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ltroshinsky
Joined: 17 May 2011
Posts: 40
Location: Maryland
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 Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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| what is the colegio circuit? |
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sunrader
Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 101
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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| This probably refers to the colleges in Mexico. |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| doublethinker wrote: |
I don't think you made a bad decision. Westhill has a horrible reputation among those teaching in the colegio circuit.
I really can't stress how important it is to find a job in person here. (With the exception of the American School and maybe a couple others). I never would have found my job if I hadn't been able to show up to an interview the day after I emailed. Most of the teachers I know found decent jobs by being here in person. If I were you I'd save up money, then come down here around April - May next year to look. |
The colegio circuit is simply working in the higher end private schools (which are called colegios as opposed to public schools which are just called escuelas, or maybe prepas, but not colegios, the use of that word says something about the school). And I can�t stress enough how important it is to realize that you really aren�t going to get a job without being here. That might be the way it is done in other places, but it�s pretty rare in Mexico, regardless of how rich the school is. There are too many teachers already here for them to choose from. Also, some of your problems, I think, were just cultural differences, and your lack of understanding of them. If you haven�t already, I would suggest you get a book talking about the differences in doing business in Latin America. If you come to Mexico expecting everyone to conform to the way you think things should be done you will have endless problems. I have lived in Mexico for many years, my father in Mexican, my husband is Mexican and most of my extended family is Mexican, so I am obviously used to the way things are done in Mexico and even *I* get frustrated sometimes, so I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to someone who has never lived here, or done at least a little research on what to expect. And while I have never worked at Westhill, I can echo that they have a horrible reputation, so from that perspective you are probably better off not accepting the job. But, many of the other things you experienced are not going to be different at a different school. |
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sunrader
Joined: 12 Dec 2005
Posts: 101
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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| sunrader wrote: |
| This probably refers to the colleges in Mexico. |
Ah, my bad, I thought you were referring to the state universities, like the Oaxacan system, since a lot of people with MAs express interest in them. |
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ltroshinsky
Joined: 17 May 2011
Posts: 40
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 3:41 pm Post subject: |
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Well, Westhill offered me a job from abroad, but maybe cuz they're desperate for teachers who don't know their reputation?
Do you know what they have a bad reputation for?
Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it. |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| ltroshinsky wrote: |
Well, Westhill offered me a job from abroad, but maybe cuz they're desperate for teachers who don't know their reputation?
Do you know what they have a bad reputation for?
Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it. |
I believe this was addressed in your other thread about them. If I remember right, it seems they accpet the students the other exclusive schools have kicked out for various reasons. |
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doublethinker
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
Posts: 57
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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Westhill has the reputation for the snottiest and worst behaved students. My school, which I'd prefer not to name, also has a bad reputation for bratty/badly behaved kids but we know Westhill is worse! The kids that are bad enough to get kicked out of my school go to Westhill.
If you are interested in working abroad, I recommend that you pay for membership at the International Schools Review. There are many scathing reviews of Westhill. |
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ltroshinsky
Joined: 17 May 2011
Posts: 40
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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Hmm. The Westhill teacher who offered me the apt. just said the kids were spoiled and lazy but when i asked if they were disrespectful, she kinda hesitated before answering.
she told me they weren't as bad as the american schools she worked at in the states. she also said she taught one year at ASF and the kids there were much worse so she switched to westhill. |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| she also said she taught one year at ASF and the kids there were much worse so she switched to westhill. |
I find that very hard to believe, but not doubting you, ltroshinsky |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
Posts: 1186
Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
| Quote: |
| she also said she taught one year at ASF and the kids there were much worse so she switched to westhill. |
I find that very hard to believe, but not doubting you, ltroshinsky |
I don�t doubt that the other teacher said that, but, yeah, I totally don�t believe it. And I taught for 5 years in inner city schools in the US and the kids are some of the upper crust colegios in Mexico City are waaaaaaayyy worse. Maybe she was desperate for a room mate and really wanted you to come, maybe you being there was going to decrease her workload, who knows, but there had to be some reason why she said that. |
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mejms
Joined: 04 Jan 2010
Posts: 390
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| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject: |
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Trying to get a job squared away and find an apartment that allows pets in a country with a completely different culture and mentality from your own while you try to work out all the details with people you've never met from thousands of miles away... it may not be high-maintenance but it's definitely naive.
I would suggest you get into a teacher training program that will be more accomodating and guide you through the process more. After all, you'll be a client, not an employee. |
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doublethinker
Joined: 11 Mar 2010
Posts: 57
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| Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Guy Courchesne wrote: |
| Quote: |
| she also said she taught one year at ASF and the kids there were much worse so she switched to westhill. |
I find that very hard to believe, but not doubting you, ltroshinsky |
I also have a hard time believing this statement. (I believe that she said it but I think it was a load of bs...)
If you can move here by the beginning of August there are usually positions that open up when people bail last minute at the beginning of the school year. Or you can do what I did, which is move here and teaching adult ESL in businesses until you find a job in a colegio. |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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| ltroshinsky wrote: |
http://www.apestan.com/cases/westhill-institute-distrito-federal-mexico_45813.html
Check out this article. I found it on craigslist under the help wanted education section. i also found another ad saying "No to Westhill," that they promise compensation you don't get and steal teachers' money."
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Found out last night that I know the teacher in the story that was let go, accused of trying to form a union and that the cover story by Westhill is false.
The colegio circuit...small world as it turns out. |
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ltroshinsky
Joined: 17 May 2011
Posts: 40
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:47 am Post subject: |
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| Guy: the story about westhill firing the teachers isn't true, or the stuff westhill printed about it isn't true? |
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ltroshinsky
Joined: 17 May 2011
Posts: 40
Location: Maryland
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| Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2011 4:48 am Post subject: |
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| mejms wrote: |
Trying to get a job squared away and find an apartment that allows pets in a country with a completely different culture and mentality from your own while you try to work out all the details with people you've never met from thousands of miles away... it may not be high-maintenance but it's definitely naive.
I would suggest you get into a teacher training program that will be more accomodating and guide you through the process more. After all, you'll be a client, not an employee. |
What type of teacher training program? |
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