Job Discussion Forums

FoxandMe · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 62

So I completed the ITTO course, decided to remain in Guadalajara, found a job, and have done this with a dog all along. I know that there are a alot people interested in hearing about either the course, or Guadalajara, or bringing a dog to Mexico. Maybe there's a few who are thinking about all three.

ITTO... I'll begin by saying that I had a good time. I lived at a hostel called a posada during the month long course, which I highly recommend if you are doing the course. Most of the students in my class stayed at one of two hostels. There are a few posadas, and Casa Vilasanta is by all accounts the best one. It's in the center, near a nice plaza, a small pool hall, a park, and restaurants. It's very social at the posada. You can get a private room for $500 or a shared for a little bit less than half that amount. You could certainly find an apartment or room for cheaper, but it's a great place to live in order to meet people and become good friends with your classmates.

ITTO... I enjoyed the people in my class and the observed teaching practice was worthwhile. The schedule is comprised of morning tutorials, your training, afternoon lesson planning, and late afternoon or early evening teaching time which is observed by an instructor. The morning classes were repetitive, dull, and often unhelpful. Very little grammar is covered and what is covered is not done very well. (Although, to their credit, a TEFL training course is not a course in English grammar, but they surely could have had more preparation in how to teach the grammar that they spent time on). What really got me about ITTO is that they have a very set methodology in how to teach EFL students (small percentage of Teacher Talk Time, conversational classes...) and this makes good sense, but there isn't the same sort of cohesiveness to the morning classes. I wish that they would have a methodology for training TEFL teachers, as they do for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

ITTO is very laxed in hiring new course instructors. The course instructor my class started off had said everything that he was going to say in the first two days, and from that point on we didn't go into more depth. He wasn't very concerned with covering ITTO's agenda. My class complained to his boss, and to ITTO's credit, immediate action was taken and our class was moved. During my time there, they hired a TEFL instructor who had just completed ITTO's course the prior month and had no TEFL experience, but a master's in education. I wouldn't say that ITTO is a very sound academic program. But the teaching practices are good for everyone. I found the course easy and unstressful. Others, particularly those who have been out of any sort of school for some time, struggled writing the 4 essays and were constantly busy. So I can't say much to how rigorous the course is. ITTO is very laxed on grading and they see to it that you pass the course. Grammar is not a concern. For your future students' sakes, get a book and prep yourself on it.

Guadalajara is very nice. I moved out of the center, though not all that far. People have been very kind to me and my friends, and there's never been a time when someone has been less than helpful. ITTO will help you quite a bit with the job search. They will set up interviews for you, and you will have no problem finding work, particularly if you remain in Guadalajara or a city not too far. But they will find you work in the Yucatan if that's what you want, and in my class some did. I will be teaching jr high History and Literature in August. The school has taken me on for the summer as an academic assistant. There isn't a lot to do right now and we both know it, but I explained that I couldn't teach in August unless I had something now. I might try to find work at a language school for the summer, and return here in August. We'll see.

And now my dog... Well, he stayed at the posada with me and the owner has a puppy who is there all the time, so that worked out fine. There are plenty of dogs around- I mean plenty. Some are strays, many are owned, but virtually all are not on a leash. I always kept mine on leash when walking through the city. He doesn't have as much freedom as he did back home in the States, and he doesn't have all the dog friends that he used to, but we make do. He has a friend too. Although he can't be off leash as much here, one advantage here is that since so much of life here is outside, I can take him with me to places, including an outdoor restaurant here and there. Finding a place in Guadalajara that will allow your dog can be tough. I did some looking with some Mexican friends, and couldn't find a 3 bedroom that would allow a dog. If you want to live by yourself, you might have more luck. The house that I live in now was found through a friend. So, in short, make friends.

If you want to ask me any questions, feel free. I milked this site before coming here. I'm happy to accomodate anyone who wants to do the same. Buenas tardes.

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

snorklequeen · Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 6:15 am Post subject:

i'm so glad things are going well for you and Fox in Guadalajara!

Queenie

FreddyM · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 180 Location: Mexico

Hi FoxandMe,

Let me know how it all works out there. I might try finding work in Guadalajara after I'm done here in Mexico City.

Teaching jr. high eh? All I can say is good luck. Successful teaching of adolescents depends more on learning how to get along with them and motivating them than being fluent in the language or content area. I don't know if ITTO gave any tips on teaching kids (especially teenagers). From my experience teaching kids is tough, not something you learn in a one month training course, not even in a university program in education where you get a teaching credential. Experience is the best teacher.

Good luck with everything.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

It sounds like he's working for a private school. That's pretty typical, really; I know several folks who were hired at private schools to teach in subjects that had nothing whatsoever to do with their education or background. The schools just wanted a warm body to teach the students.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

Thanks for the update on your new life in Mexico! All very valuable information for those wanting to do the same. The bus drivers in Guadalajara scare me! Be careful Shocked

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

I agree that it depends on the migri office, but I am sure we all agree that it is very rare for a foreigner to get a work visa for anything other than ESL. The school being private has nothing to do with it. A manufacturing plant or any other business is not allowed to hire a foreigner for a position that a Mexican can do.

If Fox would clarify, you could stop attempting to clarify for him. His original post is one of the most convoluted posts I've ever seen. 2 or 3 contradictions in one post has to be a record.

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

cwc wrote:

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

I was thinking along the lines of the multitudes of foreigners owning various businesses across Mexico. And many international companies station people in places such as Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City. A friend from Wales has worked in Puebla, Mexicali and places with his international company. We are also acquainted with a fellow from the USA working in Culiacan training helicopter pilots.

There are foreign musicians, artists, and tour destination reps throughout Mexico who are required to have an FM3. The foreign Consular reps hired throughout Mexico are another example. There is a Canadian nurse working here seasonally with a private doctors office, running around giving flu shots and extended care to language-challenged foreigners, and a medical coding agent from California working in clinics and hospitals to bill US and Canadian insurance claims, etc.

Yes, in tourist resort areas there are even more options (time share is one example). Where US owned hotels are apt to be found, there are foreigners working in upper management positions. One such resort here has an food and beverage manager from California, a general manager from Puerto Rico, and a staff lawyer also from the USA. Our 'Betty Ford' style clinic employs foreign management.

We tend to forget there is a world outside ESL teaching in Mexico. Cool

In fact many of the foreigners interviewed for the website below, live and work in Merida. A couple of them make reference to wanting to obtain Mexican citizenship so as to avoid renewing their 'working visas'. (I had come across these sites written by "Working Gringos" in the past but had forgotten about them until this subject surfaced).

http://www.yucatanliving.com/interviews/yucatan-living-interview-working-gringos.htm

(Edited to add the Yucatan-Living link)