Teaching at Universities in Mexico

A good discussion developing at the ESL Cafe on getting teaching work at universities in Mexico.

Foodie asks:

Hi all,

First of all, I want to commend all of you for the wonderfully informative posts about teaching in Mexico. I've read many of them--some of them even multiple times--and found them very helpful.

I've been wondering about the best way to go about obtaining a university job in Mexico.

Here's some info. about me, if that helps:
1. Moderately fluent Spanish speaker and native English speaker
2. MA in TESOL
3. 1-2 years part time teaching experience and over 3 years of tutoring experience

Here are a few ways I'm thinking of applying for university jobs in Mexico:

1. Applying to jobs posted online (there are a few universities in Oaxaca that have posted at eslemployment.com and esljobs.com)

2. Flying to my city of choice, showing up at the Centro de Idiomas at the local university, and asking if there are any openings (I'd try to arrive around January or August). Right now, I'm looking at Oaxaca City, Guadalajara, Manzanillo (Colima), Salamanca (Guanajuato), or Xalapa (Veracruz).

3. Looking up universities online and emailing the director of the Centro de Idiomas at the ones that interest me. However, I'm not exactly sure what the best time to do this would be. And I have a feeling that the director would still want to interview me in person, which I don't mind flying to Mexico for as long as I know there are openings at a few universities so that I'm not left in a lurch.

Of the three options, which one(s) do you think would be the most fruitful? Also, what are good times of the year to start sending emails and what are good times to arrive in Mexico?

Thank you in advance for your suggestions!

MotherF responds:

I would suggest a three pronged approach. In many cases landing a job will be a case of being in the right place at the right time. So do as much as possible to get you or your resume into that right place.

People leave and positions open up at just about anytime of the year, but more positions will open for the start of the semester--which is Feb and August, so in January and July are good times to look. For fall openings, schools might now further in advance so may start recruiting earlier. But it often depends on both student enrollment as people leaving positions. And in Mexico schools are not big on early pre-enrollment, so often times are hiring on fairly short notice--that's why the people who are in the right place at that time get a job.

Leslie adds:

I have worked at the language center and the main campus for the Tec de Monterrey. I like it there. They pay well for Mexico, on-time, and do the paper work for your working visa (although you pay for it). The Tec does everything legit, and you are enrolled in the public health care system.

You can work in the language center, the prepa (high school), or the university. They want people with masters so if there is a position open you would probably get it. The better jobs (i.e. more pay, some full-time positions with better benefits like accomodation supplement) are in prepa and university.

I got my job by walking into the language center, but other foreigners have been recruited from abroad and are paid better than me!

If you want to check them out, I believe you can apply on-line at any of their campuses throughout Mexico. They start again in January, so I'd apply now if you want to start in January.

Here's the website:

http://www.itesm.edu/wps/wcm/connect/ITESM/Tecnologico+de+Monterrey/Herramientas/Empleo

more of the conversation at this link.

Teaching Abroad - A Discussion

Specifically, teaching in Mexico, and how to get started. Once again, over to the ESL Cafe where a lively and sometimes meandering discussion is taking place on the ins and outs of teaching abroad in Mexico.

dmd887 begins with some questions:

Hi, I am currently finishing up my last year in college then upon graduation was thinking of heading down to Mexico to try my hand at teaching ESL. I will have my Bachelor's Degree in hand and plan on doing an online TEFL course in the coming months. I had a few questions I was hoping you could all help me with (I know the boards have a lot of info on them but I wanted to condense all the info right here)

1.) Is my best option to find a school and sign a contract before I come to Mexico OR just find a school there when I arrive? I am guessing there are a bunch of options, especially in DF. Also, should I stay away from the language schools? They seem like they'd be the easiest place to get a 1st job at.

2.) Is it easy to find work as an ESL teacher if your Spanish skills aren't the greatest? I can speak some Spanish but it is still very much a work in progress. Will this hinder me in my search or will I have no problem finding work?

3.) How much $$$ in US dollars should I plan on coming to Mexico with in order to cover start-up costs and to hold me over until I get on my feet?

4.) Will the school that hires you sponsor you and help you turn the Tourist Visa into a Work Visa in Mexico? Also do you have to apostille your documents before arrival? I have heard conflicting reports on this.

AND FINALLY 5.) Should I stick with my plan to come to Mexico? I am 23, (a soon-to-be) college graduate, and I am very well travelled (I have been all over Latin America and Europe as my passion is travel and I devote much of my extra money towards it)...I know this is a big step, moving to a new country, but the thought of staying in the US and becoming a corporate stick in the mud doesn't interest me much....life is about new adventures. So will I have success if I keep the right attitude?

Thanks everyone!!

