Job Discussion Forums

[dixie]

MikeySaid is correct. If you have the qualifications and the experience than you will be able to find a job at an international school. And from personal experience, there is a big difference between that and local private schools.

[MELEE]

I also second Mikey.
You should look at the alternative teaching credential programs that many US states have such as the Texas Teaching Fellows program. Texas desperately needs bilingual pre-k and early elementary teachers so if you like kids that may be a good route. That would give you experience and a Texas teaching credential and you could bypass the bottom rung in Mexico. Teach America might be another option--something tells me that program will be expanding.
But you could also just come to Mexico and work your way up here. Just know that the first year, job quality, pay and hours, will be hard--that doesn't mean you have to stay in that first job long. Remember that a lot of Mexico depends on who you know so you can move up fairly quickly if you meet the right people.

[alellis]

Are there any ways IN Mexico to improve my credentials? Everything is way too expensive in the US. I will most likely work full time for one year after I graduate this May in order to pay off the majority of my student loans. I do not want to go to Mexico with those. But if I have to stay another 2-3 years in order to get certified to teach then I probably will never make it down to Mexico.

The problem with Texas Teaching Fellows is that they want you to already have the knowledge of your content area (eg. Elementary Edu, etc). They do not teach you that. Also, it would be expensive to move to Texas just for that (I live in NC). NC only offers teacher certification through university programs which are expensive and take about 2 years to complete.

[MELEE]

[alellis]

Thanks for the advice. Yah, I will most likely work here in the US for a year to pay off the loans and then go do the ITTO program in Guadalajara for the TESL certification. Who knows, a lot can change in a year.

[jfurgers]

In Texas you can get certified to teach through community colleges. It takes about two years though. Also, I think you can teach elementary or highschool without being certified (in Texas) if the school is private. You just need a Bachelor.
The experience thing may hurt you though. Some people I knew at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, worked during the day and studied to be certified at night. Others got their bachelor then worked for a private school while taking the classes to get certified at night. There is a community college in Plano Texas that you could look into for information on getting certified to teach in Texas.
That way if Mexico doesn't work out you could always go back to the beautiful lone star state.

www.ccccd.edu

Click on CE courses then certificate programs. If you move to Texas you would be closer to Mexico.

[alellis]

Hello, thank you for the information. I will keep it in mind. I have family in San Antionio and Laredo. I will most likely work a regular job this upcoming year to in NC to pay back student loans and then I will look into the teaching more once that is off my shoulders.

Thanks!

[El Gallo]

You'll find what you look for with students. If you look for students who hate gringos, you'll find them. If you look for eager students who look forward to learning from a native speaker, you'll find them, too.

Maybe an exception to this advice is private school owners. I looked for some who appreciated their foreign teachers, respected them and paid them on time. I found contempt, crookedness and failure to pay as promised.
Since I only teach private students now who really like and appreciate what I have to offer, a*shole school owners are no longer a part of my reality in enjoying Mexico and its people.

[El Gallo]

[alellis]

Hi, could you please give me some more information on how you go about getting your own private students? Like, how many students should you have a week in order to make enough to live off of? Is it reliable?

[corporatehuman]

[El Gallo]