Job Discussion Forums

[dcfan]

Hope this is not considered off topic, but I teach English Literature (with a Ph.D. at the college level) rather than ESL and am wondering if anyone has insights into the process of getting a job in this line of work in Mexico. During a visit, I found most universities only taught English Literature in Spanish, with UNAM being the only exception I have found so far. I'm wondering a lot of things:
1) are there many universities that even offer English Lit in English as a degree program?
2) among them, what is the best way for someone from the US to land a job there?
3) what are the chances?
4) what does it pay (Oh, I'm hoping to hear it pays more than ESL!!)
5) what is the job like: duties, student quality, etc.?

Anyone with experiences in this area or who can put me in contact with someone who does would be GREATLY appreciated. I've had a terrible time with the websites - at UNAM I can't even find a list of faculty in the department -- only curriculum lists.

Thanks!
Jeff

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[bootsy]

I taught British and American Lit in the state university. It was in a program training Mexican students to be EFL teachers. The classes were a required part of the curriculum and were taken in the last year of the program. I taught the classes in English (although sometimes reverting to Spanish) but all of the texts were in English.

The pay was the same as an ESL teacher.

[Cdaniels]

That's a nice avatar, Bootsy, but it looks to me like Eve has shaved legs!

[cwc]

dcfan, what salary would you need? I saw that you desire to earn more than an ESL teacher. I am sure that there are some places that could pay you well with your outstanding education.

[MELEE]

Jeff,

The only help I can give you is to say look into the Universidad de las Americas (UDLA) in Cholula, Puebla. They are probably your best bet.

[dcfan]

Well, I'm not too sure what salary I would NEED, but I would like to live in Mexico City and in one of the better areas. I am not of retirement age (I'm 36) so I need to live off what I earn. It seems most people are saying 1,000 USD per month is standard ESL pay, and that seems like it might be okay anywhere BUT Mexico City.

There are really two issues: 1) the $, and 2) I would rather teach literature than EFL since that is the focus of my degree and what I enjoy doing. I figure (hope) that since teaching literature at college level is a more "skilled" job than teaching EFL that it would pay a little higher ??

[Cdaniels]

[Guy Courchesne]

Most of Mexico City could be called a 'middling area'. Rent will vary from 1000-10000 depending on what you want, with lots in between.