The first answer received:

1.) You will want to wait until you get here to find a school. Try Harmon Hall, Berlitz and Hamer Sharp. I know Harmon Hall will help you do the work to transfer your tourist visa into a work visa
No, do not stay away from the language schools. You can gain some valuable experience through them and learn some techniques that you can take with you if you ever decide to go to another school. They are good for experience and you may move up over time.

2.) I think it's easy to find work if your Spanish isn't perfect.I have had no problems. There are some schools that will not want you speaking in Spanish because they want the students to focus on the target language. You should have no problem finding work because of this.

3.) 3,000 to 4,000 dollars is what I would say to try and bring. Others may have different amounts,but I think what I mentioned is pretty average.

4.) Some schools may help you with the transference of your tourist visa into a work visa.I remember Harmon Hall does or at least they used to. I believe Berlitz does as well but I'm not sure about Hamer Sharp. I had my degree, EFL online certificate and my marriage license from the States apostilled before coming. Get the degree and EFL certificate apostilled beofre coming just to be safe. Some places may ask for that while others may not.

5.) Yes, stick with your plan to come to Mexico. You're young (23 you said) so the experience couldn't hurt. It may help your resume if you plan on going to graduate school for a Masters in International Business for example. The right attitude will carry you far in life. Stay positive. Being negative destroys your Ki.

TeresaLopez adds:

If you have all your needed paperwork there is no way it will take a few months. I just walked two teachers through the process, one had everything and got her FM3 in 11 days, the other was missing something and it took 3 weeks. The law is, currently, that you have to have an answer within 30 days. From what I have seen, for people that are waiting months, it that the schools are turning the job over to a lawyer who takes his own sweet time about going to immigration. To answer your other quesion, most schools will allow you to start teaching while your paperwork is being processed, yes. You might also pick up a few private classes on the side to tido you over.

The now 5 page conversation continues at the Mexico forum.

Graphs and Charts in ESL and EFL Teaching

Why use 1000 words when a pictue - or a chart or graph will do? Every ESL and EFL teacher is also an artist or at least can use google images to help teach English.

Here is a BBC news story discussing the power of graphs, charts, and images to convey complex ideas in different formats. Diagram That changed the World.

A picture, the old adage goes, is worth 1,000 words. But in science a diagram can describe things that transcend the written word. A single image can convey the simple underlying pattern hidden by words or equations, says Marcus du Sautoy.

Draw the right picture and you can literally transform the way we see the world. But a diagram is more than just a physical representation of what we see with our eyes.

The power of a diagram is to crystallise a new way of seeing the world.

Often it requires throwing away information, focusing on what is essential. Other times it changes a scientific idea into a visual language providing a new map where the mathematics of geometry takes over and helps us to navigate the science at hand.

Copernicus certainly understood the power of a good picture. In his great opus De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium published shortly before his death in 1543, Copernicus takes 405 pages of words, numbers and equations to explain his heliocentric theory.

more at the link above

Teaching in Mexico - Different Types of Jobs

There is a good discussion at the ESL Cafe about the different types of teaching jobs one can find in Mexico, ranging from primary and secondary schools, to language institute work, to private tutoring and more.

MotherF writes:

In another thread there was some discussion as what consitutes a "better" job in English teaching in Mexico.

Obviously, what is best for one person is not best for another, but I thought this is a worthwhile topic and would be helpful for new teachers.

I work at a university. I have a full-time permanent position.

For me the pros are:
a comfortable salary
full benefits package
some nice perks like paid sabbaticals and options to take extended leave--I just got back from 6 months off to extend my maternity leave. a reasonable work load and a pleasent working environment
for the most part respectful students who recognize English as important for their futures

The cons are:
inflexibility in hours, as a mother, I'd like to be able to consider part-time work. (the hours most teachers work at colegios are very attractive to me)
vacations fixed into academic calander, the same times as sooo many other people.
a cap on my earnings, while I get nice cost of living increases and small antiquity bonuses, I can't work harder to make more like I could if I were doing private or free lance lessons.
my students are too busy to really commit the time needed to advance in their language learning
my class sizes are often near 30

Guy Courchesne replied:

Common to Mexico City is teaching English directly in companies, either yourself or through a language institute with a business focus. I've done a lot of this over the years.

Pros

Good hourly pay
Flexible hours, usually no Saturday work
Good stepping stone into other areas, such as translations, or into other fields
Small class sizes
Motivated students, for the most part
Independence

Cons

Usually no benefits
Difficult to maintain a full work load
Travel time a pain if not managed properly
Holidays and cancellations can cause havoc with a schedule if not managed

Dixie also writes:

I teach high school at a colegio and would echo MotherF's pros with a few additons:

PROS
Hours - I can be home by 3pm and feel as though I still have a full day to accomplish what needs to be done, to enjoy my family or to do nothing at all.

