Job Discussion Forums

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject: A sad joke?

I saw this ad for an English teacher:

Profesora(o) de ingles cuente con Teachers y tenga buen dominio del idioma (preferentemente FCE)
Experiencia en preescolar, primaria y/o secundaria.

"Empresa: MOD EDIT
Localidad: Playa Vicente (Distrito Federal)
Sector: Educaci�n
Profesiones relacionadas: Profesor de idiomas,Language Teacher
Tipo de contrato: Temporal, Jornada Completa
Experiencia m�nima: 1 a�os
Fecha de publicaci�n: 12-08-2009
Salario: 4000 MXN Mexico Pesos / Mes"

It's a few weeks old. The pay is $4,000 pesos per month.

This is not uncommon at many private colegios and language schools in Mexico. Full time teachers making less than even $6,000 pesos per month. No housing of course. This is aimed at local (Mexican) teachers.

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

More fool the companies, if they think that they will grow and get a good reputation employing the kind of teacher prepared to work for that. To use a clich� - if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 1:20 am Post subject:

Sadly many schools pay these kinds of wages. I won't waste my time going for an interview unless they tell me how much they pay upfront. If they hesitate or refuse it's usually because it's a low wage and they know it.

Take a close look at the ad. They want a teacher with at least one year of experience and a TEFL cert. A TEFL cert is not cheap.

Let's put this into perspective:
Professionals average $10,000 pesos per month.
Language schools usually pay no lower than $7,000 per month.
Security guards make between $4,000 to $6,000 per month. 9th grade education.
Costco workers make $5,000 per month.
Wal-Mart workers make $3,500 per month.
Unskilled laborers and factory workers get about $3,000 pesos per month.

All of the above are in Mexico City.

I should make a note: Schools that pay these low wages tend to be small, shoe-string outfits. Not just language schools, but also colegios teaching kids. The stigma of public education is so strong that even in poor, working class barrios parents try to send their kids to private schools. Many of these schools are small, cramped affairs. They hire mostly Mexican teachers that graduated from a free teachers college (escuela normal) and can't find work. The English teachers often barely speak English.

Professor · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 449 Location: Mexico City

Professor · Joined: 22 May 2009 Posts: 449 Location: Mexico City

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:00 pm Post subject:

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject:

yankeechemist · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 50

I was offered a job and I was going to take it in 06 at a catholic high school, the pay was 18000 US yr. I wish I would have!

CharlieBaloney · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Posts: 52 Location: Ciudad de Mexico

The Catholic prep school where I work started me at 12,000 pesos a month for a 20 hour week. Yankeechemist, they sometimes have openings (esp. in July/August).