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I want to move to the interior of Mexico for a couple of years to learn how to cook the food of that region. I'm hoping that a TEFL/TESOL certification, along with my decade's worth of teaching in the business sector and my assoc. degree in US History, can get me a job that pays a decent enough wage (not a fortune) that I will have enough time for my own pursuits.
My needs are *very* simple, and this would not be my first time abroad and going without the usual American amenities. I don't even need electricity or running water, as long as I have a decent gas or wood stove, a water tank, and a backyard area for cooking.
I'm hoping to work in a town under 500,000-300,000 population, as I've found that "old country" foodways and traditions tend to thrive in these more rural places. I've also been told that the smaller the place, the bigger the need for teachers and other professionals. I should add that I speak very poor Spanish atm, but I'm very eager to learn. (BTW, the TEFL/TESOL certs don't require fluency in other languages.)
Bummer. I was hoping for a better response than this. :/
There are often teaching opportunities for native English speakers with your qualifications. Several here have previously discussed the issues around working in Mexico and probably wouldn't mind restating their advice on that point. Certain principal cities would have a greater need than those places you might identify for your cooking studies. One frequent source for English teaching jobs is The News (published in English in Mexico City) job classifieds. You might call a couple of language schools in Mexico simply to ask some basic questions to assess your chances for finding employment. How flexible is the timing of your intended trip? My personal experience in Mexico was outstanding regarding opportunities, and I expect your passion would lead you to amazing adventures consistent with your dream.
Teaching is far more underpaid in Mexico than in the US so be aware of that. Getting a job as an English teacher should be very possible in large Universities or prestigious schools, even if you do not speak Spanish. I had several Canadian teachers in Mexico that traveled around the world, they would live for a couple of years in Mexico and then move somewhere else. Other higher paying jobs that require English would most probably require you to speak Spanish as well.
You could try and look for teaching jobs on ITESM, its a large private system with college campuses and high schools around the country, some of them located close or in small towns (Cuernavaca, Hidalgo). They have a lot of programs in English so I guess they have needs all the time.
A well paid teacher with a BA in a private school makes about $6000 MXP a month. In a University he might make $8000 MXP a month.
I don't think a smaller town will need a paid English teacher since it probably has a hard enough time paying its needed teachers. People might want to learn English but they would have to pay out of their own pockets. You would need to financially qualify to live in Mexico, be approved to work and have a work permit. That will cost you about $600 USD the first year. People cannot enter Mexico and start working anymore than they can cross into the US and legally work and live without papers.
Thanks for the responses, folks. From what I'm seeing, it would be pretty tough to make a go of it in Mexico with less than a BA or MA. Therefore, I'm looking at other locales as well.
Thanks for the responses, folks. From what I'm seeing, it would be pretty tough to make a go of it in Mexico with less than a BA or MA. Therefore, I'm looking at other locales as well.
Thanks again
You couldn't make a decent living with a BA or MA in Mexico compared to the U.S. Mexico is great for retirement but not if you want to make money. Almost all the younger, non-retired people I've known who were working here have moved back to the U.S. or Canada so they can earn enough for retirement.
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