Job Discussion Forums

[EFLeducator]

[Prof.Gringo]

[EFLeducator]

[Enchilada Potosina]

And besides, working in a language school is pretty much the least lucrative thing you can do in Mexico... the choice is yours.

[Dragonlady]

[the peanut gallery]

All very valid points but we always come back to the same thing: those who have done well (minority) vs those who have struggled. This board is heavily tilted in favour of the former; anyone who posts regularly on Dave's for any length of time is not a fly by nighter and considers ESL their vocation.

So lets look at the previous points made:

1) to do your homework (as far as reputability of the school goes),

STUDY THE MARKET.

2) get in tune with your earning expectations vs cost of living for the area you're interested in,

UNDERSTAND THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

3) take a realistic look at what your professional TESOL qualifications are

BE REALISTIC IN TERMS OF HOW QUALIFIED YOU ARE.


I agree on all points. I feel, though, that the majority of teachers who tend to struggle do so not as a result of not understanding the aforementioned points, but rather do so as a consequence of their services being under valued and not respected by both language instruction suppliers and their customers.

[EFLeducator]

[Dragonlady]

[the peanut gallery]

DL, Of course you can call me Peanut, I prefer the familiar


[b]If what you say is true, then said teachers should likely move on - to suppliers and customers that DO value and respect their professional services, qualifications and experience. Or, as others have suggested, create their own success. [/b]



I believe it to be true. I would guess that this forum disagrees based on the success stories that are often expressed. While I agree that moving on would be prudent, moving on may or may not be a real option, depending on location and circumstances. Furthermore, moving on certainly doesn�t address the root issue though, moving on is a micro answer to a macro problem. Saying �get on the good foot and find a better job� does not speak to the greater problems the ESL community faces in Mexico.


[b]�Move on to suppliers and customers who DO value and respect their professional services�[/b]



The market economy is in conflict with this statement. Apple produces the iPhones in China. Why? Why not build a factory in the center of NYC/LA/Houston? Because their customers want a great product at a good price. And they want to keep customers happy while maintaining as large a profit share as possible. Similarly the ESL student/customer wants a great teacher and a good price while the school/supplier want to keep the customer happy while having large profits. Who really loses ? The little guy. Nobody is silly enough to let fair wages get in the way of profits.


Guy said in a previous post that I recycled a response and that he expected more from me. I agree to an extent. You see, I don�t have the magic pill, I don�t know how to correct an issue that affects all sorts of businesses, not just ESL in Mexico. However it does seem that ESL in Mexico suffers disproportionately. DL, between us we have 14 years on this forum. The one topic that rears its head more than any other is salary/job stability/moving up. It doesn�t get spoken about because things are going smoothly, quite the contrary.



[b]And in the event that one's response might be 'easier said than done', or 'after turning over rock after rock after rock we can not find these allusive suppliers and customers', may I suggest that all of the h/work has not been done? [/b]



I thought that was your suggestion in your previous post, one to which I added my thoughts on already. However please do correct me if I am incorrect (not uncommon lol).


[b]Of course there are some who are in situations that limit options. Perhaps one* has married a Mexican and finds themselves destined to live forever within 100 meters of their loved one's kin in a place where the EFL market sucks. Fair enough, but these are the choices we make.
[/b]


Im sure this happens. And if I were in that sort of situation I would retrain in a different career. I would be proactive. However im sure that there are many many people who have done their homework, do not feel trapped by circumstances (of their own making) and STILL cannot find the professional respect, stability, and renumeration that they are entitled to.

DL, I believe some posters* have business interests in Mexico that require the painting of a rosy picture (of both the violence and the ESL job market). Leaving the former aside, the ESL job market does not affect me in the slightest as I am no longer involved in teaching English at any level.** I enjoy this board because I see it more of an expat community, not strictly as a career specific forum. Having said that, I feel strongly that at times (when discussing violence and the job market) this board can paint a picture to someone less informed that may be less than genuine.

*I have no personal knowledge of any individuals/businesses and my intention is to address the message, not any specific members of the forum.

**Genuine question: Does this invalidate my opinions to this board?

[the peanut gallery]

Nice! Epic fail on the BOLD!

[DebMer]

[EFLeducator]

[the peanut gallery]

Correct EFLeducator, I would never claim that my beliefs and opinions, based on my experiences, translate into facts. To preface every comment with "in my experience" does not validate or convert to fact any subsequent statement, no matter how often one repeats it.

[EFLeducator]

[Enchilada Potosina]