Ourmexico readers often inquire about teaching English in Mexico. So on a recent trip, Dick Davis, our Features Writer made some inquiries. Reprinted below is Dick's response to those readers. Dick covered both professional and casual English teaching opportunities and saw how they knit together in San Luis Potosi, one of Dick's favorite colonial cities. He also inquired in Puebla when he had an opportunity and in Guachochi, Chihuahua.

Teaching English in San Luis Potosi: School Interviews

I took some time and knocked on a few doors. I enjoyed the interviews and the quest. I think what I discovered is valid information for anyone who's hoping to find a teaching position in Mexico.

Starting at the university level: Universidad Politécnica de San Luis Potosi (UPSLP), Iturbide, No. 140, Centro Histórico, SLP. Rector: Juan Antonio Martinez, vice-rector Jaxier Delgado.

UPSLP concentrates on computer science, business, accounting and English.

Your contact: Lic. Yolanda Oros, Departamento Recursos Humanos (Human Resources). Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I spoke with both Juan Antonio (he holds a Master's from London School of Economics) and Javier Delgado, who is in charge of curriculum, but who also said that all applicants should start with Yolanda.

Politécnica is a real university. Their mission is education not profit. They are funded 50% by the Federal government and 50% by the State of San Luis Potosi. All teachers have college degrees, many have Master's, plus the English teachers are experienced and hold TESL or a diploma from Britain. Students are graded. It sounds strange, but often I've heard that in For-Profit-Schools, pay and pass is the standard.

Academic professionals start at 7,000-8,000 pesos ($700-800) per month. It's a tight budget.

Salary range for English teachers: 100-150 pesos ($9-$14) per hour when teaching, preparation time is not paid, and halftime is paid for assisting, roaming around a study hall, answering questions, giving directions.

Often teachers are part-time and hold two jobs.

New hires: only after a personal interview.

Positives: Currently there are 1200 students, spread around the Historic Center, ex-Carmelite Convent and other beautiful colonial buildings. Great place to teach, gather, roam, visit the parks, have coffee and dine. Teacher turnover is very low, a good sign, but conversely, few new openings. However, the school expects major expansion. They are planning for a minimum 5000 students and expect to open a new campus in 2007.

Teachers: I spoke with Debbie Williams (British) and Sandra (Canadian) both had similar stories to tell.

Debbie: Mature, experienced, taught Business Planning in England, got an itch, traveled to Thailand, taught English, became disillusioned, opted for a change and got a job via the Internet. (I think Dave's ESL Café, if not, then that's Sandra's story.)

Sandra: Canadian farmer, wife, grew wheat, barley, rapeseed, sold farm and "I'll never go back there to that cold." She was educated and enthusiastic.

Both were independent, can-do ladies, good-humored, flexible, and determined.

Both started their English teaching career in SLP at English Unlimited, Valentín Gama 800, Colonia Jardín.

Wages at English Unlimited: 45 pesos ($4.50) an hour and that's still the going rate. It's a for-profit, high turnover, anyone (just about) gets a chance and former teachers say, spoken with pride, "We're refuges from English Unlimited." Once experienced, teachers move on, some move on even before wrapping up experience. At English Unlimited Teachers may face a grueling schedule.

The business model appears to be: low pay-new teachers. It sounded like Moveon.ed.

What to expect at English Unlimited: 7 a.m. classes, split schedule, afternoons free, evening classes, over at 10 p.m. You might teach 7-9 a.m. then 7- 10.

Debbie and Sandra got through it, toughed it out, enjoyed SLP and with their experience found a superior position at UPSLP.

So I took a hike, hoofed it over to English Unlimited. On the way I dropped by the Tourist Office and asked for a list of schools. A very courteous, helpful young man Xeroxed off the English Schools in the Yellow Pages. There were only a few. I found more schools just by walking around SLP. General education schools, primary, secondary, and preparatory posted "English" prominently on their schools, and academies.

There seems to be a cluster mentality, like car dealerships, schools believe in critical mass and locate near the competition.

English Unlimited:

Lupita, very professional, bright, impressive, outlined the program.

Classes: 7 weeks on, one week off schedule. A certificate is requested but they fudge if they think you can teach. They start you without a FM3 work permit. Lupita said that it's not required for a short period. But if you stay, and they agreed to extend employment, they will help you with the paperwork, but you must pay the fees, about 1,500 pesos per year.

General impression: If you can impress them, they will give you a try without a TESL.

Benefits: You get a job, you're in Mexico and in San Luis Potosi, plus English Unlimited provides 1-3 hours a week classes in Spanish and throws in some culture.

Currently they have 500 students and 20 teachers, all levels.

