Why decide on Guadalajara, Mexico

Contemporary Mexico offers one of the best teaching destinations. A modernized landscape, competitive economy, and strive for professional growth has created a huge demand for EFL teachers.

Charming in its culture and with the heritage of millenary civilizations such as the Mexica, Maya, Olmec, and Zapotec; Mexico offers a collage of progress and modernization alongside tradition and mysticism.

Founded in 1592, Guadalajara is the second largest city of Mexico, and 10th largest city in Latin America in regards to population.

Its historic center is full of cultural landmarks, colonial history and tradition; among the highlights are the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Expiatorio, Cabañas Cultural Institute, and the Latin American Library just to mention a few. There is also a wide range of museums such as the Museo de Arte Sacro de Catedral de Guadalajara, Museo de Arqueología de Occidente, Museo de las Artes Populares de Jalisco, and many more.

Guadalajara has twenty two museums, which include the Regional Museum of Jalisco, the Wax Museum, the Trompo Mágico children's museum, MUSA, and the Museum of Anthropology.

The Hospicio Cabañas in the historic downtown center is a World Heritage Site. For these attributes and others, the city was named an American Capital of Culture in 2005.

This city is indeed a cultural center in Mexico; it is the home of mariachi music and host to a number of large-scale cultural events such as the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), and other globally renowned cultural events which draw international crowds every year.

Guadalajara is known to many as the Pearl of the West. The settlement was established in 1533. The purpose of the initial settlement was to secure the recent conquests made by the Spanish Conquistadors and to provide defense against still-hostile natives, which were very brave warriors whose downfall was only contributed to their lack of gun powder based weaponry. In 1542, records indicate that 126 people were living in Guadalajara, and in the same year, the status of city was conferred by the Spanish king, Charles V.

It is one of the cities that boast the most well preserved Historic Downtown Areas in Latin America, where travelers can witness the progressive evolution of not just the region but the entire country thanks to the buildings that adorn the landscape. For example; you will be able to see the astonishing architectonic jewels of the Catholic Church such as The Expiatorio, Cathedral and other gothic-styled churches, as well as the lavishing government palaces that served as the administrative centers for the Spanish crown in the New World. In these buildings you will also see breathtaking murals that project the patriotism of the independence struggle as well as the furious political sentiment of the revolution and strive for social equality of the workers’ movement.

You can rest assured that Guadalajara is not one of those places that only basks in the glory of its past but rather prides itself of its current prosperity and even brighter future.

The city has hosted several important international events, such as the first Iberoamerican Summit in 1991, the Third Summit of Heads of State and Governments from Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union in 2004, the International Promotors of Culture Summit in 2005, and will be the host city of the 2011 Pan American Games. It was also named the American Capital of Culture as well as Educator City due to the high quality and volume of its universities by the Organization of American States in 2005, and the first Smart City in Mexico due to its use of technology in development.

In a 2007 research of the fDI magazine, Guadalajara was the highest ranking major Mexican city having the second strongest economic potential of any major North American city, in the same research it was considered the "city of the future" due to its youthful population, low unemployment and large number of recent foreign investment deals; it was also found to be the third most business friendly city in North America.

Moreover, the editors of Travel+Leisure Magazine have compiled their annual list of the best places to travel, for which they thoroughly and meticulously considered a variety of factors before choosing each location. Guadalajara, Mexico is among these incredible destinations! All these reasons and many more make Guadalajara, Mexico one of the best destinations for teacher training and teaching English abroad. In this city not only can you admire a 500 year old tradition, experience a rich and colorful culture, learn a new language, but you can also enjoy a prosperous living as an EFL teacher.

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