Job Discussion Forums

[GregMac]

I'm stressing over some decisions I have to make within the next month or two and was hoping that I could write them clearly enough for you all to understand and offer your two cents.

Some background: I taught english for a year (2001-2002) in Mexico and loved it. I returned to the states in order to save up some money and earn my TEFL certificate with the hopes of one day returning to Mexico to teach for a university. That day is approaching as I hope to begin teaching for the August 2004 semester.

The facts: I still need to complete a TEFL course. I was originally planning on attending a CELTA course in Boston ($2600 + one month's living expenses). This course would end July 3. I found another CELTA course that is being offered through International House (a reputable Spanish Institution) in Playa Del Carmen ($1500 + one month's living expenses) This course is apparently fairly new as I have not been able to find any information about it other than what is posted on it's website (ihrivieramaya.com). This course will end June 25.

The dilemma: Do I go with the more expensive, established school in Boston or the new, cheaper school on the beach in Playa Del Carmen. Both schools offer the CELTA, a great TEFL certificate. But my primary concern is maximizing my marketability while job searching in July. The other part of the dilemma is that I would not be able to begin my job search until early-mid July if I attend the Boston school. I will be able to begin the job search in late June/early July if I attend IH in Playa Del Carmen.

The questions: What does everybody think the university's preference would be regarding a Boston CELTA vs. a Playa Del Carmen CELTA, if any. And when does a university typically start hiring? Finally, which course should I take!?!?

If anyone actually got through this post and actually responds, que dios te bendiga. Ciao.[/u]

[Ben Round de Bloc]

Keep in mind that I'm only familiar with the Southeast, and things vary greatly throughout the country. They even vary a lot just in this area of the country.

Just my opinion here, but I doubt that it would make a huge difference to most employers where you took your CELTA.

You didn't mention where in Mexico you'd like to teach or at what kind of university. If you're considering the Southeast, where I am, there could be a bit of a Catch-22 to your plans. If you're interested in teaching at a state university, most would hire you based only on your MA degree (almost impossible to get hired without one) and your year's experience teaching EFL in Mexico. Those who do the hiring at state universities might have heard of CELTA, since most state universities are under the "guidance" of the British Council, at least in this part of the country. However, with MA + a year's EFL teaching experience, an EFL teaching certificate wouldn't be necessary. Those who do the hiring at private universities might be more lenient on degree requirements, but most of them probably wouldn't know CELTA from SCHMELTA (or any TEFL certificate from anywhere) and would most likely hire you based on a BA degree + your EFL teaching experience, if having teachers with MA degrees isn't one of their priorities. At the state university where I teach, hiring teachers with advanced degrees definitely is a priority.

I think the month of July is a little late to start looking for university jobs for fall semester. At best you'd be getting in on the tail end of hiring at that time, last minute vacancies and most likely very part-time, which is all you'd get at most state universities as a new teacher anyway. It might be a different story at private universities, however. It would be better if you could make initial contacts in person during June, but even if you were in Playa, you'd be too busy with the course to travel to make contacts.

The timing for either course (Boston or Playa) isn't the best. Most of the month of August in this part of the country is "dead." Universities are closed for summer break until almost the end of August with classes starting at various times during the first half of September.

Also, few if any teachers land university jobs right away when they come to a city in this part of Mexico. Those with qualifications needed for university jobs often bide their time working at private language schools (where they're usually over-qualified degree-wise) until something opens up at a university. There are always exceptions, of course.

[lozwich]

Hi,

I agree with everything Ben Round de Bloc says, but just a little thing to add with regards to the cost.

When I did my CELTA in Australia, it didn't really matter where I did it in terms of the fee, because it is an amount set by Cambridge. I don't understand how the cost could be different at different institutions, unless there was some shenanigans going on (sorry, not feeling highly articulate this morning). Have a look at the Cambridge website www.cambridge-efl.org for more information, and maybe a place where you can ask. By the way, CELTA in Australia is about $AUD2600, so $US1500 sounds about right to me.

Good luck,
Lozwich.

[Guy Courchesne]

You have a few other options for a TEFL course in Mexico...email me if you would like to know more about Acapulco, Guadalajara, or Mexico City courses.

[email protected]

[GregMac]

Just the pros I was hoping to illicit responses from. I have been reading your posts for a long time now and would like to say thanks for being so dedicated to helping others out. So, thanks and I'll see you in Mexico.

[MELEE]

Greg,

I do the English teaching hiring at a university. And help the other universities in my new system with their hiring. In order to be considered to work here the minimum requirements are BA in anything +CELTA, and 1 year classroom teaching experience or an MA (or occasionally a BA) in TEFL or TESOL or something like that, plus one year teaching experience. While not having an MA would not disqualify you from getting hired here, we have some many highly qualified applicants that usually we can pick the cream of the crop. Other factors I consider in hiring include some ablitiy to speak Spanish, and some indication of stability (we perfer people looking to stay more than a year.)

I think either CELTA would be a good choice, but to try to contact the IH about who the instructors will be on their Playa del Carmen course. One pluse of taking the CELTA in Mexico, is that your practice class would be monolingual, if you took it in Boston I assume the students in your teaching practice classes would be mixed, and I think that that makes a big difference as the two types of teaching can be quite different. I would go for a CELTA over any other type of certificate, as I would hire CELTA holders over any other type of certificate.

[Ben Round de Bloc]