Resources - My school is full of the basics and the extras; I have an apple laptop, a digital projector, and opportunities for professional development (some better than others, but at least it is there!).

Colleagues - I work with amazing people who help me to grow as a teacher constantly; we are all qualified and dedicated professionals who provide unlimited support to our kiddies and each other.

Students - my class sizes are (usually) a good size; this year I have groups of 17 (2) and one of 15; they have a great level of English; great resources at home and for the most part are competent and thus successful.

LOCATION - I do not have to travel far to get to work (or home) and best of all, I do not have to move around (like some language teaching).

Vacation/Holidays/PD - I have the norm but I also have days off that others do not, meaning I can vacation when it is off-season and thus cheaper and less crowded. We also have full days without kids (nine this year) dedicated to pd.


CONS
Admin is weak in leadership, positive modeling and general knowledge but for the most part (and this is a pro) they do not interfere in how I organize and lead my classes.

I too am stuck at a certain pay now, but my pay is good, as are the benefits. The school claims to be looking into how pay is determined and more importantly, how raises can be earned so perhaps this will be omitted in the future.

My first job here was in a horrible place, filled with horrible people and weak students. I followed that with another job that I enjoyed, but travel was time consuming, the hours longer, and less holiday time. Like all places, job environments vary but for now, I am quite happy.

more at this link

ESL School Commercials

Always funny stuff. Here are some you can find on You Tube from language schools around the world.

The first, from Denmark...



Next, from Germany...



This one from China is simply mad, offering up a video of some sort.



For this next one, your guess is as good as ours.



And of course, what teacher hasn't had this happen to them?

Teaching in Ecuador - A Discussion

There are plenty of opportunities to teach English in fascinating Ecuador, South America but plenty of challenges as well. Let's follow a discussion among new teachers and Ecuador veterans over at the ESL Cafe.

Tinman writes:

I have a few questions about Ecuador.

When is the best time to look for work, especially for university jobs?
I have heard about an " investor's visa" that one can get by depositing dollars in an Ecuadorian account. Does anyone on the board have one? If not, is anyone sure that this option actually exists?

I am planning a job hunting trip to Ecuador in June. Any help would be appreciated.

Gary B responds:

Wha'z up?
I can give you some names of places you can check out once you get there. I taught and lived in Quito for 5 years before coming back to the States for 2 and a half years so I still know the place quite well. In fact, my Ecuadorian wife and I are anxiously awaiting for our trip back in May. You can always find work in the many English language institutes. Key Languages, English First (known simply as EF). Inlengua, South American Spanish Institute (name might have been slightly changed on this one, but it's right on Amazonas Avenue in Quito). If you have a college degree and are EFL/ESL certified you can try the universities such as Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Quito or La Universidad de San Francisco in Cumbaya. They may hire you on only with a college degree and no ESL/EFL certificate. The best paying jobs are in some of the private primary and secondary schools, but I think you need to have credentials in education and it's a lot of work and you have to be a special breed of cat to handle the discipline problems. Timing isn't so important because in many cases people come and go except for the university positions where they obviously have semesters. Of course it depends on what city you want to hang out in as well. You could also post notices on the many message boards in the gringo joints around Quito anyway advertising that you'll do private lessons.
Chow for Now,
Hope This Helps Enjoy Ecuador, I Know I Did Both Good And Bad From Motown Gary B.
PS: If you want further info e-mail me. Word of warning. Since the country dollarized their economy, prices have gone up drastically and wages have gone up very little in comparison to inflation. I have a friend that's still teaching there and he gives me all the latest scoops.

Just A Mirage adds:

Ive been living and teaching in Ecuador for about six years now. An investors visa requires that you deposit 25k into a bank CD, or you can also buy property of at least that amount.
I have to disagree about discipline problems. I have worked in a couple of high schools, both for wealthy students and fundacion schools and have found the discipline to be much better htan when I taught in the states. In Quito and north areas, school is the same as in the states, but in Guayaquil and other southern cities, it is the opposite as we are in the opposite hemisphere. School here starts in March or April.
Ive heard people enjoy Canadian House, but they reportedly arent good about getting you a visa, and you cannot work legally in Ecuador on a tourist visa. If you work illegally on a tourist visa, the likelihood is that you will be taken advantage of, and may not be paid. And you will have no recourse. Canadian house reportedly pays about $4 an hour which is not much.

TEFL Destinations

This week - Costa Rica!

Costa Rica, a Central American nation of 4 million people, is a popular destination for those teaching abroad and punches above its weight for job availability.

More info on Costa Rica at this site.

Talk directly to teachers working in Costa Rica through the ESL Cafe.

And how to get there? Through Teachers Latin America TEFL Program of course!

Where will you be this winter?

