Teaching English In Mexico: A Decent Living?

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