I am American teaching English to Mexicans in Mexico. Does anyone know why teachers cannot keep students here?

Question

I am an American living in Mexico and teaching English to Mexicans in my pueblo. My charge is very low. I stated out with 11 students and little by little they started not coming to class. I teach 3 days a week with 3 hour sessions. The students have been learning very well and seem to really enjoy the class. We play games, have videos, sing songs, as well as learning basic English and conversation. My students range in age from 11 to 18. But, every now and then, someone will just quit coming. I am down down to 3 students. I have been doing this since September 21. My students are learning very rapidly and I feel I am successful. But, can't understand why they don't stick with it. I have talked to other American English teachers here and they had the same experience. Does anyone know from experience or otherwise what the problem is? I charge only 100 pesos ($10.00) per week per person, so my fee is very reasonable. If anyone has any suggestions, I welcome them. I am about to give up.

Answer 1

$10 may feel like $1000.

Secondly, with mission trip experience, they may just have to do adult reponsibilities, such as work or take care of younger kids.

Sounds like your class is a blessing....don't give up.

<>< Can you go to their 'homes'?

Answer 2

It depends, if by pueblo you mean what I think you do that is your problem, people in small towns or villages ( pueblos ) don´t realize the importance of a second language since they are not exposed to other cultures or languages very often, and chores and responsibilities come first, in turn in a city people pay up to
( and more ) $200.00 U.S. a month for English courses and the schools are packed, and English is compulsory from elementary school on, there si a lot of openings for private English tutors. Maybe you should move to a city

Answer 3

probably i'm assuming too many things but i was a private teacher myself (not in mexico) for many years and i can hear you. i really can hear hear you.

if you are a private teacher you are going to be in a very precarious situation. as simple as that. no matter what you change.

i don't know if you want to live in that particular village or you could go somewhere else.

if you went to a bigger city you could find private schools that could give you more safety. or you could find profesionals or middle class families that spare the money for english classes. i don't know.

u need to balance what you are getting from living in that pueblo and what you are sacrificing. if you are happy stick around if not move somewhere else or go back home.

a final word of advice. translators are paid way better than teachers everywhere. if you want to live out of languages translation is your thing. you can make a very good living indeed.

but as a teacher... unless you work for an institution you are going to be poor as a rat.

anyway.. just be happy thats the most impñortant thing. even if you have to rough it for a while you can be happy. pay attention to other things in life because safety and money is not everything

Answer 4

Wow, good question. Who knows? Maybe your students just want the affirmation that learning English is a good idea. Perhaps you reinforce that idea early on and they leave because they feel justified. As a fellow teacher of Hispanic youth I laud and praise your efforts. You have rendered a great service.

A Dios!

Answer 5

That sort of situation is not isolated in that area. It is happening around the world. In many countries where the poverty rates are high, education is not a necessity but a luxury. Your charge may be low but they may have other things that they need to put their money on. In many countries, the government gives 2 kilos of rice to students just to keep them coming to class but they still eventually drop out. their parents may need them to stay home or worse, they may need their children to work at very young ages just to be able to meet their daily needs.

Answer 6

I have friends in Mexico and 10.00 a week is a lot of money for them. besides that when some people think they know enough to learn on their own they will quit classes so that they can work more.

Answer 7

its maybe just that they have other problems, or probably that their too poor. in phillipines u know that one dollar is 50 pesos(same currency name a`) and most people can't afford it cuz my home country is very poor

Answer 8

come back to the US and teach english to the Mexicans this is where they need to learn