Site Search:
 
Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Applying for jobs - Looking for a reality check
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> General North America Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
PostPosted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
That is good to know but I haven`t been able to get a job in the US.
I get rejected since I never taught at an IEP at an American university.
I got rejected by Teach for America last week, so that is why I have been thinking about my age.

So far it seems my 17 years abroad counts for very little.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
revilo



Joined: 05 Oct 2013
Posts: 181
Location: Mos Eisley
PostPosted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:21 pm    Post subject: Real purpose of Teach for America Reply with quote
If you applied for TFA in your 40s, you put all your eggs in one basket. It is widely known as a stepping stone for the 20 somethings to pay off student loans and make connections for a better job outside of education.

If you search Inside Higher Education .com you will find an article that describes a public university using TFA as a "feeder program" to supplement its own credential program. And the kicker is that taxpayer $$$ goes to the university.

I have seen American education turn into a big F'N scam....and it's getting worse. Mad
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 11:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
How about public schools in Memphis or in Charlotte?
Does anyone have anything to say about teaching there and getting an alternate license?
Thanks.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ttxor1



Joined: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 119
PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 6:21 pm    Post subject: the tesl scene in the states cont. Reply with quote
Hi all,

Quote:
uh huh asked: If someone has a feel for the market and what employers are looking for and would be willing to chat with me about my prospects, I'd appreciate a PM.


Quote:
Nomad soul responded:The job ads should give you a sense on what your prospects are, though I suspect some employers may have a bias for teachers whose experience leans towards TESL and not TEFL. As such, consider joining your state/local TESOL affiliate for networking opportunities.


Quote:
And rtm added: The market for full-time instructors is getting a bit harder, but if you have a masters in a relevant (e.g., TESOL, Applied Linguistics) or semi-relevant (e.g., Communication, English, Education) field and you live in an area with at least a few universities, you should be able to get at least one course as an adjunct.


I was hoping to get into the TESL scene, as many suggested that it would strenthen my CV. I have just completed an MA in TESOL, CELTA and have four years pre-certification experience (2 in the schools in Korea, 2 in a private community college in Kuwait). My hopes were immediately dashed by the first few pages of tesol.org's results for job vacancies: Many job titles include “Senior Instructor, Director of Programs and Assistant/Professor” and want experience in IEPs or higher ed programs and I began to see the scene that peripatetic_soul describes. I have read elsewhere on these forums that experience in the gulf can be the “kiss of death” for your career, but I was dismayed that I seem to have no other choice as there seem to be few entry level positions in TESL, even with a relevant MA. And those few jobs can't begin to match the pay and benefits that some international jobs offer as routine. I would love to hear from any instructor, either at an entry level or more experienced, at a South African/American/Canadian/British/NZ/Aussie uni who is given an average to above average salary, a housing allowance, one time furniture allowance, free health care, and 60 days fully paid summer leave + national holidays for 18 weekly contact hours. The Director of Programs at the local private university in my state who helped me with my research project has a small staff of about 8 or 10, very low turnover, they all have the same or more experience as you, uh huh, and their situation is as rtm and peripatetic_soul depict: Adjuncts or part timers, with scant benefits and pennies (two or three thousand dollars per semester) for pay, maybe one or two classes at the uni a week and one or two classes per week at some of the other local community colleges/public schools.

The ESL director with whom I spoke suggested that, if I want a full time job with benefits in the US, I be “mobile” and flexible, and through more digging it appears that Arizona and Texas have the biggest demand for ESL instructors in the states. Uh huh, I think your chances of getting a full time uni/college/community college position in the Southwestern US are really good and benefits are decent. This is what I have learned from a friend doing her Phd in Linguistics in Arizona. Again, though, my sense from the networking and internet research I've done leads me to believe that these jobs are very competitive. My mom works at a local university and received over 100 applications for 1 adjunct professor position. A posting for an ESL instructor in California I saw described an interview process which required you to fly out there 3 times, with them only paying half the flight cost on the 3rd trip (all hotel and other expenses are on you). The ESL director (who had worked in Cali) told me that the colleges/unis out there had recently been snubbed by their top candidates, and were started to make applicants pay for travel to weed out those who intended to use their interview in Cali as a vacation.

