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gurley

May 23, 2003, 5:00 PM

Post #1 of 22 (1667 views)

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Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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I've enjoyed everything I could read on Mexconnect about Teaching English as a Foreign Language, including Don Adams' excellent 4-part series. I would welcome anyone's comments on these questions:

If I obtain a one-month TEFL certificate from a decent school, will I be able to obtain a job as an English teacher without prior experience? I do not want to live in the largest cities; places I'm particularly interested in include: Guanajuato, Patzcuaro, Morelia, Xalapa, Queretaro, San Miguel, Chapala (smaller- to middle-sized highland communities).

Will my age, into the 50s now, work against me? I'm hoping that the fact that I'm "mature," serious about a longer-term commitment (not there, then gone), and wanting to contribute to the local community will be pluses in the eyes of potential employers.

Are employers generally willing to help with obtaining FM3 paperwork? Does the government consider this type of work worthy of obtaining a work permit? Will I legally be able to work in this profession?

I'm hoping that an anticipated desire to speak English fluently, as a means of improving one's livelihood in the Mexican community, might ensure me of some eager students.

I welcome any insights! I'll be coming in August/September to try to scope out some possibilities.

Thanks!

Rose
God Bless the World - No Exceptions!

gpk

May 27, 2003, 12:42 PM

Post #2 of 22 (1629 views)

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Re: [gurley] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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I've taught English in Mexico (Leon, Guanajuato) for the last 3 years. I was 50 when I started, and I had no experience teaching (I'm a lawyer) or TEFL training.

As a native speaker you can almost definitely get a job teaching English, but...

--the TEFL certificate may help you as a teacher, but probably won't help get a job.

--If you have a bachelor's degree or better, try getting work at a university--the pay and working conditions are much better than at English schools.

--Skip San Miguel--English teachers there work as volunteers--(no pay).

--Many schools don't require an FM3 (although the law does!), so may not help. If they won't cooperate, you cannot do it without them.

--All universities will require an FM3 and all will help--to varying degrees. You'll probably have to pay for the visa yourself, though.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

gurley

May 27, 2003, 3:12 PM

Post #3 of 22 (1621 views)

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Re: [gpk] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Hola GPK,

Thanks so much for your response - I'm creatively and enthusiastically trying to develop opportunities and the game plan for my husband's and my expatriate life in Mexcio.

I would absolutely love to work at a University. I do have a Master's Degree (in Nutrition); my husband has a B.A. (in Para-legal training; but works in book publishing and has an excellent use of English). My "dream-come-true" would be to teach English at a University, while studying to become truly proficient in Spanish; and then explore the possibility of teaching nutrition and diabetes care, perhaps in a nursing program. I will certainly try to work with nutrition, in some capacity, at least as a volunteer.

Do you teach at a University? Can you tell me a bit about how you went about finding your job? Would you suggest developing a resume; could it be written in English or is it important to do so in Spanish? How would you suggest that I try to make some contacts when we come to Mexico? I wonder if people will be available to question in late-August, early-September (is that when university folks are on holiday)?

We are hoping to be able to get by, with simple needs met, on our expatriate wage - for the most part. If we felt fairly assured that we would not need to significantly "spend-down" our meager retirement monies, we would simply hope that those monies might grow a bit, on their own, while we live and experience immersion in Mexico.

I really appreciate your replying to my questions. It is very exciting to have the opportunity to communicate with someone who is "living our dream." Whether you reply personally or to all, thanks so much for your information!

Fondly,

Rose
God Bless the World - No Exceptions!

gpk

May 27, 2003, 5:14 PM

Post #4 of 22 (1605 views)

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Re: [gurley] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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With college degrees, you will both be able to teach at a university. Virtually every university teaches English, but most fall classes start in late August, so your arrival may cause you to miss a semester. You could get fill-in work at an English school. Pay is terrible (could be under US$5.00 per hour!!), but their classes are on a monthly cycle.

