Job Discussion Forums

Bobbie Jo · Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Tlaquepaque

Hi Everyone,

Given that I am a newbie, I am not sure if this kind of email is appreciated or even appropriate but I figured I would give it a try. (Wow that is a rather sad preface).

Anyway, I am in the process of planning my return to Guadalajara.
I was there last year but ended up settling in Zacatecas instead so
I did not actually search for work in Guadalajara. I am quite adept at a foot search with resume in hand but I was thinking it would not hurt to send some resumes from here before I arrive.

Soooo, does anyone know of any contacts or school names that might consider me before I arrive?

Is there anyone else out there making a move to GDL?

Wouter · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Tlaquepaque

Hi Bobbie Jo,

Living in Guadalajara for almost a year now. Great place, really love it. I started a school here for spanish, english, german and frensh. At the moment we dont have that many students because we more or less just started. If you want to pop in to see if we got work your more then welcome. Our website is mainly for foreigners who want to learn spanish but we are working on a spanish version of the website.

When you arrive just send me an email. Me and my colleque are always in for a beer. You can find our address on our website.

Learn Spanish in Mexico

Bobbie Jo · Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Tlaquepaque

Hi Wouter,

Thank you so much for posting a reply. I will send you an email as soon as I get settled.

Good luck recruiting students.

Hope to meet you soon.

Bobbie Jo

grahamcito · Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 90 Location: Guadalajara

Hi Bobbie Jo,

How are you getting on with your plans/settling in GDL? I'm planning on heading there myself in a couple of weeks' time, so I'm interested to know how you've been getting on.

Especially about finding a place to live - could you recommend me some good places to search for flatshares? (both where to look for ads and what parts of the city I should seek out/avoid)

All best

cybercutie · Joined: 19 May 2004 Posts: 33 Location: Calgary, Canada

Hey guys...just to let you know, I will be leaving GDL in December, so if you are still looking for a place at that time or know of someone who is, I live ina great place with a Canadian girl who is really cool...

NoSoyJaime · Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:01 am Post subject: GDL = popular

Hi guys,

I too am heading to Guadalajara - in just 5 days, actually. Looks like it'll be quite a party there. I have similar questions to Bobbie Jo and grahamcito - does anybody have suggestions for English schools and/or places/areas to live?

I studied in Puebla for five months in 2003 and did visit Guadalajara, but it's going to be pretty new to me nonetheless. I'm planning to stay in a hostel near el Centro for a little while while I look for an English-teaching job and more permanent housing. I haven't had much success trying to land a job from here so I'm hoping something will pan out once I look around there. I have my TEFL certification as well as some ESL and EFL teaching experience (the latter in Mexico).

I'd appreciate any suggestions since I'm going into Guadalajara pretty much with a blank slate - knowing no one, looking for adventure.

que vivan las Medias Rojas,
James

Wouter · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Tlaquepaque

Hi James,

I work and live my self in Guadalajara and have a list of websites where you can look for work. Some of them are in English some of them in Spanish. Some of them are only for teaching jobs and some of them are for jobs in general.

http://www.vende.com.mx/classifieds.php?a=5&b=393
http://www.eslcafe.com/
http://www.computrabajo.com.mx/
http://www.geocities.com/dunhaminstitute/
http://www.englishunlimited.org/
http://www.iie.org/
http://teach-english-mexico.com/
http://teaching-jobs-mexico.com/
http://www.manpower.com.mx/
http://www.bestpeoplemex.com/
http://mx2.bumeran.com/aplicantes/a_home_empleos.html
http://www.gmcfactorhumano.com/index.html
http://www.master-work.com/
http://www.monster.com/
http://www.mexplaza.com.mx/
http://www.tiwy.com/bolsa_de_trabajo/mexico/
http://www.vozdelcaribe.com/index.htm

What you also can do is look in the yellow pages of mexico to look where they have schools where they give english.

http://www.seccionamarilla.com.mx/

An other option is looking in the news paper. It is even possible to place a free ad on friday in one of the papers.

I had two exstudents at my school who both were looking for a job and both found one for about 25 hours a week for 45 pesos an hour.

Oke if you need any more info just ask.

Wouter

gregd · Joined: 23 Oct 2004 Posts: 6 Location: Guadalajara, Mexico

Hi!