Next TEFL Courses - November

http://www.innovative-english.com/

Teachers Latin America announces openings in the next TEFL courses beginning November 15th and the 29th. These courses close out 2010 as we look forward to more great things in 2011!

All course dates for 2010 and 2011 listed on our site.

Teaching Abroad this Winter

Thinking about how to escape the cold and snow this winter? How about teaching abroad?

Teachers Latin America offers a TEFL program that will connect you to teaching jobs in Latin America. Start in Mexico City and spend the winter teaching English in one of several countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, and more.

Much more information on teach abroad programs, TEFL and TESOL courses, and ESL and EFL employment in Latin America at our website at www.innovative-english.com

See you soon!

ESL Employment - Teach Abroad Resource

Here's a post to direct your attention to a good teaching abroad resource called ESL Employment.

www.eslemployment.com

ESL Employment has been in operation for a number of years and features a job/country discussion forum with helpful advice, daily job listings throughout the world, and a good network of ESL professionals contributing articles to the web site.

Different Types of Teaching Work Abroad

A discussion in the Mexico forum at Dave's ESL Cafe on the pros and cons of the variety of teaching abroad positions that are available out there.

In another thread there was some discussion as what consitutes a "better" job in English teaching in Mexico.

Obviously, what is best for one person is not best for another, but I thought this is a worthwhile topic and would be helpful for new teachers.

I work at a university. I have a full-time permanent position.

For me the pros are:
a comfortable salary
full benefits package
some nice perks like paid sabbaticals and options to take extended leave--I just got back from 6 months off to extend my maternity leave. a reasonable work load and a pleasent working environment
for the most part respectful students who recognize English as important for their futures

The cons are:
inflexibility in hours, as a mother, I'd like to be able to consider part-time work. (the hours most teachers work at colegios are very attractive to me)
vacations fixed into academic calander, the same times as sooo many other people.
a cap on my earnings, while I get nice cost of living increases and small antiquity bonuses, I can't work harder to make more like I could if I were doing private or free lance lessons.
my students are too busy to really commit the time needed to advance in their language learning
my class sizes are often near 30

-----

Thanks for having started this helpful thread! I'm in Oaxaca. Came here to teach English but now I'm trying to decide whether to stay or move on.

What would you consider "a comfortable salary" in Mexico? I keep hearing different things and am having trouble wrapping my head around it. Does the benefits package include any kind of pension plan?

One other question to which I'm having trouble getting an answer (possibly because the answer varies from place to place): I'm an experienced teacher with a masters degree in education, but I don't have a TESOL background. Would I need a TESOL certification course to get a university position here? If not, would such a certification course improve my odds of getting a better job, or would my other education and experience trump the TESOL?

Thanks again!

------------

Common to Mexico City is teaching English directly in companies, either yourself or through a language institute with a business focus. I've done a lot of this over the years.

Pros

Good hourly pay
Flexible hours, usually no Saturday work
Good stepping stone into other areas, such as translations, or into other fields
Small class sizes
Motivated students, for the most part
Independence

Cons

Usually no benefits
Difficult to maintain a full work load
Travel time a pain if not managed properly
Holidays and cancellations can cause havoc with a schedule if not managed

Teaching in Montevideo Uruguay, a Discussion

Ever wondered about teaching in Montevideo, Uruguay? A good discussion with participation from teachers on the ground in this South American capital is happening over at Dave's ESL Cafe.

Hello, since as far as I can see there's not an entry about Uruguay (let alone a whole country section!) I thought I would add my experience since Uruguay and Montevideo are both hidden gems and in my opinion well-worth coming to - and pretty straightforward as far as English-teaching goes, after the usual due-paying that seems to be the norm in South America.

I arrived in Montevideo in March 2009 after doing a CELTA in Buenos Aires and finding it impossible to get work over the summer. Not only that, a few mates who did manage to find some said that all the institutes wanted people with a legal work permit which is basically impossible to organize from within Argentina.

So, after getting fed-up with the hectic-ness of Buenos Aires and the lousy work situation, I made it over to M'vid to visit some friends and immediately loved it. It's small enough to get around easily (walking, bike or bus), faded-charming, but still enough of a city to have bars, restaurants, great cinema and theatre scenes and enough going on to keep you busy.

After several hours on Google, I'd sent my CV to about 25 English-language institutes and immediately started working for the London Institute (the International House affiliate here). I quit there eventually since I felt they were taking advantage of me and the organization was just terrible. But by then I'd found 4 or 5 other institutes all of whom have work for me either permanent or now-and-then. The reputable ones I would recommend approaching are:

Focus Inglés Empresarial (in-company stuff)
Eureka (a small institute owned and well-run by a great English guy who pays well)
Widd Professional (a small, new institute, again family owned-and-run and really friendly)
The Langland Institute (a very well-run and professional institute that does in-company as well)
The other big ones are the Anglo (an Anglo-Uruguayan cultural institute) and the Alianza (a US-Uruguayan venture) which never responded to my approaches.

