Job Discussion Forums

[al capone]

Hey

I ,ve working in SLP for the last year and a half.

First for language chain Berlitz (usual unkept promised and general disregard for teachers welfare)

and now for a couple of family run, private language institutions ( well run , honest, plenty of lessons..all benefits)

but it seems SLP has a fairly poor reputation..admittedly it is,nt the most beautiful but the people are nice, students ok, money ok and the standard of living lower than the bigger cities.

Its strange why there are so few native english speakers and less so from the UK.

both my schools are cying out for teachers but can,t seem to attract them despite offering far more than Interlingua, Berlitz etc etc

hmmmmmmmmmmm

[Enchilada Potosina]

Native speakers stopped coming here about 3 or so years ago. I mean, even the backpackers got bored quickly and moved on. Now they just give it a miss. There are no great teaching jobs here either. SLP probably has one of shoddiest collection of language schools in Mexico and having worked for most of them I can see why people don't stay, especially if you don't have ties here. I don't think I'd actually recommend working for a single one of them.

[al capone]

i,m working for two private instututions and never had any problems..at alll

but i,ve stayed clear of the bigger chains and "well known" schools becuase of horror stories and reputations

which ones did you work for???

[Enchilada Potosina]

It's all pretty subjective here though so I won't name names. Language schools here are fine if you have no dependents and just need enough to live, eat and drink, don't have high expectations or expect any kind of professionalism.

I've worked at schools where I've been okay but seen teachers have horrible times and vice versa. I find the best way to treat these places is to work on your terms, not on theirs. If they don't like it, tough. I'm not begging to work in these places. At the end of the day you're providing a service, you're not in full-time employment with benefits and job security. Most even give you a supplier contract - well, if I'm a supplier, these are my rates and terms, take it or leave it.

[al capone]

well..the schools i work with now have straight down the line with me since the beginning

of course the money is better with Uni,s etc but not half the hassle of marking etc

and not the organisation and payment headaches if you had your own school

maybe because they are non chain..family run..honest people..with a more western work ethic

where are you from???

[Prof.Gringo]

I stayed in SLP for a very short time years ago.

I was not impressed by either the city or the jobs/schools.

I much prefer the DF area.

[al capone]

Admittedly the city is a drab, industrial sprawl but if you venture towards Huasteca things improve dramatically


The schools i work for are excellent..maybe because they are owned by former teachers who have been burned by the chains or mexican bosses in the past

As a result they are a lot fairer and understanding

[Enchilada Potosina]

[al capone]

yeah..the money could be better

working like a dog right now...