Job Discussion Forums

[Tomyum]

I'm currently attending a TEFL course in Spain, but from what I can tell, it would be pretty hard for me to get a (legal) job here since I'm a US citizen. (And I really don't want to work illegally, if possible.) I would really like to teach in Latin America, though specifically I'd like to teach in Mexico right now. All that I've read seems to suggest that I should simply head on down to Mexico and try to find a job that way. The big problem with that is, obviously, that I'm in Spain right now. My financial situation isn't so open that I can simply afford to spend a bunch of money roaming around Central and South America looking for work.

Does anyone know if it would be a waste of time to simply try and find schools and send out resumes, or if I would be better of trying to find employment through other means (consider other places to teach, consider employment agencies, etc.)

Thanks for all your help,

Tommy

[Guy Courchesne]

By all means, send out your resumes and make inqueries by email. That's the easiest and chepest route, and you never now who'll respond. I wrote on another thread that timing is key in this case, so if a director needs a teacher and your resume/CV is near the top of the pile, all the better.

I'll suggest checking with the job placement section of your TEFL course provider. Most have some sort of assistance for countries outside their regular domain, particularly those in Spain I've found.

[Tomyum]

Thanks a lot for the input. I suppose in my case, that would be a good idea--since I'm looking for work to start around the beginning of the year, now would be a good time to get those CVs on the desk of every language school in Mexico. I was a bit worried, because, as I said, I've heard a lot of people say that the best way to find work in Mexico is to simply be there, which, at the moment, would be quite difficult for me.

What is the best method for finding potential schools? Internet searches tend to help very little in this respect. I know if I was truly determined, I would simply find the yellow page listings of every town and city in Mexico and find all the schools/language schools I can, but I'm afraid I would wind up sending out hundreds of dollars worth of mail (and wasting a lot of paper) if I were to go about that method. (Though I'm not opposed to it if it's the only way.)

Once again, thanks for the input. I really just needed to hear someone with more experience than me tell me that it would be a good idea and not a complete waste of effort.

T

[MELEE]

[Tomyum]

Thanks!
In response to your suggestion about considering somewhere else for my first job, I'm definitely doing that. My heart isn't necessarily set on Mexico, but for some reason I felt it would be a good first job. I don't know why I would think that, but I thought it nonetheless. I've considered a lot of other places so far, but I haven't really made up my mind.

Also, thanks for the tip on checking with the boards about schools that have posted job openings in the past. (My brain must not be working 100% right now I guess, because that never occurred to me... such an elegantly simple idea, and yet...)

Thanks again for the input. I really value all the help.

T

[Guy Courchesne]

[Gregor]

MELEE totally called it.
Asian language school chains are probably the best entry jobs, especially if you don't have any money. They will often give you a flight in advance, and give you a place to live, and then you can just start saving a bit of money immediately.
Also, they tend to be a bit more supportive.
I did my first job in Mexico, and I have no regrets, but I think I'd have got a better idea of what the heck I was supposed to be doing a lot quicker had I started in Asia with a bit more routine and regular methodology.