I am in Guadalajara right now and have a job in Tlaquepaque. I would suggest the Vancouver Language Center who seem to have a good reputation with people (well, the people i have spoken to)....

Anyway... If you arrive in Guadalajara and fancy meeting up in a famous Mexican cantina... it would be good to meet other english speakers!!

From one teacher to another...

Greg!

NoSoyJaime · Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2004 4:00 am Post subject: schools in GDL

Hi everyone,

Continuing on the Guadalajara beat, I was wondering if people who�ve been working here or looked for work here have advice on the following 9 English schools as places to work:

Quick Learning
Interlingua
IMAC - Ingles Total (av. guadalupe, & calle donata guerra)
English for You Institute (cal. jardines)
American Language School (av. alcalde)
American English Center (federalizimo)
Ingles Individual (clothier, & agustin ya�ez)
The Anglo Mexican Foundation (av. americas)
Linguistico Empresarial SC (av. patria)

Though I�ve heard the following are scary chains - Harmon Hall, Wall Street and Berlitz - and am trying to avoid them, if anyone has advice on them, I guess that�d be helpful too.

Thanks very much.

Live the Dream!

James

scott wilhelm · Joined: 09 Feb 2004 Posts: 63 Location: st louis, mo

Berlitz here in St Louis, MO is a nice place to work. It is very part-time. But the students are great, the materials well-prepared, and the people running our branch office, super-nice. If you could find full-time work with Berlitz in Guadalajara, you may really like it. I wouldn't rule it out.

Bobbie Jo · Joined: 13 Jul 2004 Posts: 8 Location: Tlaquepaque

Hi Everyone,

I am now in GDL. Aghh it can be such an overwhelming city! However it is also full of everything.

My husband and I found a house in Tlaqapague. We are opening an internet cafe and I plan to teach English. So far, so good.

As far as looking for a place, we went through the Informador every day and attempted to see places. Some sucessfully, some not so. Anyway the paper is easy, well easy because my husband is Mexican and knows the city and of course has perfect Spanish whereas mine is pathetic. Actaully I can�t even claim to speak it. Anyway, that is my next challenge. If anyone wants to know about an area, let me know and I�ll try to find out. The other thing to do is to go walking in areas that you like and ask at the convenience stores. It really depends on where you want to be, i.e. downtown, outskirts, Tlaqapaque, etc.

If anyone wants to get together let me know. I have a little guy (a very sweet and peaceful six month old) but he is quite mobile.

For now good luck in your searches.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Some of the "scary" chains mentioned in an earlier post are less scary than those on the list which included Ingl�s Individual--also a chain of franchises and basically a rip off of the customers and teachers.

The bigger chains--like Harmon Hall--will grind you into chorizo if you accept a lot of hours, but they will also arrange for your work visa--and pay for it if you stay with them for a year. I was director of a Harmon Hall for 4 years, and can say that there is a wide variety of management styles among the almost 100 franchises--and although you will have to take the Harmon Hall preservice training in most of them before being given classes, the training is worthwhile if done by a competent trainer and it does prepare you for the level(s) you will begin teaching.

Wouter · Joined: 06 Oct 2004 Posts: 128 Location: Tlaquepaque

My business partner has also some bad experiences with Inglish Invidual. You have to arrange up front about the payments if students for instance dont show up for their classes. I think that if they dont turn up without any notice that the company still has to pay you but some dont. Also for using internet or the copy machine. Some charge you for this even if it is for preparing your classes.

Futher ask about FM3 papers. If they need them or if they are willing to help you with getting these. I know that it is also possible to get them if you dont have work jet. I have a friend who arranged my papers and she told me that it is also possible to aply for a FM3 without having work.

To bobbie Jo.
Good luck with your business. If I can do any thing to help you out with something just tell. If you can give your address of you internet cafe business I can tell this our foreign students. What also would be a good thing if you offer phoning by internet. We have some companies who offer this on the internet and the prices are really cheap. Would defenitly be a good offer to foreigners who want to phone home.

Wouter

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I've had good and bad experiences with Ingles Individual. I think, generally speaking, corporate I.I. is a large machine and hard to deal with. The franchises have been great with Teachers Latin America, particularly Acapulco. The pay isn't great, but, that's normal for small cities and markets.

I find that some teachers prefer the closed system that I.I. programs for its students. Other teachers, perhaps the more rebellious (written with a grin of course) or creative, wouldn't enjoy I.I. very much.