You will need to have your diplomas apostilled to get your FM3. Do a search here to get the details, but basically, the Secretary of State of the state where the degree was granted certifies a copy of your degree. It's a minor pain, but it's easier to do there, before you get here.

You'll have to go to the university IN PERSON when you arrive. They won't deal with long-distance applications. Take a resume (in English was OK for me) and a copy of your apostilled degree. Not to dampen your dream, but I make about US$12.00 per hour working for one of the best universities (Tec de Monterrey). A friend makes US18.00 per hour at a different university (Iberoamericana). I don't teach to live--that would be very hard. I actually teach Mexican professors and all they do is WORK--just to get by.

Iberoamericana has a nutrition degree program--maybe you could teach IN ENGLISH. Universities here are sometimes requiring that some courses be taken in English. Check Ibero's website for locations.

Spanish courses are actually hard to find in non-tourist areas because there is no demand. Private tutoring is possible, but the tutor will charge as much as you make per hour. The schools don't care if you speak Spanish--and I once had to sign an agreement NOT to speak Spanish in my English class--very easy to do since my Spanish is pretty terrible.

Also--bring a GOOD English dictionary (not English/Spanish) and several good grammar books. Get some that cover various levels of grammar. Amazon has lots of these, and it's easier and cheaper to bring them than to order them after you are here.

This doesn't cover everything, of course. Again, let me know if you think of more specific questions. I love Mexico and I(usually) love teaching, so good luck and dive right in!

Carol Schmidt

May 27, 2003, 5:48 PM

Post #5 of 22 (1602 views)

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Re: [gurley] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Read everything on MexConnect on getting a work permit first--not that easy to obtain, I hear, though I haven't investigated firsthand. I do know many gringos who get turned down in San Miguel for one. You can't take a job a Mexican could do, but teaching English is one where you'd probably be more qualified!

The Mexican federal government issues minimum wages for various regions and jobs each year, and the last one averaged $4.20 A DAY U.S. for most jobs. The highest job listed was journalist, which was something like $11 a day, and even registered nurses and social workers got something like $6.50 a day. Of course most people earn more than minimum wage, even as in the U.S., but those figures might help keep you grounded in your expectations.

Carol Schmidt

Guapo Gabacho

Jun 19, 2003, 11:42 AM

Post #6 of 22 (1540 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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A trick I was taught by a French woman in Cd. Victoria, Tamps. was to get a work permit to open handicraft shop as a basketweaver and be self employed. She then had the papers that an English school would accept. I am only offering her "tip" in the manner I understood it, but the proceedure may differ. She told me it was all quite easy. Maybe her success was due to her being a slim beautiful blonde.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.

esperanza

Jun 19, 2003, 5:45 PM

Post #7 of 22 (1513 views)

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Re: [Guapo Gabacho] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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A work permit is a permit to do a specific job, hence your 'slim beautiful blonde' friend was incorrect. Her 'papers that an English school would accept' would have been useless if they showed that she was a basketweaver with her own crafts store.

In other words, first you get the job AND the paperwork for the work permit, then you get the work permit. If you later change jobs, you have to get a different work permit.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Guapo Gabacho

Jun 21, 2003, 7:43 AM

Post #8 of 22 (1462 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Esperanza,

All things are possible in Mexico. My wife, a Mexican, has a drivers License from Tamaulipas and she has never been behind the wheel nor taken a test. She also is slim and beautiful, just not blonde.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.

esperanza

Jun 21, 2003, 7:56 AM

Post #9 of 22 (1458 views)

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Re: [Guapo Gabacho] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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I also have a Mexican drivers license and have never taken a test. And I'm neither slim, beautiful, nor blonde. Go figure.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Guapo Gabacho

Jun 21, 2003, 7:58 AM

Post #10 of 22 (1457 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Hers was 50 Pesos (extra, propina). Yours?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.