Because I turned-up right at the start of the academic year (beginning of March) a lot of places had already organized teachers for their classes for the entire year, so arriving beginning of February might be a better bet to get in on the ground floor with the bigger institutes.

As far as work visas are concerned, a couple of places asked me to become legal - but I've been working for them no problem in the meantime. As a Brit, I've had to get a police check from the UK, get that and my birth certificate legalized by the UK Foreign Office (which is the stage I'm at now), after that I have to get them both legalized by the Uruguayan embassy in London, then sent here, translated, legalized AGAIN by the Ministry of Immigration here, and then along with a local police check and medical certificate I can get a year's work permit. It's a long process and to be honest I'm not sure if I'll get to the end of it before I leave Uruguay (at the moment, December). But it's worth doing if you're planning on staying longer than a year and it allows you to get free medical treatment here.

The pay rate is good, after about 3 months sorting myself out and getting to know the right people, I'm up to a full timetable of 25 hours teaching a week which is more than enough to pay my way and save some too. I was lucky enough to be able to stay even when the work wasn't coming in, but now it is I should be able to recoup the money I spent during the fallow period. Foreigners are definitely more of a rarity in Montevideo than in Buenos Aires, so the novelty-factor (and native-speaker thing) goes a long way. People are definitely Anglophiles here, but I don't think that would affect getting work. And no-one's asked to see my CELTA certificate, even though I do have one!

Apart from that; renting a place has been no problem - sharing is pretty rare for young people since everyone lives with their parents til they're married, and students are normally in dorms (foreigners can live there too, but they're pretty student-y and at least 4 people to a bedroom). I managed to find a shared apartment with my own bedroom from a classified in the newspaper so they do exist. Renting an apartment by yourself is possible with just a passport as proof of identity, but the estate agents ask for 6 months' rent as deposit.

I can't think of much else but if you're thinking of coming to Uruguay - do! And contact me if you have questions.

I've been living in Uruguay for the past almost 5 years now.. its great.. although i hate Montevideo.. too many ppl.. the coastal towns are where its at..
there are many options down here.. its a great place to live and rock out.

its funny that they are making you get a visa.. most places are ok with just a passport and you can get the socidad free still...
but its only like $50/month.. and honestly if you calculate all of the costs for translations and legalizations it may not be worth it so much..

if you need a translator let me know i have a great one who is fairly cheap and close to the migracions office. on missiones.

more discussion at the link above

TEFL Job Alert - Mexico

Several job postings at a language school in San Luis Potosi, Mexico have come up for starts in January, February, March, and April 2011.

National. Punctuation; "Day"

September 24th is National Punctuation Day. Period.

http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com

Now get out there and punctuate something!

Happy 200th Birthday Chile

Chile, like Mexico, is this year celebrating her 200th year of independence.

Happy birthday Chile!



http://www.kentucky.com/2010/09/17/1439585/chile-celebrates-bicentennial.html

SANTIAGO, Chile -- The miners who have been trapped under northern Chile for over a month are set to play a major part as the country celebrates the bicentennial of its independence on Saturday.

The 33 miners - 32 Chileans and one Bolivian - are set to mark the bicentennial 700 meters underground by hoisting a flag and singing the national anthem at noon.

Their families outside the mine plan to do the same simultaneously on the surface above. Relatives of the miners will hoist a flag that has the signatures of those who are trapped underground.

The miners are to be sent festive food complete with the traditional meat pies, called empanadas. They are also set to eat meat with salads and fruit compote.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera is to visit the mine Sunday, to honor not just the trapped miners and their families but also the rescue teams that are working to get them up to the surface in an effort that is expected to take at least until late October.

The miners have been trapped since the shaft they were working in collapsed on Aug. 5. After 17 days of isolation in which many believed the miners had not survived, rescue teams on the surface reached them through 4-inch-diameter shafts drilled after the accident. Through those ducts, the workers are receiving water, food, oxygen and messages, as well as telephone, power and television lines.

In Santiago, an ecumenical service at the cathedral is set to mark the bicentennial Saturday. At night, there is set to be a show to honor Chilean music, while a military parade is to take place Sunday.

Some relatives of the miners will be special guests in these celebrations.

An assembly of illustrious locals declared Chile's independence from Spain on Sept. 18, 1810, independence was later secured at the Battle of Maipu, on April 5, 1818.

