Job Discussion Forums

[ghost]

Universidad Tecnol�gica de la Mixteca

They offer around 11.000 to 11.400 mex. pesos to candidates with M.A.'s and B.Ed.'s like ghost. B.A. degree holders get around 9000 pesos.

How does that wage compare with others in Mexico?

Working hours at the University: 9-2, 4-7 (8 hours per day), although, you only teach about 3-4 periods per day (55''), the rest of the time is spent on lesson planning, corrections and curriculum development and projects.

Thanks for any feedback.

Ghost, Mandarin Studies, McGill University

[ls650]

Those conditions are very similar to the university where I work now.

[delacosta]

It's part of the same system that we both work for IS650. It's the original, ie the first of The Rector's schools and the shining feather in His cap, ie it has the best results.
MELEE is from the UTM and may have hired the OP. I think she hasn't been around this week cause she's off t that conference in Acapulco. If you're reading this knock 'em dead M, and I wouldn't mind getting a copy of your presentation. Brain mapping was it?
There was a thread awhile back I think about UTM. The English department from what I hear are a good bunch. THe school is also from what I hear the 'strictest' of all in the Oaxacan Public University system.
The pay is plenty to live on and save quite a bit. For me the schedule is the most draining thing about the system.

We've been hearing rumours here at the Puerto Angel campus that shorts are to be prohibited from now on, as well long or rasta style hair and earings for men. Are those rules in effect in Huatulco?

[Belmont]

[Samantha]

It's all relative Belmont. Of course that is a liveable salary here. The Canadian Government paid less than that to their Consular agents around Mexico, last I heard.

[lozwich]

I used to work at UTM. I thought the pay was pretty good, especially when you take into account all the other things like the savings plan, Christmas bonus, IMSS, afore and food vouchers. I always had enough money, had enough for some nice holidays at Christmas and Easter, and when I left, took about $US2000 with me. This was while living a lifestyle where I was out a lot, and popping off to Oaxaca City every now and again.

I don't know about where Delacosta and LS work, but I found it quite strict and sometimes I felt like a great big meanie imposing the rules on the students when I could also see their point of view. Within that strictness I always felt that I had the autonomy to teach my classes as I saw fit, although I am aware that there have been some quite positive changes there in recent years, so I don't know how much the curriculum has changed.

I really liked working there, and living in Huajuapan was pretty interesting too. I left because of wanderlust, and often think about returning.

Hope you enjoy it!
Lozwich.

[ls650]

[Belmont]

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[Sgt Killjoy]

Well, I meet a lot of teachers in my travels and I always ask about their current or past jobs and file them away in either memory or on paper.

I have met a former teacher at UTM and it was all thumbs up. Ok, the wages were not the best, but completely livable for a family. In earnest, the wages to living cost ratio is on par with other destinations. The only complaint I heard was the fact the town was a bit boring. The pluses were the yearly savings plan(I guess the 13th month salary) and a light teaching load with lots of extra time to surf the web.

From information I have gathered, I would have no problem reccomending UTM to any potential teacher.

[Vanica]

Do you know anything about child care and schooling in Huajuapan?

[ls650]

Ask the user named 'MELEE'... she can tell you all about it.

[MELEE]

I am back!

I'm glad to see what a good job all did in my absence. Especially with questions so near and dear to me.
I've just come from the Asociacion National Universitaria de Profesores de Ingles (ANUPI)'s annual conference. And after rubbing elbows with University English teachers from all over Mexico, I'm even more convinced that I work at a really great place.

The salary will put you in the upper middle class locally. I can show you the flashest apartments in town, they rent for 3000 a month. Most teachers (there are 15 of us) are paying around 1800 a month for rent.

The town is small. It is one of the largest cities in the state, but its a pretty rural state. It is rapidly growing and we just got our first big Walmart type store. I'm amazed at how much the place has changed in the past decade.

You can get good child care, and I wrote over on the general forum that I don't pay anything for daycare, but because of our hours, (I agree with delacosta, that's the biggest draw back) I need an additional nanny. I have a nanny/housekeeper, whom I pay 2400 a month.

Schools are another story, my girls are only 2, and they are Mexican. There are no bilingual schools (well, actually there are, but they are Spanish-Mixteco, not Spanish-English) and a rinkydink private school costs 800 a month with annual registration fee of 1500. The better ones are quite a bit more. There aren't any public schools at the moment, the teachers have been on strike since March.

[Vanica]

That was a very strange experience.

[Koos]

FYI, here is some information on the package that was sent to my by the University for a full-time instructor position:


"English classes meet 5 days a week for 55 minute periods. We are currently using the Objective KET and Objective PET textbooks from Cambridge University Press. The department had a self-access center, which includes thirty-two audio stations, and twenty computer stations as well as videos and reading and grammar books.

There are currently 14 English teachers, all native speakers from various countries. The department is supportive and collegial, and in constant development. This is a place where all teachers have the opportunity to take an active part in program development. While many teachers stay here for just one school year, we do have several teachers who have been with us for 5 or more years.

Working hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. These are typical working hours in Mexico, where most people return home for their two hour lunch. Each teacher is responsible for three or four classes a day, The classes last 55 minutes and class size ranges from 15 to 30 students. Teachers also hold office hours for students who need extra help. The remainder of the workday is devoted to lesson-planning and materials development, homework marking or other special projects.

This is a tenure track position. The initial contract is six months long, renewable once if both parties agree. After successful completion of the second contract, there is a tenureship process that involves observations by a review panel of three senior professors, and a short written project focusing on curriculum development. If tenureship is approved you enter into an indefinite contract.

The salary is 11,594.34 Mexican pesos a month after taxes for teachers with a relavant Master�s degree, and 9664.40 per month after taxes for teachers with an undergraduate degree. This is a very good living wage by local standards, but we�ve found that teachers who are trying to pay off student loans in a foreign currency struggle to make their payments.

Other benefits include a fund matching savings plan in which one twelfth of the monthly salary is taken out each month and matched by the university. All the money from the contributors is put into a savings account and each July the money is paid out. At that time the employees receive two months pay plus a share of the interest it made that year, apart from their regular July pay. There is also a Christmas bonus equal to about one month�s pay, so in a sense the university pays 14 months salary a year.

Employees are registered in Mexican Social Security. This general health and emergency care in the socialized medical clinic. There is limited dental care at the clinic. Social Security also runs a housing scheme and teachers earn points towards a housing loan. There is also a social security daycare center for those with small children.

The university also pays into a government sponsored pension plan (AFORE), similar to the US 401K pensions, and provides life insurance.

The university has five weeks paid vacation a year. Two weeks are at Christmastime, one at Easter, and the other two are at the end of July. There are also various national holidays, providing for long weekends through out the year.

Campus is about three kilometers from the Center of Huajuapan on a hillside providing for lovely views of the surrounding mountains. Transportation to and from the university is provided by shared taxis. Most English teachers live in rented rooms, apartments or houses in town. Housing is varied and so are the prices. Teachers pay from USD $80 to $100 for rooms with a private ball, and USD $150 to $300 for apartments or houses. Finding a place requires some footwork, and we are happy to help you in your search. Expect apartments and houses to come unfurnished, rooms usually come with a bed, small table and chair."