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Teaching English In Mexico A Decent Living
hat's more disappointing
than a person who makes a We've met many young women who
promise he can't keep? A come to Guanajuato with the hope
person who makes a promise that and dream of getting a teaching
is a lie. Many promises to make a job making a bundle. The word
"decent living" teaching English "shock" is putting it mildly when
in Mexico are just that—a lie. they find out what their salaries
will be in some of these private
If you do a phrase search on schools. A good pay scale would
Google, "teach English in be less than $3.00 an hour. I
Mexico," you will get almost know of some schools that pay
900,000 hits. Some of these sites even less than that amount.
are filled with tantalizingly
appealing phrases like, Can you imagine how many hours
you would have to work to make
"For only a few dollars a week ends meet? Minimum wage is about
you can have_____in Mexico". $400.00 USD a month. Granted,
many Mexicans live on that. But
"First-class bus travel to such could you—an American? Could you
and such a place is only____". downscale to living on so little?
All are allurements trying to Four types who come to Mexico to
sell their how-to book, tapes, teach English are:
seminars, or placement service
for teaching English abroad. They 1) Someone who wants a new
give the impression that you will adventure—something different.
be able to make enough money to
live a life of luxury and ease 2) Someone who wants to build a
with all that money you will make resume, no matter the salary.
teaching English in Mexico.
3) Someone who wants to earn a took of Mexican schools that
little traveling money. offer ESL classes, the
overwhelming majority agreed that
4) Someone who thinks they can it is rare for anyone to make a
earn a decent living. Groups 1 living at teaching English in
through 3 don't care what the Mexico. One called it "an
dollar sign is in their salary. unrealistic expectation" to
They have other sources of income believe otherwise.
like savings or parents who help
support them while they are in "...the pay is very low and it is
Mexico. These are the most difficult to imagine how one
transient. Here today, promising could live on it."
their employers a year contract,
and gone tomorrow. Some employers Another source told me that
will not hire these "floaters." unless the teacher had signed a
Schools would love to hire those contract with a large established
with ties to the community but organization before departure to
they are rare. the country, it was unlikely that
a good salary would be waiting
Group 4, people who think they for them. Countries like Japan or
can make a living, do not accept China offer a competitive salary
the reality that you can rarely with benefits.
make a living at teaching English
in Mexico. They are like those Mexico does not.
who go to Hollywood with the
delusion of becoming an actor, Most of the available jobs are
"Oh, it's a long shot, but maybe with small private schools that
I can do it." pay little.
In an informal e-mail survey I Some told me that those who do
not fulfill their teaching to earn enough to pay for
commitments no longer surprise cost-of-living expenses. There is
them. They've grown accustomed to little time to anything else.
this unethical practice by North
Americans. A life of luxury, excitement, and
adventure? Hardly. But they keep
Some have come to Mexico and made coming, filled with the delusion
a living teaching ESL. But, that that perhaps they can make it
is all they can do—work until work.
they drop. They usually have to
sign on to teach with at least Sad.
three schools to get enough hours
About the Author:
Mexican Living Print & eBooks
Read more articles by: Douglas Bower
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