hope this helps,

ttxor1
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
rtm



Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1003
Location: US
PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 7:41 pm    Post subject: Re: the tesl scene in the states cont. Reply with quote
ttxor1, nice post, and thanks for sharing your experiences.

ttxor1 wrote:
I have read elsewhere on these forums that experience in the gulf can be the “kiss of death” for your career, but I was dismayed that I seem to have no other choice as there seem to be few entry level positions in TESL, even with a relevant MA.
This is interesting, as I have not heard that experience in the gulf can be the "kiss of death" for your career. With the recent gigantic influx of Saudi students in IEPs at American universities, I'd guess that gulf experience could even be advantageous (for getting a job at a university IEP).

I agree with the other tings you said. One really does need to be mobile, or be willing to take a low-paying adjunct position for a few years and wait until something full-time opens up. In either case, a full-time position is far from guaranteed.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 9:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Dear ttxor1,

"Uh huh, I think your chances of getting a full time uni/college/community college position in the Southwestern US are really good and benefits are decent. This is what I have learned from a friend doing her Phd in Linguistics in Arizona. Again, though, my sense from the networking and internet research I've done leads me to believe that these jobs are very competitive. "

Here I am in Santa Fe, NM, and while I can't speak for the whole Southwest, I can definitely tell you that this is NOT the case in New Mexico. Part-time, adjunct (i.e. serf) jobs can be found, but don't plan of making a living unless you somehow manage to paste two or even three such together.

Regards,
John

P.S. I have an MA in English Ed, 22 years experience in EFL and over ten in ESL. Oh, and if you're bilingual (English/Spanish), that can help



[/u]
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
mitsui



Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 1562
Location: Kawasaki
PostPosted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 12:03 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I would move to Arizona. My problem is that I am not certified to teach at public schools.
There is a job fair in early May in Phoenix and I wonder if it is worth it to go.
I have seen jobs in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico where knowledge of Spanish is required, but
I don`t speak it.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
rtm wrote:
ttxor1 wrote:
I have read elsewhere on these forums that experience in the gulf can be the “kiss of death” for your career, but I was dismayed that I seem to have no other choice as there seem to be few entry level positions in TESL, even with a relevant MA.

This is interesting, as I have not heard that experience in the gulf can be the "kiss of death" for your career. With the recent gigantic influx of Saudi students in IEPs at American universities, I'd guess that gulf experience could even be advantageous (for getting a job at a university IEP).

I disagree about the Gulf being the "kiss of death" for one's career. There are plenty of Arabic speakers from the Gulf enrolled in IEPs in the US. Previous experience teaching the Mid East is very beneficial, especially if you have a good grasp of the general culture, knowledge about Arabic language transference, and experience teaching writing and reading---Arabic speakers' weakest skills.

Nailing a job generally depends on how one presents and "sells" their skills and experience on their cover letter, CV and subsequently, in an interview.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
PostPosted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
mitsui wrote:
...but I haven`t been able to get a job in the US.
I get rejected since I never taught at an IEP at an American university.
I got rejected by Teach for America last week, so that is why I have been thinking about my age.

So far it seems my 17 years abroad counts for very little.

and wrote:
I would move to Arizona. My problem is that I am not certified to teach at public schools.
There is a job fair in early May in Phoenix and I wonder if it is worth it to go.
I have seen jobs in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico where knowledge of Spanish is required, but
I don`t speak it.

Then reinvent yourself. Get a graduate certificate or master's degree in Instructional/Educational Technology and you'll be guaranteed a full-time job in education, government, or corporate.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message