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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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 Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I only know the two people that I have already mentioned who were teaching EFL and then went home. All of the ones I met two and a half years ago here in Mexico City are ALL GONE. I will try to find their email addresses and see if they can add anything. But no promises. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Phil_K wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
| Phil_K wrote: |
RE: the previous three posts:
The same cod can be used to create Fish & Chips or a gourmet meal. |
Yep. Alaska cod is GREAT for Fish n Chips.
Phil, do you know of ANY Fish&Chip places in the DF?
I am getting hungry now  |
Wrong! Atlantic cod is better!
Real fish & chips, no. There are a few places that do fish with breadcrumbs and McDonalds-style fries, and call it fish and chips, but cod in beer batter and real potatoes, I haven't found yet. But, although we are going off message, that illustrates the previous point; with the desire to do it, starting a fish & chip shop in D.F. would almost certainly succeed, the true entrepreneur would be drawing up his business plan as I speak... |
Sadly a lack of funds keeps me from doing so at this moment in time. |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
Sadly a lack of funds keeps me from doing so at this moment in time. |
You don't have much work these days either Prof. Gringo?? One of those on daves that's doing good could possibly help Prof. Gringo or me?  |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Professor wrote: |
| Prof.Gringo wrote: |
Sadly a lack of funds keeps me from doing so at this moment in time. |
You don't have much work these days either Prof. Gringo?? One of those on daves that's doing good could possibly help Prof. Gringo or me? |
I know a Mexican buddy that tried to open up a small lunch shop. He closed after just a few months in business. His food was good, prices were excellent and he even had some decent foot traffic.
But he had to do things like pay $8,000 pesos for a certificate that said he knew how to use a fire extinguisher. He just couldn't keep up with all the costs that were imposed upon him before he could turn a profit. I understand he lost a lot on that place.
Not a risk I am willing or able to take myself. |
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Professor
Joined: 22 May 2009
Posts: 449
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Speaking Spanish could help one get a nine dollar an hour job at a university in San Antonio. I checked into it. Perhaps there are some perks to living and teaching EFL. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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I have nothing useful to contribute to this thread, but I did want to let Teresa Lopez know that I love her new glittery bunny avatar  . |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| I have nothing useful to contribute to this thread, but I did want to let Teresa Lopez know that I love her new glittery bunny avatar . |
Me too!
Okay, I do have somethings to add. I think Phil is on to something. I know many many people who have moved on, either to home country or another country. In the 12 years I've worked in Mexico I've worked with over 80 different teachers. At least 50% returned to their homecountries.
I'm facebook friends with many of them.
A large number have returned to the US to persue graduate studies, some in TESOL some in other fields.
Two people have become bilingual paralegals.
Three have become K-12 ESL teachers in the US.
About 8 work teaching ESL at community colleges.
A couple teach Spanish at the high school level.
One works for the San Antonio City government (and uses his Spanish everyday).
Two are journalists (in local media).
Two work with NGOs that help immigrants in the US.
A couple joined a family business.
Others work in sales.
One guy now farms!
One has become a successful novelist here is her website http://www.lauraresau.com/about.html |
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PlayadelSoul
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 346
Location: Playa del Carmen
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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I don't plan on going back. I definitely wouldn't head back in this economy. In fact, I make sure I work even harder to keep the job I have. I work for one of those language institutes that many here on Dave's like to scoff at. Been working for the same company for 12 years. Started as a teacher, promoted to AC and then promoted to director. I have worked too hard to just give it up and I plan to finish my working days here.
If I do change my mind and take my wife and kids to the US, I will not rely on my ESL skills to find work. I will concentrate more on the business end of my experiences. Unfortunately, the ESL teaching profession is viewed as being akin to that "year abroad" people take before going to college. It may not be fair in all cases, but it is in more than a few.
