Job Discussion Forums

[samii]

wondering if some of you who are presently teaching in Mexico would be willing to share what a "typical" workday looks like for you. i know you are all teaching in different contexts, but i wanted to get a feel for how all i'm reading about in the forum translates into daily life for teachers in those different contexts. i'm still here in the states dreaming about crossing the border next fall so humor me!
thanks

[ls650]

I work at a small state university on the coast of Oaxaca. I have to punch in at 8 AM (yes, I have a punchclock a la Fred Flintstone). I usually spend the first couple hours running around, photocopying, talking to students or teachers, drinking a lot of coffee, etc. I teach a couple of one-hour classes late in the morning, then take a three-hour siesta break in the afternoon. I use this time for lunch or doing chores, such as paying bills, shopping at stores that are closed in the evening, etc. I then return to the school at 4 o'clock, where I plan my lessons for the next day, and then teach another one-hour class at six.
I leave school at 7 PM and usually go out in the evenings to meet people or sit in the local zocalo.

[MELEE]

Actually many people on this broad work or have worked in the same university system as ls650, I�m one of them.

I'm just back from my sabbatical and my day is a little different because I'm debuting as a working mom. I drop my twins off at day care sometime before 8:30, so they can have breakfast there (its served at 8:30) the day care is just two or three minutes, if that, from work so I get to work around 8:25 even though I don't need to clock in until nine. I too have a time clock but not very Fred Flistoney as it reads my fingerprint . I have breakfast in my office while I check the internet, I have two mid morning (one hours)classes and leave right at 2pm to try to beat the rush to the daycare. My house is on the otherside of town so I arrive there about 2:30 or 2:45. The housekeeper/nanny has lunch waiting for the us and I finish eating/feeding the tots about 3:15. I have to leave my house by 3:30 to get back to work by four. From four to six I work on my lesson plans or use the internet some more and I teach a class at 6 and leave for home at seven. In the evenings I play with my girls a bit, give them baths and put them to bed and try to get to sleep early because it all happens again the next day!

[Guy Courchesne]

I might be a little unique among those posting. I work primarily as a TEFL course instructor, but I have other activities.

When I'm in a TEFL course, it's all day every day with the students, helping out on orientation, in class, out of class work, even matchmaking and tear-wiping sometimes.

When I'm not in course, I'm on the net a lot, doing research, contacting employers for other teachers, answering email after email. I substitute teach for the crew of teachers working for our counterpart schoo, so every week is something new. Running around Mexico City seems a job requirement for me.

Any other free minute I have is spent dreaming up witty rejoinders to post here on Dave's.

[PlayadelSoul]

I am the academic director/director of an institute (that shall remain nameless, for fear of being suspected of recruiting) in Playa del Carmen. I am up at 5:30AM, and in school by 6:30. Classes run from 7 to 12 in the morning, and then off to the house for a nap. Return at 2:30 to get ready for kids and teens, and usually home by 8, although classes run until 9. Play with my kids, kiss my wife, and go to sleep by 11.

Like shampoo, repeat when necessary.

[Ms. Atondo]

Arrived at school at 7:30, supervise the playground, watched acto civico, entered English teacher lounge and graded books/made materials/gossiped, taught 1.5 hr class (with 15 minute recess), taught 1.5 hr class again, had a 20 minute break then headed to junior high, there I taught 1.5 hrs more (with 20 minute recess), headed back to elementary, supervised the quad for 1/2 hour during pick-up, got on the combi, arrived home at 3-ish.

Not so bad I think. I got to go home for the siesta and stay there!

[hlamb]

I work at a language school, so I work 3-9 Monday to Thursday, with an extra two hour class on Tuesday mornings. I teach a two hour class on Friday nights and then a four hour class on Saturday mornings. I live about half a minute from the school, which is wonderful.

[MixtecaMike]

[aroha]

I work in a secundaria in el DF Monday-Friday. I catch the school bus at 6:30, and then teach six 45 minute classes from 7:50 to 2:30. Bumping along on the bus on the way home, I try to do as much of my grading as possible.

The school has just introduced books made by a company called AMCO so this eliminates the need to find material. Is anyone else on this forum using this book?

I get home at 4pm, go to the local YMCA for a swim and then spend up to an hour planning classes, but mostly just looking for new ways to have some fun in class. What a luxury to be paid for full-time work! Previously I was working part-time, so I gave 2 - 5 hours of private classes everyday after school and was quite exhausted.

[Guy Courchesne]

Say, where is that local YMCA with a pool? Another teacher was asking me yesterday...

[aroha]

The YMCA on Ejercito Nacional in Col. Nueva Anzures (Del. Miguel Hidalgo). The YMCA website www.ymca.org.mx gives more information about the different facilities around Mexico City. The facilities are great but the price seems steep to me on a teacher's salary... it costs $1130 a month. You can choose either the morning slot or the afternoon slot. The one-off inscription costs $1740 but they were offering a 50% discount when I joined.

[Guy Courchesne]

[miss_betty]

I teach at a private prepa full time

I am at school from 7 to 4pm every day. I do not have to punch in (ouch) and they are v v flexible about the hours you are there. If i need to leave at 2 pm to run errands.....it is no problem ever.


Two days a weeks I teach 3 90 minute classes at 8:30, 11 and 12:30
Two days a weeks I teach 1 90 min class from 7 to 8:30 am
The fifth day, I teach 4 90 minute classes 7, 8:30, 11 and 12:30. Ha! so much fun

The rest of the time, I am at school, grading and planning, chatting with teachers and students. It is a pretty nice job. Lots of free time at night to go to the gym/ burn some calories or go out for beer & carne asada/consume calories.

I like my life. It is v easy
Good luck to you!!!!!!

[gwuerritto68]

When I first arrived in Mexico I'd spend a good 45 minutes of my day typing and re-typing emails I flubbed up fat-fingering on a Mexican keyboard. I STILL hate those stinking things!

[Guy Courchesne]

Quick! Where's the @ sign? I still can't find it.