Job Discussion Forums

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I am 99.99% sure that I will be going to Mexico early next year. My university has a long history of sending final-semester Bachelor of Education students to a particular university in Mexico, where we teach ESL for twelve hours per week in exchange for half airfare, accommodation and a small living allowance. While there, we complete our coursework with the Canadian university by correspondance.

I am slightly concerned about the fact that I don't actually sign any contracts. All the paperwork is between the two universities. We've been told to enter the country on tourist visas because technically we are "volunteering" and the airfare, accommodation and living allowance are considered "stipends". My university swears this is legal, and as it's been going on for years I don't think that side of things will be problematic. However, I am concerned that the contract is between the Mexican university and my Canadian university, AND I DON'T EVEN GET TO SEE IT. Both universities will be contacting me (apparently, next week) to outline my responsibilities and the conditions of the "stipend".

The alternative to this arrangement is unthinkable... doing my coursework on-campus and talking about my feelings about teaching every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. So... knowing that I cannot NOT go along with the deal, and knowing that there is absolutely no possibility of my receiving a contract (just a liability waiver Smile

), what kind of precautions can I be taking?

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

I have heard recently of another person in the same situation, working in Estado de Mexico through a university in Texas. Can't offer you more help than that though I'm afraid.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

What university is this? I went to Queen�s a year and so ago and went to Monterrey for 3 weeks to do my final practicum. There, I observed/taught at a private school. I stayed with two teachers from the school and paid my own way down.

The school helped me to set it up but I was in contact with both sides at all times. The issue of a visa never entered my mind (and never came up on either side of the schools helping me make the arrangements).

How long will you be in the country for? Also, have you asked if you can view the contract / agreement that your CND university has? I don�t see any reason why they would say no.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I still haven't been told my start and end dates, but I believe it will be early February to mid-July. So it's quite a substantial period of time. I've done my own research on tourist visas and see that I can get a 90-day visa and then renew when/before it expires.

I will have "contact" with people on both ends, and my university has said that whenever they get new information they will tell me, but I've been told outright that I don't see the contract as it is a private document between the two institutions. They will happily "tell [me] about the contract"...

I just feel like I'm kind of putting all my eggs in one basket - my job, housing and flights are arranged in a contract that I never see.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

That is a long time. When you arrive in the country you can ask at the airport for 180 days and you should be able to get it without too much (any hassle).

Seeing how the school won�t let you see the contract, then I would go and ask them to put you in contact with people who have done exactly what you are about to do. Queen�s had an international job fair in February which is how I got my first job here and the "guidance counselors" (I don�t know what else to call them) were available at all times to talk to and would put you in contact with people who had previous experience working at the school you were interested in or at least the country. Surely the school you are at must have something similar.

Another thing is to also ask to be put in contact with other foreign teachers that work at the Mexican university (be it as a student or as a paid teacher) and see what they have to say. They might have some good advice for you and / or have worked with other students like you and be able to provide some info.

If you don�t mind me asking, what school are you attending and what school are you going to be going to? You can PM me if you would rather not publicly announce it (if you are at all willing to share Very Happy

)

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

They provided us with contact info for the people who did the program before and nobody replied to my emails. I know they really exist because I can see them on the list of my program's alumni... I guess they're just too busy to write back to me (it's been at least a month). I'll ask them about perhaps speaking to another foreign teacher at the university, even if he/she didn't go through the same program as me.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

I don't really think you have anything to worry about. The university is sending you to Mexico to do a practicum. You may be thinking 'but...but I'm the TEACHER!!!!' when in fact, you aren't. You are a student in a placement for a program offered through a university. The situation with Mexico is the same as with any other potential practicum provider, except that it's in another country. In fact, in most countries, if you aren't a direct hire for a private school, but went through a Human Resources company, then often- almost always, in fact- you are paid by the Human Resources company. You sign the contract with the Human Resources company, not the school. There IS a contract between the school and the Human Resouces company, but you don't see it, because it really hasn't got anything to do with you, and if you did see it then you could easily easily figure out the HR company's cut. The school pays the Human Resources company. They know how much they pay the HR company, not how much you get paid. In return the Human Resources company supplies a teacher who meets the requirements of the school. That teacher has a contract with the Human Resources company.

And as you mentioned,

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

It's not really a practicum, in that the 300+ students who choose to stay in Canada do not do a practicum during that period of time, and our teaching performance does not affect our academic standing. By then, I will have done 1.5 school years of practicum!

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

You're still studying, and you aren't really getting paid, other than a stipend. That, in my book, is a practicum (because that is exactly what a practicum / internship is in many fields). Maybe others aren't doing a practicum at that time, but to my mind, you will be. Nothing wrong with it, just the way I see it.

But, whatever, call it what you want, the fact is that it's how paid jobs are done, too, as I mentioned in my earlier post.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

It's November 9th and my university is still unable to provide me with details of WHEN the placement starts and ends and WHERE I will be living. As I have to book my own flights, this is getting rather frustrating. I don't even know what MONTH I start in- it could be January or February. Heck, I don't even really know if I'm going. Is it normal for term-abroad programs to be this last-minute?