Job Discussion Forums

[davidmsgi]

I am planning to apply for a teaching job at Harmon Hall.
Harmon Hall would be my first choice, but I will also consider other competing language schools in Mexico City, Puebla, or Cuernavaca.

I am a American business executive with advanced verbal, written, and reading comprehension skills in my native English. I have held management positions with two American companies, including a ten-year stint as President of my own consulting firm. I do not have a college degree, but I did attend one year of college in the U.S.

I am married to a Mexican citizen, and am in the process of obtaining an FM-2 visa, since I plan to buy a home and remain permanently in Mexico with my wife and family. I currently reside in Mexico City. I can speak, read, and understand only a limited amount of Spanish, although I study to improve every day. I would be hard-pressed to converse fluently and effectively with my students in Spanish, should they have questions.

I have designed and taught employee training classes for two different American companies, but I have never taught English language.

I have several questions regarding Harmon Hall specifically, and other comparable language schools in Mexico:

What test(s) does Harmon Hall administer and utilize in the evaluation of a "newbie" like me, who applies for a teaching job with no experience?

Would it be beneficial to take the TOEFL test locally, to have a test score 'in hand' as part of my application? I have been taking online sample tests and I tend to 'ace' most of them. Although I know the correct answers 90% of the time, I don't know the grammar "rules" that accompany my answers - the answers simply come "instinctively" to me.

What does the 4-week training at Harmon Hall include? Would the focus of these classes be teaching fundamentals, rules of grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, .......? I have read that as many as 50% of teacher trainees do not complete the training and actually begin work.
I want to be among the 'survivors' who actually become teachers.

I have read, and seen in Mexican employment advertising, obvious age discrimination that is not permitted in the U.S. - many ads specify the 'age range' required of applicants. I am 50 years old, and I can 'pass' for 40 - but I am certainly not a 20-something recent college grad.

Should I expect my age to be a negative factor in my ability to secure a teaching position at Harmon Hall, or other English-language schools in Mexico City, Puebla, or Cuernavaca?

Thanks for any responses that might offer extra insight as I (hopefully) begin my ESL teaching career in Mexico.

[gregd75]

I don't know the recruitment procedures for Harmon Hall, but I would think that a position like that would be more interested in seeing your experiences of lesson planning, classroom management and grammatical ability that specifically seeing your ability in English.

Not because I want to sound cheesy, but there is a poster here called Guy. I'm sure you've seen his posts.

He runs teacher training courses in Mexico city. I had hired some of his 'graduates' and from what I have seen, it is a good preparation. In your case, it may not be necessary to do a CELTA or something 'heavy duty' because you seem to have a lot of experiences coaching per se.

I'd recommend to focus on the grammar, lesson planning and classroom management aspects to complement your previous experiences and I think you'd be fine.

As for age, well the reality is that it will work against you- but- as a recruiter it often surprises me when I receive a mature persons CV and it is pages long- all the way from when they finished high school and then, even worse- their career was in finances let's say, and they haven't even changed their CV to reflect their desire to change careers!

I imagine you already know all this, but I'd suggest taking your CV apart and redoing it, with en EFL recruiters cap on.

Good luck!

[leslie]

First, I doubt if any school is going to ask you for Toefl results, especially with your experience. But if you do, you will probably ace it ... just concentrate. I don't even think native speakers can take the Toefl. You might just want to take an unofficial paper practice test from someone or find one in a book.

Second, your age may or may not be a problem. There's lots of us "older" teachers out there. But I suggest that you go and talk to the school first and don't mention age unless they do. Often if they see a professional native speaker, they will jump at hiring you. Harmon Hall might be different, but there are schools that would die to have you.

Third, Greg is right about your resume. I always put "English Teaching Resume" on the top. Then I only mention relavent teaching/coaching/training experience or education. Your business experience is a plus for business classes. I don't go back more than 10 years and I keep it to 2 pages max.

[Enchilada Potosina]

[MotherF]

Frankly if any school wants to know your TOEFL score--that's well--demeaning so I don't think that's the kind of place you want to work at.

