Job Discussion Forums

[littlelauren86]

Hello,

I was interested in finding out more information about possibly teaching children in Mexico.

1) While teaching, I'm looking to complete a (mostly) online Florida teacher certification program. It would require me to shadow a currently certified teacher in (probably) another school for just a few hours each week. Do teaching schedules in Mexico allow for this?

2) When's a good time to head there and look for work?

I'm reluctant to teach adults because it would ultimately be very irrelevant teaching experience for my certification area (Elementary k-6). I will eventually seek work in international schools.

I would be coming in with a bachelor's degree two years of full-time ESL experience with children from Korea. My Spanish is also pretty advanced, having studied it in school and in Argentina.

Any help or advice would be great!

[AGoodStory]

Anyone?

I feel a bit responsible for this thread, having suggested that Lauren post here because of the many Mexico members who are more than usually friendly and helpful. Her inquiry on the General Latin America board was derailed by a heated discussion of taxes.

[Guy Courchesne]

Ok, my two cents...

1) what kind of shadowing will you need to do exactly? Observe in-class, outside of class, off campus, or some combination of the three? I don't see why a teaching schedule couldn't allow for this but I think this is something you'd have to arrange more formally though school administration to clear any security concerns schools will have.

2) the school year begins in late August. Schools will begin hiring for the next school year in late January and into February. As there are very often still positions to fill as the fall start approaches, being here in August in person is good.

[Enchilada Potosina]

[MotherF]

Enchilada, do you know foriegners working in "government schools"?
I ask because I really don't think it is possible to work at a public Kinder or primary school without being a graduate of a Mexican Normal and joining the teacher's union.

[jaimem-g]

I would think immigration status would also be a factor here in order to be considered at all.

If the certification program would accept such experience, it seems that it would be easier to get a job in a private primaria, but even then probably to teach English, not other subjects.

Lauren - I also PMed you with a suggestion about finishing the certification in Florida and afterwards applying with international schools.

[Enchilada Potosina]

[littlelauren86]

Thanks for all of the information.

With the program that I'm doing, I would have to observe an already licensed teacher teaching at probably an international school. Personally, all I would have to do is provide the contact information to international schools in the area I'm living in and they do the legwork in setting up a mentor teacher, who is paid for working with the student. So this program can be completed from just about anywhere in the world. I'm also not from Florida, but upon completing the requirements I would receive a Florida teacher's license.

Anyhow, I was interested in Mexico, but today I did a currency conversion which said that 3,000 Mexican pesos = about $220 US dollars. I'm afraid that Mexico won't be on my radar with those type of salaries. Again, thanks for the information!

[doublethinker]

3000 pesos a month?

All the foreign teachers I know in Mexico City (some elementary, some junior/senior high) make between 15,000 and 30,000 pesos a month. All work at upper-end private schools, however.

[Guy Courchesne]

No one in Mexico City earns that little teaching kids full time. Low end private primary and secondary here are making 6000 minimum, and mid range is up to 12,000 or so. Like Doublethinker says, higher end is up to 30k and beyond.

Littlelauren, if you're in the DF area, check with the American School Foundation. They have strong links to the US, are an international school, and are packed with exactly the teachers you are looking for.

[Enchilada Potosina]

[Chancellor]

Along similar lines as the original post, I have everything I need to teach early childhood through eighth grade and ESL in the Texas government schools but need my probationary year as the teacher of record before I can take the final pedagogy and professional responsibilities exam. The job market is insanely tight as schools across the country are laying off teachers left and right.

I also have a bachelor of science degree, a 250-hour TESL certificate with 20-hour teaching practicum from Coventry House International/ONTESOL in Toronto along with a Standard 2 (Interim) certificate from TESL Canada.

My Spanish is upper beginner to low intermediate (hence my interest in Latin America; I want to improve my Spanish by being immersed in it).

So, with that little bit, what are my chances of landing a job in an elementary or middle school (public or private) in Mexico? I'm fairly certain the IBO and other international schools are out of the question.

[doublethinker]

Ha!

I work at an IBO school, and I pretty much have no qualifications whatsoever (a lot less than you!)

And I'm certainly not the only one.

[Chancellor]

[MotherF]