I guess it all depends on why one came to Mexico to begin with. Was it for the experience or was it to start a life? I think that determines a lot in terms of attitude and degrees of success. Just my 2 pesos. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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| PlayadelSoul wrote: |
I guess it all depends on why one came to Mexico to begin with. Was it for the experience or was it to start a life? I think that determines a lot in terms of attitude and degrees of success. Just my 2 pesos. |
I agree. Maybe a lot of those who came to Mexico to teach and live didn't intend to stay for more than a year or two in the first place. |
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PlayadelSoul
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 346
Location: Playa del Carmen
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| PlayadelSoul wrote: |
I guess it all depends on why one came to Mexico to begin with. Was it for the experience or was it to start a life? I think that determines a lot in terms of attitude and degrees of success. Just my 2 pesos. |
I agree. Maybe a lot of those who came to Mexico to teach and live didn't intend to stay for more than a year or two in the first place. |
I think that is the case more often than not. Enter the country with an attitude of "I am a native speaker, gots me a piece of paper and you should be glad to have me."
I see it all the time. Usually, someone will come in to tell me how much I need them dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, having just come from the beach. LOL |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:49 pm Post subject: McTEFL |
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| PlayadelSoul wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| PlayadelSoul wrote: |
I guess it all depends on why one came to Mexico to begin with. Was it for the experience or was it to start a life? I think that determines a lot in terms of attitude and degrees of success. Just my 2 pesos. |
I agree. Maybe a lot of those who came to Mexico to teach and live didn't intend to stay for more than a year or two in the first place. |
I think that is the case more often than not. Enter the country with an attitude of "I am a native speaker, gots me a piece of paper and you should be glad to have me."
I see it all the time. Usually, someone will come in to tell me how much I need them dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, having just come from the beach. LOL |
And there are those with suit and tie, a degree and even having taught ESL at a Uni in the USA for a number of years and wind-up getting junk job offers.
I have also seen the full range of people trying to teach EFL in Mexico and those who post the truth in regards to the EFL job market are not backpackers or lost tourists with a copy of LP in hand.
I have said it before and I'll say it again: McDonald's (and other fast-food companies) offer a real career path in the US. From entry-level to management. I guess asking the same from language schools, colegios or even uni's here seems to be too much.
Next time you're in the US (or even Canada) stop at a fast-food place. Ask to speak with the manager. See if they have a degree in business. I doubt it. Most restaurant managers worked their way-up. It might have took them 3 or 4 years, but with hard work and dedication, they did it.
They didn't shell out three grand for a TEFL cert. They didn't learn a foreign language. They are in charge of a store with way more responsibility than any EFL teacher (or director) will ever have.
Last edited by Prof.Gringo on Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:02 am; edited 1 time in total |
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PlayadelSoul
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 346
Location: Playa del Carmen
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| Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Yet, here I sit, at my desk, as an example of someone who has taken a career path in Mexico. Such career paths do exist. It is necessary to have some patience and not jump from one path to another, which many do. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:05 am Post subject: |
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| PlayadelSoul wrote: |
| Yet, here I sit, at my desk, as an example of someone who has taken a career path in Mexico. Such career paths do exist. It is necessary to have some patience and not jump from one path to another, which many do. |
If I remember correctly you work for a HH.
Does HH have a clear-cut career path at it's schools?
Or does each franchised school do it's "own thing"? |
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PlayadelSoul
Joined: 29 Jun 2005
Posts: 346
Location: Playa del Carmen
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:27 am Post subject: |
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We have moved away from the franchise system to a more centralized one (you can Google some recent news on that front). If you work hard and are good at what you do, you get noticed. Pretty much the same as with most companies. It helps to express an interest in advancement, as well.
It has always amazed me, in my working life, how some complain about not getting promoted when they don't even take the initiative to put themselves out there for consideration. It is as if they expect the position to come to them. If one does not have the condfidence to say "Hey, consider me because I am pretty damned good at this," he is unlikely to meet any management profile, to begin with. That is, after one has proven that they are pretty damned good at what they do. To do so before might be met with some resistance.  |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| PlayadelSoul wrote: |
We have moved away from the franchise system to a more centralized one (you can Google some recent news on that front). If you work hard and are good at what you do, you get noticed. Pretty much the same as with most companies. It helps to express an interest in advancement, as well.
It has always amazed me, in my working life, how some complain about not getting promoted when they don't even take the initiative to put themselves out there for consideration. It is as if they expect the position to come to them. If one does not have the condfidence to say "Hey, consider me because I am pretty damned good at this," he is unlikely to meet any management profile, to begin with. That is, after one has proven that they are pretty damned good at what they do. To do so before might be met with some resistance. |
Thanks for the info |
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