Job Discussion Forums

[Aria Fani]

Also, I wonder why you have so much time on your hands viewing every thread on this site instead of 'making the perfect system with 100 % native immersion.'

Maybe you and your friends in Culturlingua should treat your teachers less horribly, so teachers do not have to take from their precious time to give this school negative feed-back. It's obvious that I don't benefit from writing these entries, you are the owner, you have to defend your product.

Now, since you have so much time, maybe you can go and comment on all the other negative entries written by other teachers and dismiss their claims too.

as people say in Egypt, tafadal, be my guest.

[gregd75]

hahahahah! I have time because I'm on my lunch break and because I'm working on a stinky translation that I really don't want to do. I tend to procrastinate in times like these.

I follow posts like these because I care passionately about my school and students and I appreciate the importance of the teachers here.

I think I have commented on the other things in a previous post that has overlapped with this posting

[Phil_K]

[gregd75]

A fair point Phil, I take it onboard.

However, teachers coming to work here do have some experience (along with certification) and I think this is the point that is trying to be made (albeit not clearly)- teachers aren't just living, breathing people that happen to speak English which is what can be found in many institutions.

[Phil_K]

Also a fair point! Although that hits a nerve with me. I'm in the "can you do the job well" camp. An interviewee once asked me if I wanted to see her CELTA certificate. I told her, "Not really, but can you prepare a demo class for the next interview?"

[gregd75]

I completely agree with you... certification doesn't automatically equate to competence... but it's a step in the right direction. We have to have the faith that people only pass their course because they have done things right.

This is why I always check references too (we don't only rely on one thing)- this is where a recruiter would find out if the candidate has the right attitude towards work.

But theres no real foolproof way of making sure you get great, enthusiastic, flexible teachers as opposed to getting rigid jobsworths only willing to do what is said and nothing more.

Its very difficult- but using the certificate as a recruitment sorts some of the wheat from the chaff.

[Phil_K]

You wouldn't hire this "chaff" then, with 9 years experience, but no "paper", not even a degree?

[Samantha]

Aria, it sounds like you enjoyed the free Spanish lessons, so that was at least one good thing you have gained... A big gain, IMHO. I've read that Los Reyes is a pretty cool little place with great people and I've also read that teachers have enjoyed staying there very much. I am wondering if this was your first experience in Mexico, and if you are still here? Sometimes things being so different, and it being a small town, can make adjustment difficult. I don't think the school staff have obligation to show you all around though. Any I have worked for sure didn't do that, nor did I know where they lived.

One British girl wrote on a blog that she came back from England for a 2nd contract. She was happy with Culturlingua in both Los Reyes and another nearby location (Sahuayo?) and fulfilled both contracts under the same Director. She blogged about small classes, flexible hours, and fun on weekends. If she had complaints she didn't publish them. So you can't speak for all teachers who have gone before you. Only for yourself. Your experience with your particular teacher group seems to have gone wrong, for whatever reason, and that's unfortunate for all concerned. What a brutal thing to happen to the students with all teachers leaving at the same time. I hope you are doing great now and are in a job you love.

[Aria Fani]

Dear Samantha,

No where in my entry did I claim to be a monolithic voice for all teachers. I even mentioned that some people did enjoy this institute. I also did mention many pluses in my entry, they were not all negative. So I don't know why you make it seem like I have a grudge against this institute, and I want to 'mislead' people. I respect my audience, they can judge for themselves.

Shifting the blame on group dynamics, and trying to guilt-trip us also does not reflect what happened here, Samantha. I was very committed to my students, I turned down an excellent offer in Oaxaca, but my problems with the school were never solved.

As for Phil's question: Not only did not ask for a demo class here in Los Reyes, but they also did not check our diploams and certificates. They would hire anyone who speaks five words of English.

Also for Greg, yes, money was an issue. We were definitely not told our Mexican subsitutes get paid more than foriegn teachers, as was the case here in Los Reyes after one of us left.

I am still here in Mexico, teaching English. There was no cultural shock involved in my decision to leave Culturlingua.

cheers to all

[gregd75]

Aria-

Substitutes get paid more per hour because the cost of accomodation etc is not included. Remember as a full timer your whole package includes accomodation, cleaner and pay for public holidays such as 16 de Septiembre.

A substitute will always get paid more per hour but they won't be better off when you consider the whole renumeration package.

I guess you might not have considered this....

[Aria Fani]

Not when they move in and take advantage of accomodation and teach the remaining of the term.

