Job Discussion Forums

[El Macho]

I am studying for an MLitt in ELT at a well-regarded UK university, and am considering teaching in Mexico to teach after I'm through.
I have several years experience teaching ESOL and am a fluent Spanish speaker. My undergraduate degree was in Spanish and TESL, and I put myself through university working as a Spanish-English medical interpreter.

My interest is in teaching university or high school students, preferably in Puebla or Oaxaca. However, if somehow there is great money do be made doing corporate gigs, I'd consider that.

My questions for you:

1. What sort of salary could I hope for?
2. When (and where) does the job search begin? When do schools start to hire?
3. What other questions should I be asking?

My primary interest is making enough money to be able to save for the future. However, I love Mexico enough that I'm willing to take a slight pay cut compared to teaching other countries to be able to live there.

�Muchas gracias, y saludos!

[Prof.Gringo]

[Writer]

I doubt you'll be able to save money working here. While I was working at a university, I was able to pay our way and afford a trip back home (or to travel a little bit), but that was it. I'm currently teaching at a language school and that pays for expenses. If you want to save money, I'd look into teaching in the Middle East, or maybe Korea.

[geaaronson]

Unfortunately, what Prof. Gringo says has a ring of truth to it. There are even more problems than what he outlines. I worked at one colegio in which the department chair required students to buy six textbooks for each course, regardless whether their teachers used all of them. She and the director of the school both got a cut from the sale of each book. She also instructed teachers to fail students she did not like personally.
At another school, classes were 3 hours long, 5 days a week, for three weeks. I remember well the director of the school chasing a pony-tailed male student of mine down the stairwell, screaming that she was going to make him cut his hair off.
And in some parts of the country, university classes are scheduled in block. Students begin their college career with a large group of peers with whom they take the same classes. Should they fail a subject, they have two opportunities to pass a makeup final exam, failing both, they get kicked out of school and have to wait a year before they can return to school. Needless to say, there is pressure for teachers to pass students on.

[TheLongWayHome]

[wildchild]

what kind of salary?

around 10,000 pesos minimum. when converted into pounds or dollars, it isn't much. but by local standards, it's not bad, considering some flats go for between 1,000 - 2,000. so it's ok. but you won't be able to buy a mercedez like others in town...


When and where does the job search begin?

Early June and early January. I'd fire off emails, and let them know that you're coming to Mexico, and request an interview around your arrival time. Follow up with a phone call a few days later. Hopefully then you'll have some leads.

You can google schools, or perhaps folks here will give you a list.


What other questions should you be asking?

"What's the hardest part about roller-blading?"

[Tretyakovskii]

El Macho, sounds like you'll have good credentials, which should mean you can get a job at university, should you decide to work in Mexico.

[fishmb]

If the OP (or me) wants to apply for university jobs that start in the fall (that's when the universities in Mexico start, right?) when should we start applying? June or (gulp) January??

[TheLongWayHome]