How to Get an English Teaching Job in Mexico

Mexico draws English teachers for quite a few reasons. Some go to learn more about Mexican culture and improve their Spanish, some like the warm weather and beaches, and others want to help rural Mexican students get more educational opportunities. If you think Mexico is for you, here's how you can find a job teaching English in Mexico.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• An ESL teaching certificate
• A basic knowledge of Spanish

1. Get clear on why you want to teach English in Mexico. The best place for you to look for jobs depends on your personal goals. Are you newly qualified and looking for some formal teaching experience? Do you want to volunteer to help the disadvantaged? Are you hoping to earn a little money to offset travel costs?
2. Look online for job ads and potential employers. Most ESL job ads like this will be from private schools where the pay is low but getting a job is easier. One time-saving way to find teaching jobs in Mexico is to browse ESL job boards online. Another method is to use a search engine to find language schools in Mexico and contact them about potential jobs.
3. Consider ESL job placement services. There are companies that, for a fee, will help you find a paying job teaching English in Mexico. Before paying any fees, make sure you know exactly what the company will do for you. Ask about pay, work hours (how many hours you'll need to work to meet living expenses and whether or not the school can guarantee those hours) and housing.
4. Seek out non-profit organizations that work in Mexico. Quite a few non-profits take on volunteers to teach English in rural or poorer areas of Mexico. Some may require a placement fee while others provide housing and a small stipend. Keep in mind that even nonprofits that don't hire teachers may still be able to help you find organizations that do.
5. Contact Mexican universities about future job openings. English teaching jobs at the university level usually pay reasonable wages and offer benefits like health insurance, not to mention legal work visas. You don't need an MA in English to get an ESL job at a Mexican university, but you'll probably need a 4-year degree, an ESL teaching certificate like the CELTA, and some teaching experience. You can find universities in Mexico by searching online.
6. Plan a trip to Mexico. Very few places, even low-paying private language schools, will hire a teacher sight unseen. That means to get an English teaching job you'll have to go to Mexico at your own expense for interviews.

Tips & Warnings

• At your interviews and trial lessons, show enthusiasm and energy. Many Mexicans appreciate these qualities in language teachers.
• Beware of false promises made by job placement agencies and private language schools. Some companies lure teachers with promises of a luxury lifestyle and just 10 hours of work a week. In reality, teaching English in Mexico rarely pays even average local wages.
• Many Mexican schools have had teachers quit before completing their contracts. This makes schools reluctant to hire people with no ties to the community. You'll have an easier time getting a job if you can explain your reasons for wanting to stay in Mexico for 6 months to a year.