Job Discussion Forums

[Clark Montange]

ESL Teaching, Costs, & Other Considerations Mexico

Mexico is great! If anyone is sitting on the fence about having an ESL teaching experience here, I�d encourage you to get down off that fence!

The majority of ESL teachers I have met throughout Mexico are NOT living on their teaching incomes alone. Easily 90% of them have dipped into savings, have maxed out their credit cards, have drawn on family trust funds. Many are �backpackers� and mom and dad are always there to wire money when they are short, or bail them out of rough patches. And they ARE short, every month. But as the expression goes, you can�t get something for nothing. Every career decision has a price.

For the most part (depending on where you live, and if you live alone, or share with others), if you prefer privacy, and your �own space,� you will pay the price for housing, and not have money left for much of anything else.

This should NOT discourage you. The Mexican people are wonderful, I can�t say enough about them. I don�t know why they so often get a �bad rap,� and are made fun of, with demeaning pejoratives, etc., in other countries. They are intelligent, sophisticated, resourceful, and I have continued to be treated exceedingly well here.

Please do YOUR HOMEWORK regarding which school!!!

Don�t get yourself here then find that out you cannot manage, like a friend of mine who teaches for ENGLISH UNLIMITED in San Luis Potosi (SLP), Mexico (central Mexico). He is currently on medical leave, and I have visited him in SLP. He has concerns about working for English Unlimited. I have seen some of this first hand, by visiting the school, plus being interviewed there.

He was mislead about the overall cost of living in SLP, and assured that the English Unlimited teaching wages (approximately $4.50 USD equivalent per hour AFTER taxes), are more than adequate to live on, plus be able to travel. You can �see Mexico,� he was promised. Be reasonably comfortable. He was mislead about almost everything, including housing arrangements and costs, and ended up spending many, many times more than what he was led to believe during the job negotiation process, and his list goes on.

He has also had visa problems, and things are not what he was informed of during the screening and negotiation process, so be very careful. He has umpteen credentials, including a TESL Certificate.

The USD figures here in this thread are fairly accurate. You need to have several thousand USD equiv. AND be prepared to bail if you cannot make it financially. You seem serious, so I would strongly encourage you to also try central Mexico.

English Unlimited in SLP has approximately 95% local teachers - - from SLP or nearby Mexican cities, despite what EU claims and posts on the Internet, and in their advertisements. Most of them have parents, spouses, etc. who help out financially. Teachers are also expected to purchase their own supplies: Paper, pencils, rubber bands, erasers, poster board, note pads, pens, Post It Notes, paper clips, markers - - you name it. This was NEVER mentioned in his screening, interviewing, and negotiation process prior to him coming to English Unlimited (EU), in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

He was also asked to agree to not work elsewhere to be considered for full time equivalent work, yet he desperately needed more money. He was eating so poorly, well . . . this has exasperated an existing medical problem, which has landed him in HOSPITAL!

The cost of living in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and most other moderate to larger cities is basically the same as any city in the United States. I have met person after person here in Mexico who has relatives in the U.S. and they overwhelmingly validate this.

Read CAREFULLY: It is NOT any cheaper in Mexico for the basics like food, personal hygiene items such as shampoo, shaving cream, razors, clothing, shoes, medications, etc.

Generally, you CANNOT make it here financially, unless you are willing to completely give up your privacy and share a small living space with three or four other people (generally speaking), and be willing to just stay at home (no disco money for you ). Now there may be exceptions, there always are in life, but I�ve not met any people out of dozens and dozens, so far who fit that, and I have worked in Mexico for quite some time.

Native-speaker teachers come and go at EU like a revolving door (Canada, U.S., U.K., Spain, Africa, etc.), most staying only a couple of months, due to these and other broken promises. The current �Academic Coordinator� has no professional background in the field of education administration whatsoever, or no formal education related to education administration, teaching, etc. (I interviewed with him, and was not impressed at all). His background is from the MORTGAGE BANKING industry! My friend has shared horror stories that would make your hair stand on end.

As if this isn�t bad enough, EU does not even have any standardized scoring/grading system for its exams and other tests! I could not believe it when my friend told me this, and also showed me a few samples (with students names not visible). This is academics 101 folks, no matter what you teach.

So come to Mexico, for sure!!! Just be aware that you may not be able to pay off your student loan bills if they are substantial. But if your parents or other relatives are willing to pick up the tab for you for this, you will probably have a terrific experience like I have, and am still having.

Best of luck to you considering all of your options!

CM

[la verdad]

The original post is about having enough work in DF or not. Hello?

I can't help but notice that you're posting the same topic about English Unlimited in every discussion forum you can get your hands on. Let's stick to the original discussion, shall we?

A friend of mine who teaches in DF, does a lot of company classes. He makes at least 200 Pesos an hour and gets transportation allowance. He also does private classes at his home, his clients find out about him through word of mouth and referrals. It may be a good idea to put an ad in the newspaper offering your services if you're new in town. DF is a huge city and a lot of people want to learn English. I'd say, there should be enough work out there. Good luck!

[Isla Guapa]