragonlady · Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 1:17 am Post subject:

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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

It is a great place indeed...have a little video of some of their students..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QpuxV0PiKg

I'm pretty sure the preference for Brits isn't that rigid. C contacted me not too long ago and made no mention. In any case, I'm sure capable and qualified teachers are the highest preference regardless.

Dragonlady · Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 2:00 am Post subject:

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geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I believe they offered me a position back in February of 2007. The woman on the phone was a Brit.