Advice on Teaching English in Mexico

I have been to Mexico many times, and I just love it there. I want to make my dream of moving there permanently a reality. I know it is not the easiest place to get a job, but the one thing I have been thinking about lately is teaching English. I am just about the take the TEFL course, and I will also be taking Spanish, so that I will be able to communicate in both languages. I would like to know if anyone has any advice on teaching English in Mexico, is it difficult to get a job, where is the best place to start looking, etc. This is a two year plan for me, so I am giving myself plenty of time to sort everything out before I do anything drastic.....but any information would help!!

Thanks!

great post...

I've been involved in TEFL in Mexico for over a decade now...here's my advice.

Think carefully about location if you haven't selected a place yet. Jobs in resort areas are few and far between and when you find one the pay is quite low compared the higher cost of living. Larger interior cities generally offer better jobs and pay.

If you have no other teaching experience beyond the TEFL course you're taking, expect an entry level job, most likely at a language institute. The pay at such places can be fairly low, so if you want to make this a longer term affair, consider professional development into a relevant degree, or specialized areas of TEFL, such as business or children.

If you have time before coming to Mexico, get in as much teaching practice as you can, volunteering if you need to. Once you come, make sure to have a good funding cushion to get you through the set up expenses (moving, rents, etc) as it make take a few months to stabilize your pay, work, hours, etc.