(This post was edited by Guapo Gabacho on Jun 21, 2003, 7:58 AM)

jennifer rose

Jun 21, 2003, 8:34 AM

Post #11 of 22 (1447 views)

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Re: [Guapo Gabacho] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Well, I am beautiful and blonde. And I took the driving test to get my Michoacan driver's license. And passed. The test only involving answering some questions about the rules of the road, and since I drive a Suburban, they gave me a chauffeur's license.

The only concession they made to me was to pull me out of the line, saying "You don't need to wait in line." I attribute it to wearing my good pearls to the driver's license station.

And the entire process took a whopping 15 minutes. No propina.

(This post was edited by jennifer rose on Jun 21, 2003, 8:39 AM)

esperanza

Jun 21, 2003, 11:48 AM

Post #12 of 22 (1429 views)

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Re: [Guapo Gabacho] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Propina? No.

And I revise my estimate of myself, now that I'm somewhat more awake and have my lipstick on...I am beautiful, but still not blonde and slim.

Perhaps we should mount a 'Miss MexConnect' beauty pageant. We could invite Pedro back as a judge, and get UJ and UD and...lemme see...ROLLY, of course! Unless we should have a "Guapo de MexConnect" pageant and Jennifer and I will judge, and Ms Peggy, and mexigirl.

David can't be a judge OR a contestant, since he's the founder of the feast.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Rolly

Jun 21, 2003, 12:27 PM

Post #13 of 22 (1421 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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I'd be a great judge. I'd give everybody a 10.

We should have a gordo contest so I could win. The last time I won anything was a cake at a football game when I was in high school back in the first half of the last century.

So we can keep this on the original topic -- I was once a middle-aged teacher. Also in the last century.

Damn! It is hot in Lerdo today. Summer is starting with a sizzle.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

(This post was edited by Rolly on Jun 21, 2003, 12:42 PM)

Uncle Jack

Jun 21, 2003, 12:33 PM

Post #14 of 22 (1418 views)

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Rolly, just remember.....

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.....you're not alone.

Inside every old man there lives a good looking young stud who keeps wondering what the Hell happened?

uj

(This post was edited by Uncle Jack on Jun 21, 2003, 12:34 PM)

mexigrl

Jun 21, 2003, 8:32 PM

Post #15 of 22 (1391 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Is that me you were thinking of as a judge.....if so thanks for the thought ;) I have judged a Male Hot Body Contest in Cancun if that gives me the proper credentials. Nothing more amusing than watching men prance around in their Speedos (probably should save that story for a different thread!)

Mexigrl

esperanza

Jun 22, 2003, 11:07 AM

Post #16 of 22 (1369 views)

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Re: [mexigrl] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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But of course it was you~your fame as a judge precedes you. LOLLLLLLLLLLLL...now I wanna see these guys on here in Speedos.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Rolly

Jun 22, 2003, 12:28 PM

Post #17 of 22 (1362 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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For a small consideration, I'll promise NOT to show up in mine.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

Georgia

Jun 22, 2003, 2:42 PM

Post #18 of 22 (1351 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Rolly, you could wear your despacio instead of your Speedo!

esperanza

Jun 22, 2003, 2:53 PM

Post #19 of 22 (1350 views)

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Re: [Georgia] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Carcajadas here. Very funny, Georgia, his despacio.

AND...I forgot, Carol from San Miguel gets to be a judge too.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Uncle Jack

Jun 22, 2003, 3:51 PM

Post #20 of 22 (1338 views)

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So far........

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......we seem to have a lot of judges and Damned few volunteers to be contestants.

uj

Rolly

Jun 22, 2003, 4:14 PM

Post #21 of 22 (1333 views)

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Re: [Georgia] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Georgia,

I have only three speedos: despacio, muy despacio, y alto. Most of the time I perfer alto.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

mexigrl

Jun 22, 2003, 4:58 PM

Post #22 of 22 (1328 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Future as a Middle-Aged English Teacher?!

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Rolly if this was the personality portion of the contest I would vote for you ;) Speedo...now I get it (a little slow on the uptake!).

Mexigrl