Job Discussion Forums

christmas · Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: 49

I have a burning desire to teach English in Mexico. I've just returned home to Canada from Asia. I would like to get a University job or Primary School job if I can at least get $10,000/mo. I have experience teaching both.
Anyway, I don't know where in Mexico to start looking. The one thing I know is that I don't want to be in a remote impoverished area. I had enough of that in China.
I really want to go to Mexico to learn Spanish and to be immersed in the culture.
I would like to know how to find listings of government run schools so that I can figure out a good location.
Does anyone have some good advice. I gather that I need to be in Mexico in order to find a teaching job. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you.

toocaty · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 4:28 pm Post subject: SEP

hi, the SEP (secretaria de educacion publico) public school board, has a web site. it is http://www.sep.gob.mx/wb you may want to try looking in there, but not sure if you'll find a school listing. most schools here are incorperated with the sep but are not gov't schools. they are private schools.

are you sure you want a gov't school? they have like 40 kids to a class, and don't start teaching english until jr.high. where it is "hi my name is____ how are you?

there are a lot of opportunities in private schools. i suggest taking a vacation to the city you would like to be in and picking up a phone book and finding the school section. then call around.
or pick the city you would like to be in and find a website either for a newpaper or social activities of that city, there will more than likely be adds for schools.

craigslist.com is a good place ot find jobs in also....

hope this has been of some help.

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

I'd love to know what you are basing your comments on, especially about the workings of SEP and public schools. How long have you been working in Mexico? Thanks.

toocaty · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 5:02 pm Post subject: sep

Hi,
I have lived here for 9yrs now. I have never worked in the SEP, but i have heard about it, and i do know mexican teachers that work there. I have recieved students that come from govn't schools, and have talked to the parents about it. They start teaching english as a second language the same as we in canada start teaching french. it starts in jr high and is pretty basic. so you would have to look into teaching in jr high or in high school.
also another thing to note, they have turns. as in a group of kids go to school from soemthing like 7 to 1:30 and then antoher bunch come from 2 to 6 not to sure on the times... but there are more students than schools, so they have two sessions. students either go to school in the morning or in the afternoon. teachers can chose to teach both turns or just one, and obviously the wage is more for both.

this is specifically for vallarta, but i do know that there are more children than gov't schools available.
i have friends from mexico city that have told me that it is a draw for high school, if you weren't drawn you have to go somewhere else...

FreddyM · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 180 Location: Mexico

I don't think it's that easy getting a job as a teacher at a government public school (non-university level). Those positions are pretty much doled out by the teacher's union. And you'll have to have all the right SEP credentials to even be authorized for the possibility of being offered a position. I've heard the pay is not that great either. I have relatives who are Mexican who've jumped through all the SEP hoops to get teaching jobs in a public school and it hasn't been easy for them. I can't imagine it being easier for a foreigner to land a job there.
Your best bet would be trying to find a gig at a private school, credential requirements are more flexible, especially for English teaching, and the pay would probably be higher.