Teach English in Mexico with Projects Abroad

This program is provided by

Location

Mexico: Guadalajara

Length of Position: From 4 weeks upwards

Description

With rich natural resources, a mix of indigenous peoples and stunning coastlines, Mexico is a fascinating Central American country. It has a strong tourist industry and Mexicans are eager to embrace the opportunities that come from living next door to the United States. With so much trade and interaction with the US, a good command of the English language opens up many international opportunities for jobs, commerce and travel.

Living so close to the United States has also meant that plenty of US culture flows into the country in the form of television and music, and this makes the English language even more attractive. Schools and universities in the areas we work in Mexico are increasingly eager to benefit from the opportunities a native English speaking volunteer brings.

Volunteer teaching in Mexico is an ideal way to learn about and explore Mexico and its people. You do not need to have had any previous teaching experience and we do not require you to have undergone TEFL training. Whether you want to volunteer overseas as an English teacher during your gap year, career break or extended vacation, your presence at the school or university in which you work will be valued, and you will receive ongoing support from our local staff.

The Projects Abroad office in Mexico is based in Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico after the capital, Mexico City. The schools in Guadalajara often struggle to get teachers who speak fluent English. The most suitable candidates are often tempted away by higher salaries in the private sector.

The main focus is on building your students' confidence to communicate in English. You will find that the students want to hear what life is like in your hometown, and why you have chosen to come to Mexico.

Our volunteers can choose to work in secondary schools or at the University of Guadalajara. If you want to go to a smaller, more traditional Mexican town why not consider Ciudad Guzman, which is situated about two hours away from Guadalajara. You will soon find yourself known as one of the few 'gringos' in town!

In the secondary schools the students are aged from 11 to 18 years old. In universities, students are usually aged from about 18 to 26. The average size of a class in a secondary school is about thirty students and volunteers are expected to teach for up to four hours per day from Monday to Friday.

Highlights

As a volunteer in Mexico on one of our teaching projects, you can provide effective, practical help with spoken English to a large number of students. You will generally start your placement supporting a teacher, but you will probably feel confident enough to take your own classes before long. It is always important to achieve a balance with your teaching colleagues as any one-on-one work you do with the students will help them improve rapidly.

It is always worth talking to your supervisors about any ideas you may have for the students. If you have other language skills such as German or French we would be interested to hear from you as well. There are always skills that our volunteers have that we could use on our teaching projects. Volunteers who are budding musicians, artists, and actors have all added to the richness of our students' education in the recent past.

Before you set out to Mexico, we will send you a teaching guide that has plenty of suggestions for games and activities that will help to stimulate the students' minds and sustain their enthusiasm. We always welcome new ideas and we hope that you will take the time to prepare and structure lessons. Being well prepared will help to give you confidence and ensure that both you and your students get the most out of the experience.