Job Discussion Forums

corporatehuman · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Mexico City

1. Does anyone know of any TEFL / TESOL programs in Guadalajara??

2. If I was to...move to Guadalajara would you recommend getting certified in the states and just flying down, or certified in the city?

3. ALSO, I have this sick odd feeling that Guadalajara is more expensive than other places...this frightens me. How much does it cost a month...on average would you say, to live there? Is there a sufficient ESL market to find work?

Thank you!

Chris

sarliz · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 198 Location: Jalisco

I'm new here and still in research phase, but for what it's worth I found a web site (http://www.teflcertificatecourses.com/) for a school called ITTO. Folks here have mixed things to say about them, but they are indeed in Guadalajara.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Yeah, you have ITTO for a TEFL course in GDL and there's Vancouver Language Center - TESOL I think, but not 100% sure. There are other threads about both in the forum if you take a gander.

I'm one to recommend getting a cert course abroad, for a number of reasons. Acclimatization time, chance to work with real language learners, cheaper program costs (more often than not)...and a most important benefit in that by having a certificate that was issued in Mexico, you'll avoid having to get an apostille for foreign-issued documents such as your degree, though that depends on the immigration department (again, see other threads for info on that)

Some parts of GDL are expensive, but on the whole, it isn't any more expensive than Mexico City. I don't want to compare it to other cities as it is only 1 of three very big cities in Mexico, and from what I hear, Monterrey (the 3rd) is the most expensive of the three.

You'll earn enough in GDL to live on. I think earnings for teachers there are less than Monterrey or Mexico City, but not so much that you can't get by. You'll need a bare minimum of $5000 pesos per month, though you can resonably expect to make more. I doubt you'd top $10,000 per month there, assuming this is your firsst time teaching and that you'd start in a language school.

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

A little off-topic: I don't think Monterrey is really any more expensive than Mexico City. Of course, if you want to live in San Pedro Garza Garcia, you'll pay more than what you'd pay in Polanco. But if you live downtown, it should be as cheap, if not cheaper than Mexico City.

I've found that rent in most of Mexico varies widely. You can lost your shirt paying for a rathole or get a great deal on a very comfortable place. It all depends on how much walking around and knocking on doors you do.

In Guadalajara, I lived in a very sweet, but very small furnished apartment right downtown for about 3,000 pesos a month. In Monterrey, I lived in a less sweet but much bigger place for about half that price.

mep3 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 212

Do you need a car in Guadalajara?

How long are the apartment leases you usually have to sign?

Thx .... Mep

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

You don't need a car in Guadalajara. I have one and don't use it to get to classes because the bus is just as fast.

Rent contracts here are like any city in the world. Some people want long contracts. Others don't. I have a one year lease.

As for the aforementioned ESL training program here, for the price I'd say you're better off trying to get Celtafied.

Laurel7 · Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 13

J. Sevigny, did you take the ESL training in Guadalajara, or know someone that did? I am thinking of taking the ITTO course there, but want to make sure I get the best for the money!

Should I go for the Celta instead? Is it considered superior to the TEFL? Help me out here please. I'm needing to make some decisions. Thanks a bunch.

lisa1968 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 52

Laurel 7, I did (what I think) was quite a bit of research on TEFL in Mexico, and I decided against ITTO because of the personal comments that I heard from people. I found that e mail contacts of former students and trainers were the key in convincing me where to do my course. I did mine in Chiapas, and would be glad to help you out with the details, you can pm me and I will tell you the goods and the bads.

J Sevigny · Joined: 26 Feb 2006 Posts: 161

ITTO is fine if you just want a piece of paper that will get you a job and a "pass" from immigration.

If I were to do it over again I'd do the CELTA, which is more recognized and by all accounts more serious than the program ITTO offers.