| "body"> | | | | you’ll be just fine. A TEFL certificate and a |
| The City of Cuautla: "Where the eagles are abundant" | | | | university degree in any area are helpful for getting a |
| Arriving at the glass-walled ADO terminal, I exited the | | | | position at this type of school here or anywhere in |
| building to the greeting of horns blaring, the stench of | | | | Mexico. |
| choking exhaust fumes, and the shrill bleating of a | | | | Centro Britanico de Capacitation |
| policeman’s whistle as he tried futilely to evoke | | | | Address: Escolta de Morelos No. 16 |
| order from this chaos of gridlock. It seemed like all 300, | | | | Col. Centro |
| 000 residents were headed down this street at the | | | | Phone: 354 – 1468 |
| same time. | | | | FAX: 354 - 3838 |
| Welcome to Cuautla. The name means something like | | | | Website: [ |
| “next to the eagles” in the indigenous | | | | E–mail: mx |
| tongue of the Indians in this area. Inching my way | | | | An institute featuring British English, but don’t |
| across two lanes of stalled traffic to the other side of | | | | despair if you don’t sound like Prince Charles. |
| the street, I turned right, heading south on Calle 2 de | | | | There still may be possibilities. Teachers with some |
| Mayo. Three and a half blocks later I turned into the | | | | qualifications stand the best chance, but it never hurts |
| tranquil, fern-lined courtyard of the Hotel España | | | | to see what current conditions are. Salaries are |
| and booked a room on the second floor. Tossing my | | | | commensurate and depend on individual teacher |
| bags on one of the two double beds, I sprawled | | | | qualifications. For the most up-to-date information and |
| across the other for a moment’s breather. | | | | complete requirements, go to their website or query |
| I’d been through Cuautla’s worst already, | | | | them by e-mail. If you’re from Canada or the UK, |
| “From here on it could only get better”, I | | | | great! Good luck! |
| thought. I was right. They did get better – much, | | | | CETEC |
| much better. | | | | Address: Capitan Bollas S/C No. 3 |
| Here’s even more grist for the English language | | | | Phone: 352 - 5449 |
| teaching in Mexico job search mill. | | | | Part of a chain of computer / English institutes with |
| Preparatoria Del Valle de Cuautla | | | | about 25 locations throughout Mexico that is very |
| Address: Calle N. Bravo No. 48 | | | | aggressive and busy with a lot of emphasis on a |
| Col. Hidalgo | | | | multi-media approach in their classes. English for |
| Cuautla | | | | college prep students, young adults and children are |
| Phone: 353 - 4774 | | | | taught in addition to adult and business classes. |
| This is but one of the TONS of university preparatory | | | | Programs run up to 3 years in length with most |
| schools here in Mexico. The school’s role is to | | | | students registering for at least a year, so |
| prepare the students for passing the rigorous | | | | there’s plenty of work. They don’t |
| procedures to enter the Mexican university system. | | | | currently have any native speakers. Experienced |
| The university system is so overloaded that the | | | | teachers with TEFL certification and a dynamic |
| entrance procedures are designed almost solely to | | | | manner are always in demand. If you’re a native |
| eliminate out all but the best, most dedicated students, | | | | speaker with a TEFL certificate and some experience, |
| in addition to admitting those who families can pay the | | | | what are you waiting for? Go for it. |
| steeply rising costs. Programs are intensive and the | | | | Again, be sure to check out my other articles in the |
| students are usually willing to work very hard to | | | | two continuing series: Teaching English in Mexico and |
| succeed. You’ll need to be experienced and | | | | Traveling in Mexico. If you would like more information, |
| dynamic to maintain student interest. They’ll | | | | have questions or comments, the author can be |
| welcome some unusual activities like videos and | | | | e-mailed; see address below. |
| games in English. Be creative. Shine. Have fun, and | | | | |