I enjoy your sincerety and passion, Greg. But If Cecilia was keen on learning from teachers, teachers would not have left so often. Pointing the finger to teachers, what they should have done, etc, is the easiest thing. You are in the position of power Greg. But I am sorry, in a captalistic society, you need to be on par with other institutes. Culturlingua has already lost so much business in Los Reyes due to competition. I wish I could voice out my students' happiness and discontent with the school. Maybe you should equally hold the school accountable for not treating their teachers well, so they would stay.

Seems like your lunch break is never over, until you ensure that there is nothing negative here with regards to Culturlingua.

I genuinely wish Culturlingua's students and staff the best. Time will tell. In 6 months, perhaps they will be more fresh perspectives posted here.

warmly

[gregd75]

Phil- I think you're being argumentative now! As you rightly pointed out earlier, this job is for someone starting out in the EFL profession. With 9 years experience, with or without any papers, I don't think this would be the job for you.

HOWEVER- if you applied to me, I would first of all point out that you maybe over experienced for this job. If you were still interested then I'd ask you to show me a lesson plan that you had done. This is to see evidence of planning which I think is essential! The other thing I would ask relates to reflecting. I'd ask you to think about a class that you'd recently taught and I'd ask you to talk about what went well and what you'd have changed in that class. This is important because I'd be able to see if you are able to review your work and also to see how flexible you are in the classroom.

SO... I wouldnt rule you out completely

[gregd75]

As you would have seen in my post- I was taking lunch AND doing a translation (which I'm still doing). I get notifications when a post is added and I look at it because I am interested in any positive feedback that could help avoid this situation in the future.

Happy teachers don't usually come onto this forum and talk about how wonderful their experience was, but unhappy teachers do! I just want to provide the balance to whats being said because if people read this, they could think that Culturlingua wouldn't be a place that they'd want to come to.

Example at hand- you say that the substitute teacher is being paid more than full time teachers. I say that yes, substitute teachers DO get paid more (you're right), but their benefit package is NOT the same. No paid holiday days, for example.

You then say that the substitute teacher is living in the teachers accomodation (I wonder how you know this as you and the other teachers have apparently left). I say that Cecilia has most probably hired a REPLACEMENT teacher and has offered a higher salary to them because she has been left in a terrible situation with 4 teachers leaving at very short notice, endangering students learning. If I were in this case, I'd offer more money of a new teacher would be able to come out and pick up classes ASAP. I think this is reasonable and not underhanded at all, as your posting suggests.

Now, reading through your posts, I think your bitterness is coming out- what more problems will you raise? First you complain about the organisation of the school, adding new students into class and exams being used 3 times, then you complain about rats in the teachers house, then its about the TV being from the WW1 era,then its about Cecilia almost never coming to school, then its about Cecilia criticizing for Spanish spoken in the class, then its about the coordinator snooping, then its that noone ever showed you around the town, nor that you got the home address of the coordinator, then its about being paid 'food coupons' (even though you admit that you knew this before you even arrived in Mexico) and finally you complain about substitute teachers getting paid more (I'm not sure if you mean substitute or replacement teacher). You can't accept that theres a slight possibility of culture shock playing a part in this situation. Nor inaction on your part- buy some rat poison, do a new exam, use the new student in the class as an opportunity etc

I too, really hope that you're happier in your new school and that you have used this experience to become a better, more flexible teacher.

[Aria Fani]

Greg, I thought you wanted to learn from this to avoid such experience in the furture not to tell me what I should have done. How do you know I was an inflexible teacher? Some humility would be appreciated here. Intrusion, lack of privacy, living with rats maybe issues that you can dismiss by simply saying "Now that we have solved all those issues, let's see what other complains you have." You demonstrate the same arrogance that acted as a hinderance between us and the adminstritive staff and did not allow free communication to take place. I left Culturlingua for all reasons mentioned, but first and foremost, as someone who has been teaching and tutoring a few languages, I did not enjoy my teaching experience because the institute is ALL about money.

The departure of four teachers is not a regular occurance in any institute. It should be investigated by one without any agenda. You do not have to tell me happy teachers exist. I know they do. And that is why I ask to find me one and ask them to come defend your company. Your views have little validity on this website. You ARE the owner. And not even the owner of Los Reyes, but a friend of hers. I am a teacher. And of course I am bitter. Every teacher wants to feel wanted and respected. I felt none of that in Los Reyes. I tell you this as a friend, less arrogance, more PR = success.

Best wishes,

[Samantha]

Aria Fani wrote: