Job Discussion Forums

[Moncrief]

How do English-in-the-workplace classes in Mexico normally function? Are they always organized by language institutes, who then contract students out to companies? Do companies ever hire directly for English instructors? (e.g., on a corporate website). Which language schools are known to contract teachers to companies?

Answers to any or all of the above questions would be greatly appreciated!!! Gracias!

[Flo]

Companies do both...hiring individuals to teach and also going through a "language institute" Many jobs start word of mouth, and if you pick up something as an individual it may be for only a few hours a week to start. Once you prove yourself and other employees become interested in taking classes, your hours may increase. Generally you will make more per hour working for yourself, but there is more red tape involved (like getting your FM3)

Most classes in business are small: one or two students. A friend of mine teaches at a car manufacturing company, and the executives don�t want the others to hear their mistakes, so all classes are private. The problem here is that if a student cancels the class, she doesnt get paid for the hour.

[Samantha]

This can be a problem, and it definitely does make it hard to budget. After one gets established it is a little easier to lay the ground rules.

I tutor a lawyer and he pays me even if he doesn't show, or if he has to cancel last minute. I plan to expand my private tutoring biz and will ask for the week in advance from new students. This shows you mean business and ensures that they show up (most of the time). Otherwise, it is very frustrating.

[richtx1]

Those teaching privately are likely to run into problems as companies start implementing better accounting practices. PRIVATE TUTORS are not a tax deductable expense for the business, nor for individuals. Unless the tutor is ALSO a business, s/he is likely to find themselves SOL.

I wish those doing private tutorials all the best in the world, and many do have a good experience with it. But, I would go through a business (or language institute) rather than run the expense of selling a job and enforcing a contract. Too many private tutors have found themselves out of a job or unable to collect their fees for me to recommend private teaching to anyone without an outside secure income.