Job Discussion Forums

dlarcheuk · Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 58 Location: USA

Hi Friends- I�m excited to find this forum, and the good support you seem to offer each other. I spent too many months trying to work through the Ministries of Education and was beginning to think that it was impossible for an American to find UNIVERSITY teaching jobs in Mexico or other Latin American countries, but clearly it�s not. I�m a tenured full professor in a Big-Ten system and was a Senior Fulbright Scholar to Ukraine in 2003-2004; and I can�t wait to get back into another international professorial assignment. I have way too many degrees and post-docs, too much experience, I�m 58 (I know!)... I also have a gifted wife who is a university ESL teacher. We both have a few years of academic Spanish. Any suggestions on how to find a reasonably-paid professorial position now...for Fall, 2007? Thanks much.

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

I would think that you could contact faculty from the Spanish/Latin American Studies departments at your university. Connections are always a good route to work. If those fall through, you might just want to identify Universities in Mexico (or other parts of Latin America) in cities you are interested in teaching in.

MELEE · Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject:

I'm afraid you're probably too late for this fall.

Someone with your experience and expertise should be teaching English majors, and future English teachers, so that limits your possiblities. A lot of us teaching at universities in Mexico are teaching basic English to engineering and other technical majors.
I met a women who got a fullbright grant to teach at one of the Teacher's college in Mexico State. That would be a great position for you. Otherwise, like MikeySaid said, search for universities in cities that interest you and contact them directly.
I assume you are looking just for a year while on sabbatical? or are you and your wife looking to relocate to Mexico?

dlarcheuk · Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 58 Location: USA

No, we're actually looking to move (at least I am). And although I'll have a lifetime love affair with Ukraine, I�ve been longing for Mexico since I was a sixteen-year old living in the Rio Grande Valley, in love with an enchanting senorita; then again as I studied Spanish in school, university and as my doctoral tool skill; or when I took my college sweetheart on a road trip from Iowa to Monterrey; then again when my lifetime best adult amigo turned out to be Lorenzo Luis Sandoval of Iowa; then again when I served the Governor of Iowa as his Liaison to the Commission for Latino Affairs; then again, when we did six plays from the Mexican American perspective in six years in my Prairie Playwright Festival; and always when I hear the language or think of my many friends South of the border.

It�s time, don�t you think, for me to find Mexico or some other destination in Latin America? By federal regulation, I can only apply for and earn one more Fulbright in my whole life, and I�d like to keep it in reserve for a few years. So I have to do it on my own and on my own merits. So if any of you hear of a Dean, Chair or Director looking for a profesor pronto (even in August!), please send him/her my way. I�ll be out of this tenured full professorship instantly. Ustedes estan muy amable. (Please forgive my sloppy grammar, and accept my thanks.)

Doug

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

If you are serious, there was an opening posted right here in this forum a couple of days ago for a vacancy at the Tec de Monterrey in Mexico City. It sounded like they had a last minute cancellation, so give them a call and start packing because ITESM classes begin in early August. With your experience you should be a shoe-in.

P.S. Someone obviously requested the demise of the post, so it's no longer here. Maybe the person who supposedly "snapped it up"? Wink

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

Always a good idea to get in touch with Tec...they're a national chain.

That particular position posted here this week was snapped up as I'm told. It was for prepa.

dlarcheuk · Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 58 Location: USA

Just as soon as one of you nice people recommended Tec de Monterrey in a private e-mail reply, I wrote a letter and sent it out within two hours; then had it returned for bad addresses; went to the website to get other names and sent again, same result; a third try today, no luck. Anyone have a human being to recommend there who might be reachable? I agree that it's a good idea to be in their file. Thanks again to all.

Doug

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

MELEE · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject:

Why didn't you say you were from Iowa in the first place?
I'll be back in my office on Monday, and I'll do some serious digging for you and be in touch. Wink

dlarcheuk · Joined: 18 Jul 2007 Posts: 58 Location: USA

If you're serious, Melee, please send me a pm and tell me what I can do to help (letters, materials, credentials, rez, pictures of my wife, [whom they called "prekrasny Susan" in Ukraine], testimonials from my good friend, Lorenzo, my family's recipe for twice-baked deep-fried buttermilk bacon-dripping no-sugar cornbread, my first-born [he hovers around 6' 6" and 275, but he doesn't eat much and has a lovely singing voice], or anything else that might help)...

Anyway, thanks for the momentary burst of hope, and Go Hawks (and go Cyclones, Panthers, Storm, Yellowjackets, and any other Iowa FB team you choose)! What's your Iowa connection?