However, just because you have top notch language skills, doesn't mean you know how to explain grammar to English learners. It's not a given that you know the metalanguage involved with language teaching. If that's something you want to brush up on, check out the study materials for the TKT. http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/tkt.html
(TKT stands for Teaching Knowledge Test)

If you felt like you needed it, you could actually take the test. BUt I'm just suggesting you use the online materials to help you focus your exsisting knowledge to this field.

I'm not in the know in this area, but I imagine there is plenty of work for someone like you working with business execs in Mexico City.

[Prof.Gringo]

[davidmsgi]

Professor Gringo -
Why do you believe I am "way overqualified for Harmon Hall"?

After reading these forums to educate myself on the Mexico EFL Teaching market, it seemed as though the 'chain' language schools, with their own in-house training programs, were the best choice for a 'newbie' like me.

Practically every advertisement I have found for English teachers has requested teaching experience, plus 'teacher's certificate' (what IS that, exactly?), and certifications like FCE -level, COTE, TKT, CELTA, CEFR, etc.

Unless I am mistaken, I don't meet such qualifications.

So, if I am overqualified for Harmon hall, what /where do you believe would be a better fit?

Thanks for your input.

davidmsgi

[Phil_K]

I think Prof. Gringo was refering to the fact that comparing a newbie at HH to your previous experience seems a bit of a step down, but if teaching English is what you want to do, and why not, and you have no formal qualifications, then a chain school is a good option. Given your previous experience, I'm sure you will make the best of the opportunity.

[Enchilada Potosina]

[davidmsgi]

With 20 years of high-level US business experience, perhaps I would be best suited as a teacher/tutor who works with companies offering English language classes to their employees. I have read that it is difficult to 'land' such work as an independent, especially as an inexperienced teacher. Working with a company that targets corporate clients would be my first choice, but these firms have been difficult to identify.

Who are the top providers of English language classes to companies and corporate clients in Mexico City, Puebla, and Cuernavaca?

I have seen ads from Georgal Idiomas, with some high-profile corporate clients like Aeromexico, Bimbo, Banamex, etc.

Georgal looks like a company I should investigate, but I have been hard-pressed to identify other companies who compete with Georgal.

I am hoping that my extensive US business background might be a big plus if I applied to an ESL teaching company with a business & corporate client focus, as opposed to a language school.

Any ideas, or recommendations?

Thanks.

[Phil_K]

Georgal is a good choice. I started there (also with no qualifications or degree). Everything above board, basic training and professional set up. I stayed 4 years and learned a helluva lot. Probably a better option than HH, as it is just one focused institute rather than a chain, where the standard can be variable. (With all due respect to PlayadeSoul!!)

[davidmsgi]

Who else besides Georgal?

I hate to be limited to only one choice, and it's hard to imagine that Georgal is the only ESL company targeting the 'corporate' market.

It doesn't appear that the language schools attempt to participate in the 'corporate' ESL market. Why wouldn't these organizations have or develop a 'corporate' group or division to compete in the market beyond the students who enroll and attend their schools?

(Let me guess - lack of quality native-speaking English teachers with legitimate business experience and corporate image/presence?)

I see that Volkswagen solved this problem by developing their own in-house ESL school & program. That's impressive! I'm sure Volkswagen will be on my 'radar' in the future, especially since Puebla is a city of interest to my family. But I've read that they only hire experienced teachers - any chance that they might have interest in me anyway?

[Phil_K]

[davidmsgi]

Your response seems to amplify your favorable impressions of Georgal, since you struggle to identify a true competitor worth a recommendation.
The company sounds like it could be a really good fit for me.

(Is the corporate market more populated with 'independents' and solo practitioners, as opposed to companies like Georgal?)

Regarding Georgal specifically - I would love to settle in Puebla, and I believe Georgal is limited to Mexico City, at least based upon my review of their website. Do you know if Georgal has an office or clients in Puebla?

I would visit the Georgal office immediately if I could live and work in Puebla. Mexico City is a bigger market, but, so far, it strikes me as a real 'rat-race', especially if my job is to commute every day around the city. The traffic is horrific, and the drivers are insane. I wouldn't rule out Mexico City, but it's not my first choice. Puebla and Cuernavaca are my first two choices, with D.F. as my fall-back.

Any chance I could work for Georgal and live in Puebla, from your knowledge of the company?

Thanks so much for your input - is is VERY helpful, and valuable!

[TeresaLopez]