Job Discussion Forums

[Mexicobound]

I have a phone interview with this school.
Anyone familiar with the school or know someone who has worked there?
I am interviewing for a 7th-9th grade English teaching position.
Is it a good school?
Any information on the housing provided by the school?
How is the living in Terreon?
Any public golf courses?
Any local/close trails for riding mountain bikes?(within 10 miles of the city)
I have searched online for both but I am only getting private golf clubs and not much about mountain biking in Torreon.

[TheLongWayHome]

The poster MikeySaid can tell you about Torreon. I think he's still around, if not PM him.

[Mexicobound]

[dixie]

I lived in Torreon for a year. I don't know anything about the Ingles though, I worked elsewhere.

Torreon is, in my opinion, one of the worst spots in Mexico; it's ugly, it's isolated and apparently the narcos are moving in (there was a full out gun fight right around the corner from where I had once lived!).

All golf courses are private; that's just the way it is here in Mexico. I use to live a couple of blocks from one (in Colonia Campestre).

I suspect between the narcos and the piggy flu hysteria Torreon will have trouble recruiting new teachers so you might want to keep that in mind in terms of negotiating pay and what it might mean for your work load (should you receive and accept a position).

I do currently work with a teacher who also lived in Torreon several years back and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Mexicobound]

Thanks Dixie,
I am going to move this offer to the back burner.
I had another interview for a school in Queretaro and it seems like a much better offer than Torreon.
By the way, I am looking for something in the DF as well; if you know of any good schools looking for a certified English teacher (I teach English in Texas) would you please let me know.

[TheLongWayHome]

[Mexicobound]

[MikeySaid]

Sooooo...

I thought i sent a message on here but i guess I only composed and then moved along to something else.

Anyhow:

To answer your questions about Colegio Ingles here in Torreon, it's probably the best of the primary/secondary schools. If you teach 7-9 you'll definitely have the elite of the city, the others studying at Americano or maybe the Montessori or a Catholic school, but generally Colegio Ingles has some of the best educated students and most demanding clients, errr, parents.

its location in the city is advantageous as it is near a new hub of development which is the Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM) campus.

as for outdoor activities, golf is available at a few places and the campestre in the neighboring city of gomez (15-20 minutes by car) might cost around 250 pesos per round. i think it's substantially more costly to go to the campestre torreon, azulejos or montebello.

mountain biking trails can be had but will require a drive out of the city of around 45 mintues to places like flor de jimulco, canyon de fernandez or villa juarez.

oh, the housing at the school... i've only been able to see one of the buildings they have ( i think there's two ) and its kind of like an apartment complex a block away from the school so it's convenient. I don't know how nice it is but i've not heard any complaints from the teachers who reside there.

torreon's not the greatest place in the world and you'd probably like queretaro more.... but......

here in torreon the middle class existence of carnes asadas, convivios, quintas, etc can be very enjoyable if you manage your time, like your students and your administrators and branch out and make friends who are locals.

[Mexicobound]

Thanks MikeySaid.

Both schools said they would be sending me an email with information today or tomorrow.
Good to know the school is respected, that makes this option more appealing.
Only thing I don't like is the group housing. I have been living by myself for over 10 years, but the woman I interviewed with said there might be housing near the school. But I would have to find at my own expense.
If I am making (after taxes) 9,000 Pesos a month do you think I could find a small furnished apartment near the school for 1000-1500 pesos a month?
Thanks again for your help.

[MikeySaid]

2000 a month... furnished... could be difficult

check elsiglodetorreon.com.mx but i havent seen furnished for less than 3000-3500

if youre looking for higher pay and good living, check out colegio americano

in the past it's been rumored that they pay 9000 pesos a month plus 3-500 dollars AND there's a year-end bonus. plus, teachers get a membership or some kind of access to montebello and you mentioned you were interested in playing golf.

check colegio americano's website... http://www.cat.mx/employmentpackage.php I don't know if the info on the site is up to date but they definitely pay better than Ingles and the last person i talked to who was there was getting the montebello deal so it's worth looking at for a golfer.


plus, if you pull in 21k a year down here that's roughly 22 thousand pesos a month... then renting your own HOUSE wouldn't be out of the question.
-mike

[Julieanne]

I know some people that worked for Colegio Ingles in Monterrey and did not like it at all.

[Samantha]

The OP is asking about the Torreon campus. It can be like night and day from one city to another here as to how a school is run.

[Mexicobound]

[Samantha]

I'm a firm believer that you bloom where you are planted, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder....etc. Good luck.

[MikeySaid]

Dont forget to apply for Colegio Americano. Pay there is MUCH better than any other colegio in the city. if youre willing to be here, you might as well make some cash while you�re at it.

I�ve been having a great time lately down here. Having a job you like makes ALL the difference in the world.