Though not a place one goes to earn and save a lot of money teaching English, Mexico nonetheless attracts thousands of English speakers who want to teach English and experience its magnificent landscape, people, and culture. Aside from alluring the wanderlust who seek a cultural experience, Mexico has a high demand for English teachers, so there are plenty of jobs to go around, many of which do not require you to have a university degree.
There is a wide range of jobs for English teachers, but most opportunities for ESL teachers are with private schools or universities. Many teachers supplement their regular incomes with private tutoring, which is common practice in Mexico.
Although a university degree is not required, you will need a TEFL certification and a job offer letter to obtain the FM3 work visa. The FM3 work visa allows you to stay and work in Mexico for one year, and provides access to other benefits such as public health care.
Each school will have its own set of requirements to hire ESL teachers, and many schools will only hire teachers who have a university degree. Anyone who is a fluent English speaker can find work teaching English in Mexico, though many schools have a preference towards English speakers who are citizens of USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or South Africa.
Still, due to the large demand for learning English, there are ample job opportunities for English speakers who haven’t completed a university degree but have a TEFL certification.
Mexico is an ideal destination for English speakers seeking a cultural exchange, opportunities to travel in and around Central America, and for those who want to learn Spanish in an immersive environment. You’ll be able to enjoy a relatively comfortable lifestyle due to the low cost of living, but probably won’t save much.
Let’s take a look at the opportunities to teach English in Mexico.