San Miguel de Allende Travel Forum

Hello,

I am a 25 year old certified TEFL english teacher, just returning from Guadalajara. I am planning on making a 6 month move down to San Miguel at the beginning of the new year. I have no idea where I am going to stay and dont think that showing up at the start of the busy season without any accomodation set up is a good idea. Any suggestions on cheap but nice rooms, B&B's, hotels, hostels etc.?

Also, I have heard that finding work as an english teacher in San Miguel can be difficult. Will it be easy for a beginner spanish speaker to find work? I have extensive administrative experience and I am also a licensed esthetician. I need to know that I will be able to live and thrive in San Miguel if teaching doesnt work out. Any advice, suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Unless you've a special teaching talent not now available in SMA, I think your chances of finding teaching work, or any work for that matter, are slim to NOT. There are many expats already living in SMA and teachers are not being sought, from what I understand. No harm in checking it out though. As for housing, I suggest you stay in the hostel, at a casa de huespedes until you network and find an inexpensive room/studio. Lonely Planet guidebook is a good source of information on SMA, from what I see.

Best wishes.

To find a position teaching English, you might inquire at one of the Spanish schools: Academia Hispano Americana, Instituto Allende, or Instituto Habla Hispana. Instituto Allende might actually have English classes. The other two schools do not teach English, but they might have some idea of where you could find a position teaching English.

Martha Racine Taylor
Author of Spanish-Live It and Learn It! The Complete Guide to Language Immersion Schools in Mexico

I have several friends who have taught in Engligh at the Jose Vasconcelos school, a bilingual secondary school. I'm afraid I don't have contact info for them, but you might find it on the web. Also, despite what others have told you, there is a solid market for ESL among young Mexicans wanting to learn English. After you've done a little networking, you should be able to find private students. The pay will not be what you are used to, however.

Good luck,
Donna