Job Discussion Forums

[SpaceTone]

Having read through previous postings, there are quite a few from people earning 20k plus in DF. I was wondering if it�s possible to make that kind of money without teaching kids?
As a business/privates teacher I could rarely get beyond the 15k mark, a reasonable amount definitely but not enough (in my opinion) to build a real future in DF (buy a house, start a family etc)
Are there any options to make a higher, and more stable, income without teaching kids? I�ve heard examining and teacher training are pretty lucrative, has anyone had experience in these areas they could share?
Additional studies like a BA/MA in ESL aren�t feasible in my situation, but things like ICELT/DELTA, which I believe could be done whilst working, are.
Any insights/experiences appreciated.
Cheers

[Prof.Gringo]

[mejms]

[Guy Courchesne]

30,000 would be tough to hold together over a period teaching on your own...doable but that's a lot of work. It is as much tracking down new students/companies as teaching I think.

I don't think the DELTA track takes you much further than teacher training at the British Council or International House and there, you're not looking at more than 20k. If someone knows better, please share with us.

There's always the idea of moving out of the classroom and into management...a program coordinator at a place like Peterson earns fairly well and doesn't teach directly. That takes a few other intermediate steps, courses, and additional experience of course, but it is another path to take.

[MotherF]

[EFLeducator]

Some very important considerations must have been overlooked by some but what you must consider when teaching in Mexico City is the following.

1. MANY language institutes, colegios, and private students will NOT pay you on time.

2. Many will cancel leaving you with less dinero than you had planned on.

You see, TEFLing salaries in Mexico City is like a roller coaster...it goes up and then down, up and then down. It will be very hard to budget regardless of what some say.

And this, I make 20,000 a month statement?? Well, let's just say that 20,000 a month WILL fluctuate more than the blood pressure of Calderon.

FAIR...& BALANCED.

[SpaceTone]

[Guy Courchesne]

ICELT and DELTA are two to start with, but coordinators deal a lot with testing systems, particularly the Cambridge ESOL suite. Getting experience with test prep courses and materials. I think the British Council has courses for teachers on FCE, PET, etc.

Now that you've said 1.5 years experience, then I also add that you need more classroom experience, in a larger institution with adults or put in at least a year with the kids.

Are you involved with Mextesol? Might be worth your time to join the group and start asking around. You get teachers, coordinators, and publishers all under one roof.

[MotherF]

Not everyone is cut out for working with kids.
I enjoyed it in Japan, but the kids came to me for no more than 1 hour than left the room. I was able to (and enjoyed) keep them focused on the task at hand for that time period. But I really don't think I could be a regular classroom teacher who has the kids all day or even half day at a bilingual school! As a parent, I'm really glad that there are people who do do that!

There is a wide variety of options in terms of paying for distance MAs, it is possible to find some with payment plans. A lack of an MA will not completely exclude you from university work, but having one will often get you more money and make you more competitive while you try to get there.

As for examining--the way it works in Mexico is that Cambridge ESOL only trains teachers who's institutions want them to be examiners--so first you have to have a job in a place that wants to give exams, then you get the training for it. IF you arrive in Mexico already a certified examiner then it is possible to pick up hours examining at institutes in major cities free lance.

[mejms]

[Enchilada Potosina]

[EFLeducator]

[donato]

[Enchilada Potosina]

[Prof.Gringo]