Job Discussion Forums

[geaaronson]

I have about 15 applications in at various prepatorias for the upcoming fall semester and have gotten extremely warm welcomes from most but everyone tells me they are waiting until the inscripicions are finished before they can get a good sense of how many teachers to hire.
Can any of you old timers reach back in your memory and remember which day of August you were actually offered your position?

Also what is the advisability of accepting a position and then being offered a better one four days later, and accepting the second? Does one get blacklisted by the prepa consortium and never offered any other position again, or do these prepas expect people to go to the highest bidder, no hard feelings, just don`t come back to us seeking a position.

[ls650]

[geaaronson]

No one has offered me a contraito ya, but I feel it`s coming from several. I might just insist that I take it home to look it over, while waiting for another contraito, but then again I might lose out on the first.

[Samantha]

I hope no one is taking Spanish lessons from this thread.

The possibility always exist that there is more student enrollments than expected so extra classes, or teacher changes right at the start date or the following week. That's what happens here sometimes.

[geaaronson]

I suspected as much. Thanks, Samantha.

[samizinha]

Our prepa starts this Monday. If you really want to get job in a prepa, I suggest going to the directors about three months beforehand. Samantha had a good point, they might hire if they get more students at the last minute. Our case is the opposite, my boss overhired, closed a bunch of groups, and was left explaining to his new hires that they didn't have a job to go to.

[geaaronson]

I understand the University of Mayab has done that more than once here in Merida. They anticipate an influx of students and when that is not realized, it`s egg on their faces.
Yes, I did that too. I have talked with directors way back in April.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Just curious. Why would you want to teach English at a preparatoria? Have you ever observed prepa English classes? English classes at most prepas in this city have between 45 and 60 students per class with about 10% to 15% of them at most even remotely interested in learning the language.

I think you'll find that most of the contratos for solid jobs for fall term at the better prepas and universities have already been arranged. Of course, there's often a need for part-time temporary teachers to fill in some spaces at the last minute.

[periodista-masajista]

I'm sure that the world of prepas runs the gamut from good to bad...

But considering the outrageous class attitudes that most of the Mexican elite have...well...

All I can say is that I taught part-time at a prepa and it was probably the worst professional experience of my life. My students went to the Duke Lacrosse Team School of Social Skills.

[tonydicer]

The attitude 'look out for number one' is the problem today. That's a shitty attitude to have, and honoring a committment is far more important. Make the correct decision at first, and carry it out.

[geaaronson]

Interesting set of developments here in Merida, Yucatan. There were almost no positions listed for English teachers around August 10th and then all of a suddent the very next week there were about 7 ads each day with the greatest number of ads in the daily paper for teachers on August 25th and 26th. About 1/2 of the ads called for maestras only.