Contact: www.englishunlimited.org

American Center, Terrazas no.345, Colonia Tequisquiapan, Owner: Diane Cyttel (American) and a surprise.

I once taught English at Mexican Cross Cultural Institute. Maria, the owner, fell in love, sold the school and moved to Europe.

I came across the American Center School, dropped in and there was Lang Tousley, from either Massachusetts or Vermont, depends on his mood. We worked together in 1999.

Lang was also a refuge from English Unlimited. He's working 20 hours a week at 100 pesos per hour. He's living modestly. "I live Bohemian, in a cave. All I need: books and music." He is cheerful, enjoys teaching and speaks well of Diane, the owner-director.

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Interlingua, San Luis Potosi:

Although I get a lot of requests from readers wanting to teach English in Mexico, I never know if they wish to teach as a profession, or to offset the expense of living and learning in Mexico.

The latest school, Interlingua in San Luis Potosi, is now part of a franchised chain. I spoke with the director, Amparo Carrera, and asked how they hired teachers, what qualifications were required and could an American teacher live on a Mexican salary.

Directora Carrera was reluctant to fill me in. She seemed suspicious. I explained that I was Ourmexico's Features Writer and that an article about schools in Mexico would be free advertising. She changed her mind and said that they were concluding a teacher training session and that one of the prospective teachers was presenting her lesson plan. Two current teachers were role playing students and grading the prospective teacher.

She told me that Interlingua trains all teachers in their method, a step-by-step formula. There are eight courses, and it takes about 360 in-class hours for a student to be reasonably fluent at completion.

Mentally, I tallied up the 3 months' intensive course in Spanish that I took 40 years ago, and the 360 hours of instruction that Interlingua offers and then expects the student to speak English, were nearly identical to the hours I spent in class in Spain.

I thought that was realistic.

I asked, "Do your prospective teachers have to have a credential or ESL diploma?" Amparo said, "No, we interview, accept a number of candidates, more than we will hire, and we teach them our method. Those that do the best are offered employment." The Interlingua teacher course lasts 3 weeks, about 100 in-class hours and the candidate is expected to memorize, or incorporate Interlingua's method into their classroom performance

I asked about students. She mentioned that if a student drops out for a time, the student is re-tested and placed in a class at his level.

I notice that many of the students were young, coming to an English class after school. I suspect that younger students are more responsive to a structured approach and will do well knowing that they are on a track.

Little homework is expected. But daily class attendance is. I thought this was also positive as I've taught in Mexico and most students progress only during class time.

But it takes a certain type of teacher to follow the Interlingua formula, which is highly repetitive.

Amparo asked me to wait while she inquired if an observer would be upsetting.

She returned and asked me to follow. The exam was in progress. Jorgina Torres was in command and experienced teachers were making mistakes, role-playing, to see how Jorgina would respond and get the student on track.

During the next hour and one half, I watched Jorgina display a variety of entertaining methods. She used a picture board; she concentrated on "grouping," (hospital, doctor, nurse, I'm sick). I felt she was the right choice for a new hire.

I was told that Interlingua pays 57 pesos per 1:20 minute class, close to $4 an hour. A modest two-bedroom apartment in San Luis Potosi costs 3,200 pesos a months, about $300. A quick calculation, 40 hours times $4 equals $160 a week, if you're employed full time. If you split some expenses, it can work out, and you're in Mexico, learning Spanish, and enjoying a rich cultural, colonial city, San Luis Potosi.

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In Puebla:

Americas Unidas, Escuela Técnica Comercial: Actually, two schools, one administration, they are looking for English teachers. But they hire in April for the coming year.

Email: Prof. Soledad Diaz-Ordaz, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

It was a short interview. I was treated cordially but I came away without any insight as to methods or school structure.

Then I received the following email, also from Puebla.

From Lupita Diez:

Dear Dick,

Somehow, I was sent a copy of the interview you made with Lis Silva, one of our best teachers here at the Centro de Idiomas Volkswagen. Although our turnover is not high, we are frequently in need of an English teacher, just like now. After reading the interview, I wondered if you could post an ad for us wherever you are, or most likely, you have a list of contacts who might be interested in coming to enjoy this beautiful city of Puebla and teach English at our Language Center.

Lupita Diez
Coordinadora de Ingles
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Guachochi, Chihuahua:

Lastly, for the adventurous, one who likes the outdoors, a frontier setting and proximity to the Copper Canyon.

North of Parral, in Chihuahua, while at the annual Guachochi Fair, I met Professor Everardo Quintana Villalobos, Subdirector del Centro de Estudios de Bachillerato. He told me that there were opportunities for English teachers at the high school.

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Also see: Teaching English in Mexico