Teaching English in Mexico

Details

Summary

With the USA just over the border, the rewards for learning English can be high for Mexican people.

Main TEFL regions

Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Acapulco, Monterrey, Chihuahua

Types of teaching

In-company: General English, Business English
Private language schools: General English, Business English, TOEFL
University language depts.: General English, TOEFL, EAP
English-medium schools: General English
Public sector primary & secondary schools: General English, English for Younger Learners
Private tuition: General English, ESP

Accommodation

Accommodation is often supplied by your employer, although this can vary. If you want to find your own home, especially if you plan to stay for a long time, you can share from about US$100 per month in Mexico City, or have your own one bedroom apartment from around US$200 per month.

Flight reimbursement

It’s common for employers to reimburse flights on completion of a 12-month contract

Salary

US$600-3,000 per month Pay is commensurate with your qualifications and experience, and can be boosted even further by providing private tuition.

Taxes

Tax rates are higher than nearby countries. At the bottom end of the salary range, expect to pay around 12% tax, as a highly-paid teacher, more like 25%

Cost of living

Expect to pay around US$500 per month including accommodation for a basic standard of living with the occasional night out.

Potential to save money

As long as you aren’t on the lowest salary you should be able to save some money each month. As your salary creeps up, you can have a comfortable lifestyle and save up to US$2000 per month.

How much TEFL training is recommended?

You don’t even need a university degree to get a job in some of the less-reputable schools. But if you want to earn more, you’ll need a TEFL qualification: taking i-to-i’s 20-hour weekend course at the very least will get you on your way to earning a decent salary, but longer courses will improve your wages further.

Common teaching conditions

Expect around 25-30 classroom hours per week. You can teach far less than this, but it will seriously dent your wages.

Be aware…

Expect plenty of red tape when applying for a visa, which will be more difficult if you’re not a US or Canadian citizen. This bureaucracy reigns supreme everywhere; affecting everything from getting internet installed to getting photocopies at your school.

Despite its proximity to the USA, prepare yourself for many cultural differences, such as the relaxed attitude to time-keeping.