ESL Lesson Plan

... that people steer clear of driving in the city as much as possible, even though (or perhaps because) so many Mexicans do drive, albeit poorly! As with many other large cities, it is also recommended using the bus system or walking alone at night is avoided. However, that shouldn't stop you from going out and enjoying the night life, which often doesn't go to sleep until the wee hours of the morning.

As far as teaching goes, finding a job shouldn't be a problem, as mastering English is vital for those Mexicans who wish to go further in their career. Having said that, it has been reported that it is slightly unusual for teachers to find a job prior to arriving in Mexico. Of course, to aid in that transition, there are a number of TEFL certification schools in Mexico that will place you in a job upon successful completion of a TEFL certificate course. On the other hand, if you are highly qualified (with a Master's degree or equivalent), there are a few schools who apparently hire teachers from abroad and pay a decent wage. These schools include: The American School (www.asf.edu.mx) and Greengates (www.greengates.edu.mx).

Salaries tend to be somewhere between $300 and $750, and often come with benefits like Spanish lessons, free internet access, furnished apartments, holiday pay, etc. As with any job, be careful to look over the contract thoroughly before signing and decline an offer if they are not willing to give you a contract.

Coming from the US, you might need the following documents to secure a job: a passport, work visa, birth certificate, college transcripts, reference letters, resume, TEFL certificate, etc. Apparently, Mexican immigration laws can be a bit inconsistent, so it's best to be over-prepared.

Here are a list of schools for teaching children:

* Sierra Nevada (www.esn.edu.mx)
* Colegio Peterson (www.peterson.edu.mx)
* British American School (www.britishamericanschool.com.mx)
* Carol Bauur (www.carolbaur.edu.mx)
* Queen Elizabeth School (www.qes.edu.mx)
* Edron (www.edron.edu.mx)
* Eton (www.eton.edu.mx)

And a list of schools for teaching adults:

* Berlitz (www.berlitz.com)
* Interlingua (www.interlingua.com.mx)
* English First (www.englishtown.com.mx)

Have you taught in Mexico City? If so, please share your experiences (good or bad!) here.

Hope that helps.

Carol Rueckert
Writer, ESL Lesson Plan
E-mail: crueckert@eslemployment.com
Blog: www.esl-lesson-plan.com

"I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand." - Chinese Proverb

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About the author of this entry:
Carol, a native English-speaker who hails from the small town of St. Joseph in Minnesota, USA, and lived and worked in China for more than 7 years. During that time, she worked with students that range in age from three to more than sixty years old. She worked in universities, private language schools, grade schools, international schools, as well as private tutoring. Besides teaching, she also worked as a head teacher, an education manager, and a material development manager. In addition to working on this newsletter, she currently writes a monthly column for Time Out Beijing. Carol is also currently working on her MA in TESOL at the Oxford Brookes University in England. Look for her posts on the ESL-Jobs-Forum discussion boards!