In 1810, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina and Mexico also started down the road that would end three centuries of Spanish rule in the Americas. Ecuador in 1809 and Uruguay and Paraguay in 1811 were also part of this trend.

reposted by Guy Courchesne

Today and tomorrow, Mexico celebrates its bicentennial - 200 years of independence and 100 years since the Mexican revolution. Parties abound throughout the country.

Having a 15 month old daughter means I won't be able to join the evening festivities, which culminate tonight with el grito - the president of the country reciting the famous cry of independence that started this whole Mexico thing. It's at 11 PM so Stella will be fast asleep. We've decided to spend the evening at home with friends and drinks, but we're taking in some daytime activities today and tomorrow as there is much music, dancing, and fiesta-making all over town.

Here's how we celebrated a few years ago, back before I became a father.

TEFL Courses - Online on In the Classroom?

These days, there are many choices on TEFL courses. You can take them abroad or in your home country. You can now also choose to take them online or to take them in a class with other students.

Which is better? -by Guy Courchesne, Teachers Latin America instructor

Online TEFL courses tend to be much cheaper. This is simply because the course is very easily delivered via the internet, without the overhead costs of a bricks-and-mortar school. But, it is difficult or impossible to include observed teaching practice into this form of training.

In-Class TEFL courses, abroad or at home, are more expensive than online courses. For these courses, you have access to other students and a variety of teachers and instructors. Most courses will include a block of observed teaching practice hours.

So how to decide?

I am in the position of being a TEFL course instructor in both media. I have about 8 years experience teaching the in-class TEFL course in Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Acapulco and almost 6 years as one of the instructors for the online version of the same course.

In many ways, they are incomparable.

The intensity of the two-week course here in Mexico City is, well, intense. In two weeks, we cover so much ground that there’s barely time to catch your breath. Both the student teachers and I feel drained afterwards. It’s a tonne of information to absorb and apply in such a short span.

The online course is interesting in that it can be done over an extended period. There’s more time to research references online and as the instructor, I get the opportunity to take my time in offering theoretical feedback.

But, it’s the actual teaching practice that makes all the difference. Often, TEFL course participants show a strength in theory and a weakness in practice. The reverse can often be true as well. Making the leap from class discussions and theory to application in the practice class with real Mexican EFL students is the most important step of the program, and shapes the future for the person looking to go out and actually teach later. Experience is truly the greater teacher in such a program.

The online medium is catching up...slowly. Using technology such as rapid distribution of video over the net, Podcasts, and teleconferencing, there is a bright future ahead not only for online TEFL courses, but for all education in general.

I’ve recently added some of my own personal reference material to the TEFL online program I instruct and it has made a large difference. I’m also experimenting with bringing a ‘live discussion’ aspect to the course, whereby certain Internet forums that feature TEFL debates and discussions can be linked into the course material ‘on the fly’.

How should you decide?

In most cases, a TEFL course is the first time a person is exposed to the methodology and the experience of being in the classroom. In these cases, I’ll most often advise an In-Class TEFL course.

Others may already have classroom or tutoring experience. An online TEFL course may serve these people well.

Funny School Answering Machine Message

We find this quite amusing.

A school in Australia, apparently fed up with ridiculous calls from parents, decided to add an interesting message to the school answering machine. Give this a listen.

Answer Machine Message

TEFL Job Alert - Mexico City

A Mexico City private primary/secondary school is looking for a male teacher for an unfilled position for the school year that just started. All boys Catholic school in Santa Fe district.

TEFL Reading List - Globish

Next up on our must read list is Globish - How the English Language Became the World's Language by Robert McCrum.

NY Time review.

and Howard Shapiro's review at philly.com

To anyone who travels beyond the United States, it's not news that, for better or worse, English has become the world's language.

No longer will people abroad automatically let you try out your French or Spanish or Japanese at the start of an everyday transaction in a restaurant, or shop, where your American-tinged tongue is more likely to draw an immediate English response, no questions asked. Sure, there remain places where this rarely happens. They are not the world's cities. And they are likely to be remote.

Well, good for us, you might say, we can be understood, a primary benefit of being human.

Well, bad for the world, you might say; it is becoming less diverse as English becomes the universal lingua franca.

Language not only defines a national culture, it also gives its speakers the tools to turn thoughts into something concrete - and among the beauties of different languages is that they offer different ways of doing so.

Robert McCrum, associate editor of Britain's Observer, is not out to wow us with old news about the ever-progressing global advance of English. Instead, his book is a thoroughly researched, cleverly told big-picture tale of how our language got to be that way - and just what that way means: ungovernable, he says, taken for granted, ever-changing.

English Language Oddities

Some things about English leave you scratching your head. For example:

Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?

Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?

If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

If you liked those, here's a site that lists several more oddities in English.

Example: The two longest words with only one of the six vowels including y are the 15-letter defenselessness and respectlessness.

