ESL Jobs Forum

[raechan]

This post has been moderated (UJ)

WARNING!! ( {School name removed } Veracruz ) —WARNING!!

This is NOT a good school in which to teach English. Though the pay may be decent for Mexico, and they appear to provide a lot of extras like 2/3 of airfare and housing—IT IS A DISRESPECTFUL; DECEITFUL; UNSUCCESSFUL, STRESSFUL and DISSATISFYING place. Education is not the focus of the school. They prefer your uniform to be perfect and for you to stay quiet. The texts used in class do not fit the need of students, after 7 or 8 years of “bilingual education” the children cannot properly use the simple past tense, and teachers are seen as trouble-makers if they try to make improvements or suggestions to benefit the school. The administration does not communicate properly with the teachers, belittles them, ignores them, and generally treats them as disposable. The administration (Names removed) will not support you in any discipline control and favors any whim of the wealthy parents over what the teacher knows is good for the class. An administrator often said one thing with a smile on her face and later changed her decisions dramatically. Her tactics include avoiding teachers, misleading teachers, favoring some teachers over others, amongst others.

Specific examples:
1. The teaching training is a complete joke, the administrator was never there to lead, so we drank coffee all day. Later when something went wrong, she told us it was in our training booklet and we should know better.
2. A teacher was promised housing and ended up living in a hotel for 6 months.
3. A teacher who left 3 days early was NOT reimbursed for her plane fare.
4. The administrator informally told a teacher she could take a few days off, then re-arranged the school schedule so she had to be there to lead a school-wide activity during those days.
5. Teachers who were given permission to leave school a few days early were not paid for a month’s worth of work.
6. A teacher wasn’t paid a day’s wages for being 1 minute late, even though you supposedly can be late 2 days a month and she was within that range.
7. If the administrator has a problem with you, she will most often tell you on a post-it note clipped to your timecard.
8. A first year teacher had to arrange teacher meetings—before then there were NONE, EVER. The administrator is frequently absent from the meetings she currently schedules.
9. A class was scheduled to go on a field trip and THE TEACHER WAS NEVER INFORMED. Ever. She was surprised and unprepared for the trip, as tests were on the curriculum for the day.
10. They ask teachers to prepare presentations for the parents with only a few days notice.
11. A teacher bought educational material from the U.S. and had to fight to get reimbursed while they readily paid for another teacher’s candy and bracelets.
12. YOU WILL GET NO POSITIVE FEEDBACK FROM THE ADMINISTRATION.
13. Administrators have clearly stated that their interest is in the happiness of the parents, and has little to do with the teachers or students.


PLEASE, if you care for your sanity, your integrity, and the genuine education of children, teach somewhere else in Mexico—there are plenty of other great schools in this country. Within the city of Veracruz, I’ve heard (moderated by Guy) is good. Good luck. May you make a well-informed decision.

-A former teacher (who is extremely happy to be out of there!)

Please contact me for names and places

[aar80863]

Thank you so much for sharing this information, I'm sure you feel better. Since the name of the school has been removed, I imagine for legal reason. Can you at least give us the city in Mexico, to fully warn others to stay away? 8)

[unionjack]

Aar80863

The city is mentioned in the post and I have highlighted it in blue

Maybe, Guy (moderator) knows of the school.

UJ

[Guy Courchesne]

Don't know of the school since I didn't catch the post before it was popped.

Such complaints happen round the world from time to time. Legal is one reason to remove a name of a school - another is the likely lack of getting a response from the school.

Example...one teacher working in Oaxaca, Mexico posted a diatribe on Dave's, claiming some form of conspiracy against him/her, including death threats, and an embassy recommendation of evacuation from Mexico.

Turns out the teacher was off his or her meds..complete fantasy. No apologies for damage done to the reputation of the school, but I guess it's hard to do strapped down to a US hospital bed.

Only an example...as t why it's needed to moderate such posts. You just never know. For that, I moderated out the name of the school the poster recommended as being a good alternate choice, just in case the post isn't what it seems to be.

Easy to find out which school it is in Veracruz though...just PM the poster. If it's legit, he or she will have lots to say and things can be confirmed. If it's not legit, the poster probably won't return.
_________________
Life is a verb, not a noun - Now Bloggin' and Working Hard

[Lexicon]

Well, all I can say is that's Mexico for you...

I always think twice when I see really negative reviews of a school But yeah, having taught in Mexico, I can say that some of the things that letter brings up are unfortunately the norm.

The pay is low, schools promise you the world to get you there, then don't fulfil those promises. They'll leave a teacher waiting around for housing but threaten to fire them for being late.

I think it's one of two things. Either the owners of the schools just don't care and they are trying to make a quick buck at the detriment of both students and teachers. Or, they just don't know any better. Mexico is an interesting place. They are really quickly making the jump from a backwards government (mis)managed economy to a financially stable western market. It's happening quickly and the need for ESL instruction is high. But, one thing that hasn't happened is the adoption of N.A./EU work practices. Customer service is still shoddy, so that explains some of it. But everyone should keep in mind that the average Mexican works something like an 11 hour day, still. So in comparison to them, the few hours of BS you put up with at x-English school will seem trivial to them.

I know this basically doesn't say much, but maybe it will help to further the conversation.
Drew Ward
Lexicon Business Solutions

[kioskjoseluis]

This post has been moderated

It is very unfortunate, but true to find educational institutions of this nature.

In any product or service there will always be the good, the bad and everything in between.

Mexico, like I am sure many other countries around the world, work to the beat of its own drum. Plenty of patience, much learning along the way and renewed approaches to getting used to the "Mexican Way" is needed at all times.

Much of the time, teaching in Mexico can be an amazing learning experience, both in the professional and personal sense. However, teaching in MEX, is dificult to get a teaching job in the "Second Language Industry" that is paid well enough to live and save money for your future plans. Nevertheless, there are several reputable private institutions and fewer private language schools in Mexico that might provide you with a good option for you.