Job Discussion Forums

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

I believe, MO39, the Thai teachers dilemna is that as the student is from the same socio-cultural grouping as his other students, should he take him on as a private student, the other students as they associate with him after class, would eventually tattle on him to the school. That is my understanding of his dilemna.

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

When I took my part-time position at the language school, my employer knew all my private students were not Thai, but of a certain foreign nationality. My 3rd or 4th student there was my first non-Thai, and his mother prepaid for ten hours of one-on-one lessons. Naturally, we discussed my students who live in his neighborhood, go to his private school, or to his church. He does not, however, mingle with other students at the language school. Most of my privates are done in his neighborhood, which is quite far from the language school.

Now his ten prepaid hours are nearly finished, and his mother does not want him to continue riding across town on a new motorbike for English lessons. Summer vacation time is a week away, and he has friends at his international school (which is in the same neighborhood). They want to take a group class, about 3 students, in one of their homes. I said yes, yesterday. To be more ethical, I should ask the language school owner if he objects. I can rationalize that I am already so well known among this group that the request could have come from one of the others in the new group class, although it did not.

Added: come to think of it, my situation resembles that of the original poster here. The mother paid for a block of ten hours (for SAT/TOEFL prep), and that contract is ending. She cannot afford to keep paying the school 550 per hour, but she can afford a third of my group fee of 400 per hour.

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Don�t tell your boss. It would be a big mistake. Of course he is going to say no way Jose, and may even fire you for even bringing it up.
About 12 years ago, I was working as a graphic arts specialist in a company that did the art work for MEAD envelope company. I was foolish enough to ask the unstable general manager if I could use the machines to do some personal art work. (I was and still am an exhibiting artist, with many museum shows under my belt) I was fired within three days. As the man was certifiably paranoid, yes he had been hospitalized at least once, he enjoyed intimidating his staff. Immediately after my request, he would stand just around the corner at a long corridor, and stick only his head within my view and would watch me approach for 30 seconds!!

The only reason i told my recruiter that I was teaching the student on a private basis was that she had attempted to give me another class at the very exact time and as there is still some question as to whether the company may change its mind and keep that students classes on payroll, I had to tell her that I wanted the student, company or privately paid. And oh yes, he is my favorite student of all my classes.

leslie · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 235

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

I went ahead and wrote my boss, and am waiting for his reply. If he says no, and the students insist on taking lessons from me, I will decide further. I only teach 3 or 4 hours per week at the language center, anyway, but I do not want to lose the connection.

What's the title: a moral question? Do what your conscience can live with.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

Just to follow up, since I was asked and advised about this:

I felt I should ask my employer at the language school. He asked me to keep the student there at the language school, because they had spent a lot of effort to get him. He offered his own place (to rent out to me at the school). When the student came to his next class, the boy agreed and prepaid for ten more hours. I maintained my relationship, my hours, etc.

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:37 pm Post subject:

I didn't know that there are morals to teaching and working in Mexico. Oh wait, I've been here too long and I'm starting to think like the locals... Razz

JMBrown · Joined: 17 Jun 2011 Posts: 6

(Writing to fulfill 5 post quota)

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Nice.

Gregory. · Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:25 pm Post subject:

Leadership by example.

Just because the locals don't do things correctly, doesn't mean that we shouldn't.

My best example is that I have just come back from Guatemala where I was really impressed by;

1. The level of cleanliness in the city
2. The lack of grafitti
3. The friendliness of EVERYONE I met
4. The fact that everyone stops at red traffic lights.
5. The very high level of English at the institutions I visited.
6. The positive attitude and willingness to try something new in the language classroom, even though students are very poor (poorer than here in mexico) and the teachers have absolutely nothing.
7. I never want to hear complaints about large groups ever again- one teacher has a class of 168 students - and she loves the challenge! Hats off to her!
I realised that I have started to become a local here in DF and I regularly jump the red. Time to change. The change begins with me.

Loads of my respect to teachers in Guatemala.