TEFL Job Information Resource - ELT World

David's ELT World has been online since 2007 and is one of favorite sites for TEFL job information from around the world, directly from the teachers working out in the field.

Starting with http://www.eltworld.net/ in the format of a blog, site operator David brings fresh news and insights from around the TEFL world.

Move on the country and region specific forums to interact directly with new and veteran teachers, in Korea, Mexico, China, Turkey, Vietnam, and more.

TEFL Job Forums

Get into the forums and ask your questions. Plenty of people there to help!

Teaching Pronunciation - a Discussion

Over to the ESL Cafe Mexico section for a discussion on teaching pronunciation, or avoiding it.

It seems to me that we really don't teach pronunciation and intonation these days. I know that i am guilty of thinking that maybe it's too difficult (for me to get my head round), so I'll just steer clear of pronunciation and more importantly intonation practice.

Do you do the same? Why is this?

In another thread we are talking about how salaries and teachers values haven't increased over the years- maybe we should re-evaluate what we're teaching!

Any student can arguably learn grammar and vocabulary from a book or off the internet, but pronunciation and intonation is a clear point of difference for us native speakers.

I'm going to be incorporating a lot more of it into my classes from now on. Maybe THIS is the future....?

The "sounds of the English Language", in all its complexity, is indeed a challenge to teach if your students are already too old to be good mimics. But, I'm going to attempt it, and hope to see some improvement you can spot.

Working in the SAC and using the program called, Clear Speech from the Start, Cambridge Univ Press, I'll be offering active practice for those who desire it, as a test of its usefulness. I plan to make before and after recordings, and invite native speakers to identify "which is which".

I'm hoping for an eight week commitment to an hour a week, in two half hour sessions. I hope somebody signs up....

Teachers Latin America - Teaching in Mexico

New Words for the Dictionary

From the Buzz Log by Mike Krumboltz

The English language is always evolving. There was a time when words like email, x-ray, and d'oh were nowhere to be found in the dictionary. Today, we add a few more new words to the tome.

The bookworms behind the Oxford Dictionary of English recently released a list of 2,000 or so new words that will be added to their next edition. Some of the new words include staycation, social media, and the groan-inducing chillax.

The list sparked massive interest on the Web and, we can safely assume, a lot of questions from folks who don't know a staycation from a vacation, or a bromance from a romance. (FYI: A staycation is like a vacation, but you stay at home and save money. And a bromance is a "close but non-sexual relationship between two men.")

Perhaps the most high-profile word to be added to the dictionary this year is vuvuzela. For those who slept through the World Cup, a vuvuzela is the one-note plastic horn that creates a horrendously annoying sound. That's our definition. The official one, via the Oxford Dictionary of English, is a bit more balanced: "A long plastic instrument, in the shape of a trumpet, which makes a very loud noise when you blow it and is popular with football fans in South Africa."

Some other popular additions include frenemy ("a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry"), cheeseball ("lacking taste, style or originality"), and wardrobe malfunction ("an instance of a person accidentally exposing an intimate part of their body as result of an article of clothing slipping out of position.")

Frankly, we're amazed it took so long for that last term to make it into the dictionary. Thanks to Janet Jackson, Paris Hilton, and other Hollywood stars, it's been part of the public discourse for years.

Teaching in Costa Rica - A Discussion

Once again to Dave's ESL Cafe for some good tips on teaching at international schools in Costa Rica, a favorite destination for Teachers Latin America students.

The discussion is at the Cafe, Costa Rica section.

Excerpts:

Hello,
I am planning on moving down to Costa Rica next summer to teach and, because I am a licensed high school Business/Computer teacher who'll have 2 years experience, I'd really like to teach in an international school. I have heard the pay in CR is low compared to other LA countries, but that life is better in other ways, is this true?

Are there a lot of international schools in CR? Do many of them offer visa assistance?

Any additional tips you'd like to pass along?

Thank in advance!

I have been there on vacation and would like to teach also. Basically, I would suggest you save up 12k to supplement and then enjoy!

International schools:

- Country Day School
- Washington School
- Falcon School (?)

There's a couple of others that I can't remember the name of right now, and probably more that I don't know about; small schools around the San Jose area. There are also several, including a Montessori school, in other parts of the country (Jacó, for example).

FYI: My fiance and I both landed jobs teaching at Falcon International School in Herradura. Let me know if you would like any info.

Living and Teaching in Oaxaca, Mexico - a Discussion

One of our favorite websites - Dave's ESL Cafe - features a current discussion on living and teaching in Oaxaca State, southern Mexico.

The general consensus? Oaxaca is a gorgeous place to be but it's quite difficult to find a good job and to make ends meet.

Find the complete discussion at the Cafe - Mexico section.

