Teaching English in Mexico

Richard Leighton is a psychology graduate turned backpacker who has recently returned from Central America. He'd like to travel more in the future but for now is turning his attention to a career in journalism.

He explains why he decided to volunteer as an English teacher in Mexico.

When I graduated from university, I left with a rather disconcerting feeling of 'hmm, so what now?' With no clear career path in mind, and feeling distinctly studied out, it was time to do something different. After some lengthy googling sessions, it became clear that volunteering abroad was what I was looking for. So a few months of mundane office work later (and much scrimping and saving), I left drizzly England for sunny Mexico to be an English teacher.

Before I left I had no teaching experience and spoke no Spanish so was mildly apprehensive about what was to come. Those feelings were justified when, on day one, I found myself standing up in front of a room of university students, explaining what I was doing there – in my, then, largely unintelligible Spanish. There were some giggles (mostly mine) but it did make for a good ice breaker.

"Meals of tacos and beans everyday never got boring and learning Spanish was an unexpected joy"

My classes varied a lot, from going through the alphabet with a 25 year old PhD student, to chatting current affairs with an 18 year old who just wanted somebody to practice with. Some weekends I met up with my students and became a real Mexicano - I embarrassed myself salsa dancing, watched awful Mexican movies and attended outrageously raucous football matches.

I volunteered with a large, reputable organisation that provided the placement, accommodation with a local family, and importantly, support if ever I needed help. Unfortunately, this didn't include instructions on how to stop my host mum's two year old son setting up camp in my bedroom each night, but I coped. Some weeknights and weekends were spent with other volunteers and project staff, sampling local Tequila, visiting nearby Manzanillo beach, and even helping out at a Turtle Camp.

Had I got a paid English teaching position, suddenly it would have been just another job. A nine to five, with pressure, responsibility, a boss, rules, timetables. Who wants all that when a volunteer position allows so much more creative freedom? Dull textbooks made way for hangman, and, where appropriate, I put my students in charge of what they learnt.

Mexico's horizontally laid back culture was infectious, meals of tacos and beans everyday never got boring and learning Spanish was an unexpected joy. The whole experience gave me a passion for travel and I have since spent over a year going around the world - and I'll never forget how it all started.

By Richard Leighton

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