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davidmsgi
Joined: 01 Feb 2011
Posts: 62
Location: Mexico City
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 Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 6:02 pm Post subject: UVM feedback please? |
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I have an opportunity to join UVM as an English teacher.
Any input or specific feedback from those with real experience with UVM would be greatly appreciated. I have noticed a few negative comments on the forum regarding UVM, so I would value any up-to-date 'inside' information to help in my assessment.
Thanks!
davidmsgi |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: UVM feedback please? |
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| davidmsgi wrote: |
I have an opportunity to join UVM as an English teacher.
Any input or specific feedback from those with real experience with UVM would be greatly appreciated. I have noticed a few negative comments on the forum regarding UVM, so I would value any up-to-date 'inside' information to help in my assessment.
Thanks!
davidmsgi |
UVMs vary A LOT from city to city. I worked in the SLP one for a year so this may or may not be that relevant:
Horrible kids, adminstration that doesn't support/back you up as a teacher. The students basically pay to pass. It was more like being a glorified babysitter than a teacher, especially in prepa. The uni's a bit more tolerable. The paperwork gets a little silly sometimes and the 5 parcial system on some of the majors is just ridiculous.
One tip I can give you regarding pay: get all the degrees, masters, bits of paper, reference letters, courses etc. you can as your hourly rate will be based on this. Make sure they understand what these documents are or you'll end up with a measly hourly rate. The scale is between $70 and $250 an hour.
If you can tolerate it, the UVM in SLP is crying out for teachers (very high rotation). I left a few years ago and they're still calling. |
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davidmsgi
Joined: 01 Feb 2011
Posts: 62
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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I want UVM to hire me a an independent consultant/teacher instead of an employee. Have you ever seen consultants or contract teachers utilized by UVM during your experience with the school?
I can probably teach both English and Communications - my impression is that they have no native-speakers to teach English.
I visited the school and met with two professors.
After just a couple of minutes of conversation, they led me into one of their classrooms and said "give us a class right now to show us what you can do." I was a bit surprised and nervous, but I improvised a verb tense presentation and added some tips on common pronunciation mistakes made by ESL students - the 'class' lasted around 20 minutes.
They asked me to leave the room for a few minutes, then invited me back for their assessment. Their response was a pleasant surprise:
"We LOVED your class, and are very interested in having you join our teaching staff."
I want them to engage me as an independent 'contract' teacher and 'language consultant'. Do you think this is a possibility? |
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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: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:24 pm Post subject: |
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| You�ll have to ask them if they're set up to hire free-lance teachers. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 2:33 am Post subject: |
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| davidmsgi wrote: |
I want UVM to hire me a an independent consultant/teacher instead of an employee. Have you ever seen consultants or contract teachers utilized by UVM during your experience with the school?
I want them to engage me as an independent 'contract' teacher and 'language consultant'. Do you think this is a possibility? |
I never saw any independently hired teachers in my time at the SLP one. I imagine it's not UVM policy as they have a very rigid system though it doesn't hurt to try. One thing they do invest in is outside training - the full-time teachers are usually forced to take it to justify their paychecks during the summer. Maybe approach them with some kind of teacher training course? Clil and blended learning are all the rage right now. |
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Gregory.
Joined: 27 Aug 2011
Posts: 39
Location: Mexico City / Tlaquepaque
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:47 am Post subject: |
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I went to some UVM prepas recently and was actually very impressed with their programmes.
They are implementing portfolio assessments which takes them to the cutting edge of language assessment. Less exams and more competancy based education.
I'd suggest it's an interesting time to be working with UVM. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:56 am Post subject: |
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| Can't see how a competency based system will work alongside a pass the paying customers... er... students system but there you go. |
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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: Fri Sep 09, 2011 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| Enchilada Potosina wrote: |
| Can't see how a competency based system will work alongside a pass the paying customers... er... students system but there you go. |
If you make the level of competency needed to pass quite low, then, no problem  . |
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Gregory.
