Job Discussion Forums

[onebikeoneworld]

Hello,

I'm a 28 year old Brit who has spent the last 6 years teaching in Asia and is currently travelling in the US. I worked for 3 years in a language school in Japan & 3 years in the public schools in Korea. I have a BSc in Comp Sci and a 100 hour online TEFL certificate. I am hoping to find a job in Mexico next year, and am flexible as to when and where I will work. My questions are..

1) What does my lack of certification as a teacher/degree in English/TEFL stop me getting?
2) Are the jobs in public schools a step above the language schools as they are in Japan + Korea? If so, what kind of salary would I be looking at getting? I assume they can be applied for out of country?
3) What time of the year do most jobs start?

I'm not hugely motivated by money. I'm travelling round the world by bike and before I head into Latin America want to work on my Spanish. I figure that spending 6-12 months in Mexico working at a job would give me the immersion that I want to improve my Spanish.

As an alternative...

What kind of expenses am I looking at to spend 6 months as a student? I live frugally so don't mind eating a quite ridiculous amount of beans and rice. I'm definitely around the beginner level of Spanish at the minute.

[Isla Guapa]

To answer one of your questions, teaching in public schools is mostly out of the question for non-Mexicans, unless you have lived here for awhile and have "connections". But don't feel too bad about that because working conditions are not good in most public schools, and the pay is quite low.

[BadBeagleBad]

[Phil_K]

[Isla Guapa]

[MotherF]

I've found that the person who completely avoids eating street food 1) still falls to food born illnesses the same as any foreigner adjusting to a new country and 2) fails to appreciate a large componant of local culture 3) is missing out on some yummy eats, and 4) is spending too much money.


And to the OP, I'd say working in a public school is about 25 steps below working in a language institute. Mexico (and all of Latin America) vary quite a bit from Japan and Korea in terms of education.

[Phil_K]

QUOTE: MotherF

I've found that the person who completely avoids eating street food:

1) still falls to food born illnesses the same as any foreigner adjusting to a new country and

The hygiene angle doesn't concern me in the least, I have a strong constitution. What I don't want to do is support a largely illegal activity which creates an eyesore in the street, as well as often blocking the way for passers-by - particularly bear in mind those that use wheelchairs.

2) fails to appreciate a large componant of local culture

If that is the best "culture" a country has to offer, it should be ashamed of itself. The only "culture" going on here is the "culture" of an underclass too lazy to do an honest days work, and a bunch of people crazy or short-sighted enough to patronize them. I sell Mexican culture for a living, and believe me, there is much better to offer than this.

3) is missing out on some yummy eats, and

The world is full of great things to eat.

4) is spending too much money.

Well, personally I always believe that good food is worth paying for, and besides, good doesn't have to be expensive.

[canada_1986]

[Isla Guapa]

[Phil_K]

[Phil_K]

[New Haven]

Canada 1986, be careful -- there's plenty not to like here as well, including a proliferation of American chain restaurants...McD, Burger King, Chili's TGIF, Bennigan's come to mind right off the top of my head. But my point is that Mexico has its share of cultural norms that are not particularly appealing...as is true of every culture.

Sharon

[FreddyM]

[New Haven]

They would choose them because they can work as much or as little as they need to. Many -- maybe most -- work just to get by and take time off when they have earned enough money to pay for the needs of the forseeable future. This is a culture of short-term orientation.

That's an answer to your question Freddy M, not a defense of Phil's opinion about street vendors.

Sharon

[Phil_K]