{"id":30414,"date":"2024-02-02T15:02:08","date_gmt":"2024-02-02T22:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=30414"},"modified":"2026-02-06T19:57:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-07T02:57:15","slug":"ruben-from-mexico-teaching-business-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/ruben-from-mexico-teaching-business-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Ruben, From Mexico, Teaching Business English"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Continued growth through niche building has been the path that Bridge grad Ruben Castellanos, from Mexico, has taken for almost two decades now. Having started his career by teaching at an English school, he has since expanded to teaching Business English independently and specializing in pronunciation. He recounts how he has thrived in teaching Spanish-speaking professionals, his strategies for teaching phonetics, and his plans to develop courses targeting specific ESL markets.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can you tell us a bit about yourself, Ruben? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m from Mexico City, and I\u2019m 47 years old. I love computers, nature, hiking, and mountain biking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inspired you to become an English teacher?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The truth is that I became an English teacher because I couldn’t find a job at the time. I was looking for a job after I got my Bachelor\u2019s degree in Business Management, and I sent my CV to many companies, including an English school. After seven months of being unemployed, I finally received a phone call from the director of an English school to let me know that I had been selected to become an English teacher and to get ready for a one-month training. That’s how this adventure started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, just a few days after I started officially teaching, I realized I wanted to continue teaching for the rest of my life. Discovering how I was able to have an impact on students\u2019 lives was my point of inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New to TEFL? Explore Bridge’s Professional TEFL Certificates, including the 120-hour Bridge Master Certificate<\/a> and the university-affiliated, 150-hour IDELTOnline\u2122<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve been teaching English for 17 years since then! Where have you taught?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After working at the first school for four and a half years, I started teaching at a private high school. However, I realized that it was not my cup of tea. I felt more comfortable working with adults. After that, a friend of mine who was teaching Business English<\/a> independently in another city, told me that I had a chance in this niche. There were plenty of groups and classes, and it was good money! So, I left everything and I moved there. We taught English at tequila companies like Tequila Patron. When there were no more classes over there, I had to move to a different town, Monterrey, which is one of the major cities here in Mexico. I had the chance to start working for a company that offers Business English to other companies. I loved it and felt that everything was back on track!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, I started working for a Mexico City-based company remotely. They have some customers in companies like General Electric and PepsiCo. Unfortunately, they ended the contract and I moved to Carretero, where I am living right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time with that company, I was teaching classes at an insurance company, and I started teaching online classes as well. That’s when I started teaching online. After I finished teaching in person at the insurance company, I taught completely online. It was years before the pandemic started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn how to teach English online from home (or anywhere).<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Ruben started teaching English in a physical classroom before switching to a virtual one<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Where are you currently teaching?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I have two jobs here in Carretero. The first is at a private junior high school that is business and financial-focused. I teach a small group of teenagers. The rest of my students are my private online learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should I teach online with a company or for myself? Get advice on <\/em>your options for teaching English online.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do you like best about teaching in your home country?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I love discovering talented people! Sometimes they don’t know exactly what they are capable of, and helping them realize the potential they have to become successful professionals is really great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though my focus is to teach Spanish-speaking professionals around the world, most of my clients have been Mexican professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also love the atmosphere and freedom that I have here as well as the chance to visit different places! Although Mexico is kind of portrayed as having a lot of violence, a lot of people feel safe here in Mexico City. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read about another Bridge alumni, Andr\u00e9s, an online EFL trainer teaching in Mexico.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ruben
In his free time, Ruben loves going on bike rides. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You also run your own English teaching business. How did you start teaching independently?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I decided to start my own business after an “a-ha!” moment. When I was working at the first school, I found out how much money the schools make from one-on-one classes and how they pay teachers peanuts per hour. So I thought I could also start my own business and get paid directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interested in teaching English online independently? Learn more about Teacherpreneur Academy, a step-by-step program that provides training, resources, monthly workshops and networking sessions, and more!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do you find your private students?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

They usually come from:<\/p>\n\n\n