Co-op positions as teacher in mexico metepec mexico)
Working at Instituto Universitario Verdad y Ciencia
Instituto Universitario Verdad Y Ciencia
www.iuvyc.edu.mx
Metepec, Mexico
Spring, 2008
A work term in Metepec, Mexico:
Instituto Universitario Verdad y Ciencia is a private school for children and young adults aged 3 through 18. The largest concentration of students is enrolled in the school's kindergarten, elementary, and junior-high programs. There are also a limited, but rising, number of students who attend the school for senior-high schooling. The school is located in Metepec, a rapidly growing city in the State of Mexico and approximately 30 minutes outside of Mexico City. Having been opened for less than a year, the school offers completely new facilities for all grade levels. Students who enrol in the school have the benefit of being taught in classrooms equipped with electronic blackboards, as well as having spacious school grounds and facilities such as an indoor lap pool (25mts), dance studios, and a gymnasium. The school has a large staff force with varying expertise and is a leader in their approach to interacting with students in a democratic way.
Additionally, the school has an English language specialization with a considerable amount of English speaking instructors. Elementary school students have the opportunity to be taught in an English immersion program, and high school students can learn from native English speakers. Moreover, the institution is keen to offer diverse cultural activities to the students and the community. The cultural activities involve offering dance and music performances as well as sport activities.
Aside form attracting students with their new school grounds and facilities, Instituto Universitario Verdad y Ciencia has a set of goals and mandates which are equally desirable. The primary mandate of Instituto Universitario Verdad y Ciencia is to offer a premier education to students in a manner that will enrich, and reward their lives, thus leading students in a direction to finding their most desirable personal life path. In support of this mandate, one of the primary goals of the institution is to create a school environment that makes the student not only comfortable, but has teachers explaining subject matter in an interesting, fun and unique manner to support learning.
Additionally, the school has a goal of becoming a leader in their English language program offerings and to also provide students with an insight into the Anglo-Saxon culture. By developing strong English language abilities and knowledge of the English speaking countries, the school hopes students will have increased access to future opportunities.
The organizational structure of Instituto Universitario Verdad y Ciencia is believed to be quite unique to those found at other private educational institutions. In addition to teachers there are also a wide variety of support staff to the school, such as custodial and secretarial employees. Also, the Co-op position related to offering support for the English language and culture immersion program. There is also an English department of the school composed of the English speaking teachers who converse with one another, through meetings and workshops and provided advice to the Co-op students.
The primary responsibility of the Co-op position is to provide support in the teaching of the school's secondary language (English) and its cultural activities. This involves being assigned a group of students and creating a learning program of classes that would best suite their needs. Some preparation is needed to formulate a lesson plan and create resources prior to each lesson. This position has a direct relation to the primary mandate of the school. Additionally, this fits with the company goals of creating an interesting, fun, and unique classroom environment. The Co-op staff is continually reminded to experiment with various media and teaching equipment such as the electronic blackboard display system and other facilities available on campus. The position is also directly related to the goal of offering a superior English language education to improve various students' abilities. By having English speaking instructors from outside of Mexico, many students were motivated to improve their speaking skills. Additionally, native speakers can provide certain insights into the language that might be otherwise unavailable.
During the co-op term the student will live in a house located 10 minutes walking distance from the campus. The house is located in a gated community with various recreation facilities nearby. It is fully furnished and includes a few amenities. In front of this housing community there are grocery shopping facilities and movie theatres.
Some comments from former Language and Cultural Events Facilitators:
Journeying to a foreign country to work creates a host of problems, issues, and headaches, but there is also a great deal of anticipation and excitement created. You must come to Mexico with an easy going attitude; it will allow you to adjust more easily. Prepare yourself for difficulties communicating with your colleagues, with the students, and with the locals.
Drew LaJeunesse January-August 2006
Instituto Universitario Verdad y Ciencia is a great school to work. The school is beautiful and in the distance you can see the volcano. The faculty and the staff are friendly and will answer any question you may have. The supervisor is kind, fair and only an email away. For the most part, it is an ideal work environment for the co-op student. There is a lot of freedom as the educator on what and how you can teach. The students are energetic are keen to meet ´foreigners´. The English language is seen as being very important to learn. It is a new school, with excellent attributes. It is run by very knowledge principles and administers; therefore, the school works quite effectively.
Patrick Saunders January 2006 - August 2007
We are looking for new teachers from august 2008 and you can decide to stay until December 2008 or June 2009.
Send an e-mail on midikael@hotmail.com to Michael if you should be interested.
Co-op positions as teacher in mexico metepec mexico)