Job Discussion Forums

[DeLani]

Hello everyone,
Let me introduce myself. I'm currently living in the USA (my native country), and finishing up my degree in Journalism/Anthropology. I've been to Mexico 3 times and loved it! I speak Spanish passingly well. I'm seriously considering getting certified to teach ESL. My plan is to teach here (we have a lot of Latino immigrants) for 3 years till my son turns 18, then start looking for teaching jobs abroad.
Just wondering though, do any of you have spouses? Is it possible to get a teaching job that pays enough to rent an apartment or something so you can bring your mate with you?
I'm new to all this so please indulge me!
Thanks in advance.

[ls650]

When I taught in Asia, the teachers tended to be a young crowd in their 20s, and were all single.
Here in Mexico it's quite different: although most are not officially married, about half of my co-worker teachers live "common law" with a partner.
As for salary, a couple of the teachers earn enough to support a stay-at-home spouse and a baby - but it's tough making ends meet for those folks. The others have spouses with a local salary and they get by okay.

[Guy Courchesne]

It can be tough earning enough in Mexico to support two people. Your wife would probably have to work as well.

I'm married to a Mexican woman, and she works too. We have no kids.

[DeLani]

Tee hee......my "wife" may have long hair, but his deep voice, adam's apple, and hunky 6'1" frame could *never* be mistaken for a woman! I guess I should have mentioned that I'm female!
So, there might be some possibility that I could find work to support the both of us? He has no desire to teach English (I joke that he can barely *speak* it). But he has years and years experience cooking. I wonder how difficult it would be for him to find work in say Mexico or Costa Rica?
Thanks for all the help!

[ls650]

Teaching English is one of the few jobs for which it's relatively easy for a foreigner to obtain a work visa. Unless your significant other has some kind of special work skill or training, the Mexican gov't will not issue him a work visa.

Costa Rica is a bit different in that it's difficult to get a work visa for teaching English, never mind other occupations - but it's much easier to work illegally there (or so I understand).

[Guy Courchesne]

sorry, bad assumption on my part, and not the first I'll note.

You would have to seek a position at an international school or uni in either Mexico or Costa Rica to earn enough for both, but if this is your first time in the classroom teaching, you might not be able to start out there.

I suppose your partner could seek a job as a cook, but that would be more to occupy his time and not to bring in much money at all. Though, you never know. Hit one of the high-end reaturants or something working around ex-pats and he could luck out.

[thelmadatter]

I hate to bust your bubble about working in the USA, but unless you are willing to get certified and teach in the public schools, you are going to have a very difficult time finding ESL work. I got my masters in TESOL (they call it something else, but its essentially TESOL) in Arizona, figuring the same thing you did. There must be a big demand for teachers given the large number of people who need to learn English. However, what I found out is that most immigrants do not have the money for classes and the government is not very willing to shell out money for classes for immigrants (cept in public schools where they have legal obligations).

I lasted all of one day as a substitute teacher in public school and I refuse to work in the system because I consider the working conditions appalling(not to mention the fact that I would need essentially another year of college to get that certification depite my masters).

I strongly suggest that you research well your job market in the States before you commit to an ESL career. I work in Mexico, but I have to admit - I got EXTREMELY lucky when I got the job that I have.

[MELEE]

I'm married, to a Mexican, and we have two kids. He's a full time MA student, for which he gets a stipened of 6000 pesos a month. With that and my salary, we are just covering our expenses at the moment. BUT our expenses include a live in housekeeper-nanny, mortgage payments(my payments are about double what a local rent is) and his travel expenses since the city were he studies is on the other side of the country. If it weren't for those big expenses we'd be doing very well. In fact while he was getting his BA I supported both of us, just fine. We've had several teachers with a stay at home spouse. The only expense that is really doubled would be you'd have to pay his depenent FM3 visa. Other wise, your rent would be the same as a single person, and if he's cooking for you at home, you'd save money on food. (if he's a good cook, you could set up a plan where he cooked for other teachers as well, and make a little money, and have social lunches!)
It can be (and has been) done. I think the biggest challenge would be keeping your husband busy, so that he doesn't get bored.

[DeLani]

[DeLani]

Melee - your post gives me hope! We're (or I should say "I am") a seasoned hand at living very frugally. I think our living expenses could be kept to a minimum, and we won't have any dependant children. I'm hoping with my degree, my ability to speak Spanish, and my (hopefully) 2-3 yrs. teaching experience by then, I could get a decent job, if not a dream job.
I'm so glad to hear that it can be done. It has been my lifetime dream to travel, and I have (I believe, and my students keep telling me) a natural gift for teaching. So you're right; my biggest challenge will be keeping my hubby from dying of boredom!

[Jizzo T. Clown]

DeLani,

Does UARK have an intensive English program for its international students? That may be a place to start, either on a voluntary basis or part time.

I don't see how your degree is going to help you land any ESL jobs, though. I'm sure you've browsed the North American forum here on Dave's, no?

Again, it doesn't seem to me that a TESL cert is going to help if you want to work in Public Schools. From my understanding of the public school system, you can get your teaching license in your field (Journalism/Anthropology) through an ALP, and if you get your ESL Endorsement (another 12 hours of graduate-level classes), then you're *qualified* to teach ESL classes in addition to your normal classes.

[Sweetsee]

Married with one child in Japan, ends meet on my salary.

[JZer]

Well if you are in a high need area like Philly, Texas, NJ, Delaware, you can probably get into the alternative certification program with only a BA. The real question is whether you want to really teach in those areas.

[DeLani]

Ummmm.....not too sure I want to teach in public schools. I was thinking more along the lines of teaching adults.
I didn't go into my degree looking to teach English. Long story there, but basically I just want to get it *done* so I can say I have a degree! Then I'll see what I can do to be certified to teach English. Of course, I want to go the cheapest, fastest way I can and still be legit. I only have 3 years till my son turns 18, when it's time for me to start living my dream!
But I will look into what you mentioned. I don't think I want to go to graduate school for education, since it's not really my goal to teach in the public school system. It's not so much the kids, it's the darned beauraucracy I don't want to deal with.

[MELEE]