Job Discussion Forums

zbird · Joined: 20 Mar 2008 Posts: 33

I have recently accepted an offer to teach in China, and I am doing so with the intent of coming back to the US after a few years (after gaining experience, promotions and certifications) to teach at a conversation school here in the US. I've searched far and wide but could not find a discussion on this topic.

What I'd like to ask is, is this a sound idea? What is the job market and salary like for ESL teachers in the US? Is it a job with which you can support yourself? I've heard of some teachers who need to teach at more than one school to make ends meet. Will it be hard to come back and find a job as an ESL teacher in the States?

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=f03ea975cc7b8789720843306e377bf8

MsHoffman · Joined: 18 Sep 2016 Posts: 76

I've been teaching English to adults in Southern California for 7+ years. Never been able to get paid a living wage for it. Problem is this: like most of adult/higher education, everything is part-time, so you have to teach at multiple locations to make a decent living, which means you spend all of your time in your car. In lots and lots of traffic.

I also teach online - that helps, but most of the online teaching jobs are for the for-profit unis, which have taken a major hit lately (no one wants to go to them since ITT closed up shop).

The other big problem is that ESL in the USA tends to be a 4-5 day/week class. Most language classes are. So if you're teaching at 2-3 schools the driving part is insane.

I did switch to a non-profit org that is essentially a English language school for Mexican immigrants. That's more money - 6 classes per week - but they have me teaching at six different locations, and each one has some challenges (with the classroom facilities - the students are all awesome).

Anyway, I've written quite a bit here. You can pm me for more details but the bottom line is that teaching adults in the US is not going to pay a living wage right now, unless you're PhD tenure-track, and those jobs are super hard to find even for people with PhDs.

Regarding language academies in the US - everyone I know who teaches at those is only getting part-time work.

Good luck,
MsHoffman

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

It's the same in Aust NZ and other native speaker countries.
So many ex teachers happy with low paid part-time hours. Not good for people trying to make a living.

OhBudPowellWhereArtThou · Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Posts: 1168 Location: Since 2003

I returned to the U.S. for about a year awhile back. I sent cards to school counselors accompanied by a short note. I made it clear that I wanted motivated students and concerned parents. I also put my resume up on Monster.com. I also scanned Craigslist for possibilities. I also advertised on Craigslist as well in a church bulletin. I found that charging a fairly high rate provided tremendous support from parents.

While the income didn't pay all of my bills, I was able to meet basic while living with family.

Freelancing won't really support you unless you tutor special kids who come from affluent families.

You need a LOT of them.

One stands a better chance of teaching ESL in the the U.S. if one is certified in ESL and has further certification in teaching special needs students. Those credentials will lead to certification and even to really high paying weekend and after school gigs.

jimpellow · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 913

I concur with the others who have stated that returning to the US and finding a career in the classroom that will allow you lead to a non-struggling existence is difficult.

One option not mentioned is to take your ESL experience and apply it in a business setting such opening an online ESL or brick-and-mortar school, creating a product and marketing it etc.

There is certainly more reward, and risk, with this approach. You would have to be honest with yourself as to if you have the entrepreneurial spirit, drive and ability to gain the know-how on how to grow and run a successful business that would provide you with a good quality of life in the US.

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

Another problem in the US is for some reason ESL is often considered a volunteer type of opportunity and teachers are expected to teach for free. It is often seen as sort of like ladling soup for homeless people.

MsHoffman · Joined: 18 Sep 2016 Posts: 76

Yes! It's the oddest thing.

Teach almost any other subject at the college level, and you're a genius professor, even if you're part-time with no chance of benefits or tenure.

Teach English to international students or adult immigrants, and you're less skilled, less capable, and less professional than a preschool teacher.

I have no idea why this is, I just know that people like me who love teaching English to Beginning-level students have to put up with a ton of disrespect in the U.S.

Ah, well. Here's hoping I find a good position overseas soon.

rocket man · Joined: 19 Dec 2015 Posts: 110 Location: Raleigh NC USA

Taught ESL in Korea at the univ level for 15 years and I hold a secondary social studies certification in Texas. What did that get me? Substitute teaching for a year and a half, then finagled a job teaching ESL to Mexican immigrants for 3 hours/morning (paid for 4) 4 days/week at $20/hour. When class ended with the end of the school year, had to take a job taking reservations for Starwood Hotels for $13.25/hour. Thats why I came to China but here I'm actually teach English Language Arts and History at a Foreign Language High School.

Now Ex-wife best she can do and she has 10 years of univ ESL experience in Korea, then 5 years as product manager for Oxford Univ Press in Korea is p/t in the ESL program at a university in Texas. She barely gets by from what I know.

Not a pretty picture huh?

brnrd · Joined: 23 Dec 2013 Posts: 53

Since the 1990s teaching ESL in a L1 country pays dismally.Now, if you're getting into the P.hD in a uni stuff,likely that's better,but I wouldn't label that "ESL teaching".

Neilhrd · Joined: 10 Jul 2005 Posts: 233 Location: Nanning, China

I have been in China since 2004 and retired last Christmas due to age restrictions. I have been doing online freelancing recently and I can get as much work as I want and it is good money by Chinese standards. But getting the money into my Chinese bank is a nightmare. I have had enough and I am thinking of returning to the UK in January, so it is interesting to read of others experiences in the USA.

My question is this. I have a TESOL, IELTS, TOEFL and business English certificates and 12 years experience including spells as senior teacher and DOS. I have money in the UK, so only need to work part time for interest and I have seen some promising jobs advertised. But I am 61 and I have also heard from others that experience in China is not taken seriously in the EFL world in the USA or Britain. What are my chances?