Job Discussion Forums

[amd6666]

Hi all! I just wanted to let everyone knew, first off, how helpful I have found all your comments on this board. It's really great to be in contact with experienced teachers who are so willing to offer advice.

I am currently a student teacher in Kansas (no Dorothy jokes, please). I will graduate this spring with a degree in elementary ed and my endorsement in ESL. I am very interested in teaching primary grades in Mexico...preferably Guanajuato (but I'm flexible). Yes, I will be a first year teacher. Will I be able to find a job that pays well enough to live comfortably? I understand many of you that have comfortable positions have far more experience and higher education than me...so I'm a bit worried. I do have significant travel experience and speak at least a bit of Spanish (it was my minor...but that certainly doesn't mean I'm fluent) so I'm not extremely worried about the cultural adjustments and the like. I love Mexico...and know it is where I would like to be.

How easy is to find jobs teaching children? Many of the posts I have seen refer to adult English instruction...which I am not interested in. Also, and I know this has already been touched upon, but does any one have any new information on Canada Connect? They are the only post I have found with mention of primary positions in Guanajuato.

Any other words of wisdom would be appreciated as well. Anyone currently in Guanajuato, I would love to talk to you!

Thanks again,
Amanda

[thelmadatter]

Hola amd...

I think you should be able to get work fairly easily - if not in Guanajuato, somewhere else. Im not an expert on the market for teaching kids but Ive seen the occasional ad on Dave's and I knew a woman who taught middle school in Mexico City. As far as living comfortably, that might depend on your definition of comfortable. Everyone Ive met here somehow manages to pay the bills - I think the real question is how much in the way of "extras" you need.

I suspect your best bet is to check out the private "colegios" - some of them actually require a teaching certificate (as did my friends). While there are public primarias and secundarias I dont know if they have the money or inclination to hire foreign English teachers. Hopefully, someone else here knows more than me

[lozwich]

I don't know about Guanajuato in particular, but in Puerto Vallarta and other similarly cashed-up places, there are lots of bilingual schools. Maybe you could get something at one of those? I think they all do their own hiring.

Just a thought.

Good luck,
Lozwich.