Joined: 27 Aug 2011
Posts: 39
Location: Mexico City / Tlaquepaque
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 3:05 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Can't see how a competency based system will work alongside a pass the paying customers... er... students system but there you go |
Actually I was talking to a campus director and she clearly told the teachers that students will be asked to sign a contract explaining that the development of the portfolio is the responsibility of the student.
If the portfolio is lost, misplaced, mislaid or goes astray, then the student must be prepared to fail the subject.
With this contract signed and retained by the teacher, then there is back up to the problem that students parents are demanding their students pass.
I think its a good idea and a good way to support teachers. Clearly set out expectations at the beginning of the course. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Gregory. wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Can't see how a competency based system will work alongside a pass the paying customers... er... students system but there you go |
Actually I was talking to a campus director and she clearly told the teachers that students will be asked to sign a contract explaining that the development of the portfolio is the responsibility of the student.
If the portfolio is lost, misplaced, mislaid or goes astray, then the student must be prepared to fail the subject.
With this contract signed and retained by the teacher, then there is back up to the problem that students parents are demanding their students pass.
I think its a good idea and a good way to support teachers. Clearly set out expectations at the beginning of the course. |
Nice idea in theory but I doubt it will be effective in a school like that plus it clashes with the UVM's policy of not failing any of their customers. It's a business at the end of the day. If the student fails they take their business elsewhere, portfolio or not. |
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Gregory.
Joined: 27 Aug 2011
Posts: 39
Location: Mexico City / Tlaquepaque
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| Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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But let's try to stay positive, eh?
My experience was from July 2011. Have you worked for UVM, Enchilada - if so, when?
I suspect your opinions maybe outdated.
Let's give them the benefit of the doubt. And of course let's remember that a policy of simply passing students will damage the reputation of the institution in the long run - which is why, I suspect, there has been a change in direction at the UVM.
I maintain my original post which is that developing portfolio based assessment is very cutting edge language teaching. Their ongoing assessments are very interesting and I really feel that the UVM (at least at prepa level) is trying to make a change. |
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Enchilada Potosina
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
Posts: 344
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:40 am Post subject: |
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| Gregory. wrote: |
But let's try to stay positive, eh?
My experience was from July 2011. Have you worked for UVM, Enchilada - if so, when?
I suspect your opinions maybe outdated.
Let's give them the benefit of the doubt. And of course let's remember that a policy of simply passing students will damage the reputation of the institution in the long run - which is why, I suspect, there has been a change in direction at the UVM.
I maintain my original post which is that developing portfolio based assessment is very cutting edge language teaching. Their ongoing assessments are very interesting and I really feel that the UVM (at least at prepa level) is trying to make a change. |
Yes, I worked there for a year (2009). I taught in both the uni and the prepa and also taught subjects in the bicultural prepa.
I really hope it's changing. It was just the same story with every teacher. A student failed, the coordinator would call you up and try to press-gang you into passing them. High teacher rotation usually speaks for itself. |
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Gregory.
Joined: 27 Aug 2011
Posts: 39
Location: Mexico City / Tlaquepaque
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:33 pm Post subject: |
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| High teacher rotation usually speaks for itself |
This is a valid point, but the teachers that I worked with had been with UVM for well over 18 months.
If I had to put a percentage on the numbers, I'd say 85% had more than 1 years experience with the institution. I also visited a number of locations. |
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MotherF
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1450
Location: 17�48'N 97�46'W
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Gregory. wrote: |
| Quote: |
| High teacher rotation usually speaks for itself |
This is a valid point, but the teachers that I worked with had been with UVM for well over 18 months.
If I had to put a percentage on the numbers, I'd say 85% had more than 1 years experience with the institution. I also visited a number of locations. |
Since when is 18 months a long time? |
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Gregory.
Joined: 27 Aug 2011
Posts: 39
Location: Mexico City / Tlaquepaque
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| Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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I don't recall ever stating that 18 months is a long time.
I do point out that 85% of teachers I have met at UVM have been there for over 18 months.
I don't understand how you can read between the lines MotherF |
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