Job Discussion Forums

aliaeli · Joined: 04 Jun 2008 Posts: 46

Hi, I'm Eli.

I just moved to Mexico City from Kansas. I am here for quite a few reasons, 1. I always wanted to live abroad after university. 2.) Become truly fluent in Spanish. 3.) Be near my sister community (a Sufi order) that is located here in the city 4.) And to be with my boyfriend that I met in the aforementioned community last year.

Now that I am here, I am trying to figure out exactly what I want to do. Right now, I am thinking to return to the university to take classes in Spanish. My Spanish is good enough that I could probably struggle through Bachelors level Spanish classes. I know I don't want to take Spanish language classes, I think I would benefit more from classes in Spanish and learn about a new subject like business or psychology.

Also, I am thinking that I want to give my own private classes. I like the idea of working for myself. To see what I can do on my own.

I am curious to know what everybody else is doing here? Why Mexico (especially if you are in D.F., why D.F? It's definately not the sexiest or the cheapest of all foreign cities).
And what do you do here? Are you working, going to school? Do you teach secundaria, language instutites, at businesses, on your own, or a mix of everything?

Also, if I teach private classes here in D.F. what's the going rate? $140-150 pesos per hour? What about small groups? What if I also want to teach in a colonial muy retirado (far away ((isn't it funny when you can't think of the word in your first language first?!)) and where people make a lot less money? Should I charge half there? I mention this because my boyfriend and his family live at the edge of the city and I have already had many people here ask about private or small group lessons for their children. And should I charge even less for children? Either in the center of the city or where I live?

Thanks for any advice and for telling me your stories Smile

Eli

thelmadatter · Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject: meet in person

I think you might want to meet some of us crazy DFers in person to get our stories. A number of us hang out together like Guy Courchesne, dixie, gearronson, MO39, FreddyM among others..... PM me and I can give you my cel number.

MO39 · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 12:16 am Post subject:

We'll all be happy to meet you at our next get-together. In the meantime, feel free to PM me with any questions you may have.

Mexico City is an amazing and at times infuriating place to live, but it's always full of surprises. Who would have thought that there was a Sufi community here? Surprised

MELEE · Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject:

UNAM has a program in Latin American Studies--taught in Spanish, but aimed at foriegners, that you might want to look at. I believe you can do two semesters and get a certificate of Latin American Studies. That might be a good place to start, it would give you a chance to perfect your academic--especially written Spanish with profs who are acustomed to teaching foriegners.