Excerpts:

Oaxaca seems like an ideal place to live and work but it´s actually a very expensive city and wages are very low.

It sounds like other reasons than choice of work brought you to Oaxaca: I'm concerned about your having put yourself in one of the more difficult markets in Mexico as a first experience after your TEFL course when a big disappointment in work could sour you to the whole enterprise

These forums are full of warnings about the difficulties of finding any kind of work on reasonable terms in Oaxaca: now is the time to reconsider before you've signed a lease and get too deeply committed to what may prove to be a bad situation work-wise should you be relying on working to support yourself in Mexico

It's clear from the hundreds of posts on this forum that there are many perfectly good places to live and work in Mexico and make a start in TEFL: Oaxaca- for a combination of reasons- does not seem to be one of them

Articulated in a nice way. I was lucky to have a great TESOL program behind me and I made friends with a couple of wonderful people but the possibility of ending up with less than you came in with and some bitter experiences is a real possibility in Oaxaca. At this point in time for Oaxaca - not for the new or those with thin bank accounts.

Thank you all for the reply. I appreciate all the time that you have taken to help me. I did indeed find a decent job in Oaxaca. I am now working for Harmon Hall Oaxaca. If anyone has any real bad experiences there it would be good to know. I sign my 40+ hour contract in three weeks.

Also if there are any bad experience or suggestions with immigration here I will be all ears. Thanks again to all of you, especially about the school near Reforma. I nearly applied there.

Job Alert - Mexico City

The American School in Mexico city is looking for a teacher to fill 2 classes a week, mornings from 8:30 to 10:00 AM, ESL for adult learners. Pay is not great at 120 pesos per hour, but it could be a good way to fill in some empty slots if you have them or to get a foot in the door at what is the top school in the country.

How the Internet is Changing Language

From the BBC.

'To Google' has become a universally understood verb and many countries are developing their own internet slang. But is the web changing language and is everyone up to speed?

In April 2010 the informal online banter of the internet-savvy collided with the traditional and austere language of the court room.

Christopher Poole, founder of anarchic image message board 4Chan, had been called to testify during the trial of the man accused of hacking into US politician Sarah Palin's e-mail account.

During the questioning he was asked to define a catalogue of internet slang that would be familiar to many online, but which was seemingly lost on the lawyers.

At one point during the exchange, Mr Poole was asked to define "rickrolling".

"Rickroll is a meme or internet kind of trend that started on 4chan where users - it's basically a bait and switch. Users link you to a video of Rick Astley performing Never Gonna Give You Up," said Mr Poole.

read more of the story at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10971949

August Get Together

Thanks to all that came out, we had a lot of fun!



Salon Corona, Centro Historico, Mexico City



Scary visitor.



New friends.



New connections.

And some video over at Vimeo, Gante Street Mexico City.

http://www.vimeo.com/14147860

Next TEFL Course - August 30th

Next TEFL Course runs August 30th to September 11th. Sign up today at www.innovative-english.com

Philospophy, Spiderman, and EFL

An interesting story on the BBC caught our collective eye, about the use of popular comics such as Spidermaan and Batman at university level philosophy courses. Comics are also widely used by EFL teachers working abroad with children as visually stimulating storyboards make learning both fun and effective. Now, the EFL teacher can bring morality and ethical questions into the mix, but perhaps for a bit older student.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-10900068

For years, fans of the Batman comics have puzzled over a mystery at the heart of the series: why doesn't Batman just kill his arch-nemesis, the murderous Joker?

The two have engaged in a prolonged game of cat-and-mouse. The Joker commits a crime, Batman catches him, the Joker is locked up, and then invariably escapes.

Wouldn't all this be much simpler if Batman just killed the Joker? What's stopping him?

Enter philosopher Immanuel Kant and the deontological theory of ethics.

At least, that's how the discussion progresses in a growing number of philosophy classes in the US.

Cultural and media studies have paved the way for universities to incorporate pop culture into their curriculum. These days it is not uncommon to find a television studies class alongside 17th-Century literature in the course listings of an English department.

Now, philosophy professors are finding superheroes and comic books to be exceptionally useful tools in helping students think about the complex moral and ethical debates that have occupied philosophers for centuries.

Read the rest of the story at the link above and remember - with great power comes great responsibility.

Teacher Get together - Mexico City

Teachers Latin America will be proud to welcome new teachers to Mexico City for the 2010/11 school year at a gathering in the Centro Historico. Come meet us at the Salon Corona, at the corner of Gante and Madero streets.

Saturday, August 14th from 3 PM, join on us on the patio for drinks and meet new teachers!

Teachers Latin America Blog

Teachers Latin America is happy to be blogging!

We hope to bring you news of TEFL in Mexico and Latin America, job openings, and events going on in the region of interest to the traveling English teacher.