Job Discussion Forums

[Omeo]

How's the teaching job market here in the states? If I go out and teach in a few other countries, will I be able to use that experience to teach here at home when I get back? What qualifications do domestic teaching jobs look for? How much do they pay? Anybody got a link? Thanx.

[winterlynx1]

Getting a North American job in the pubic sector (universities, colleges, public schools) usually requires a Masters Degree in a related field - such as English or Applied Linguistics, plus a good dose of experience, and the right connections. There are some private sector jobs that don't require that level of education, but the pay is quite low. It is sometimes possible to pick up private tutoring jobs. However, the NA job market is really tight. You will likely be hard pressed to find work even with overseas experience.

[Cdaniels]

The situation differs too much from state to state to really generalize much. As far as I know, all states require "certification" which can be earned while getting a MEd, but many states are loosening rules and making it easier to get certified. Pay can also vary quite a bit.
There is an odd disconnect between teaching English abroad, and teaching ESL in the US that I've found frustrating. I hope this changes in the future.

[Omeo]

If teaching overseas doesn't qualify us to do it at home, what kind of jobs CAN we get with this experience? What kind of employers are looking for people with iur experience?

[Mark Loyd]

None, that is why TEFL is so deadend. Employers may accept a year's TEFL on your CV when you are in your early twenties but see any more TEFL on your CV and you are unemployable.

[Guy Courchesne]

[Gregor]

Perhaps I'm being premature addressing this topic, but I'm going back to the U.S. in about three months, and I have four different schools (not public schools, but evidently good jobs, none the less) clamoring for me to get in touch as soon as I get into town.

Mind you, I have a LOT of experience, and I've been a DOS for a while, but that's only because, a few years ago, I decided, in for a penny, in for a pound. In other words, if I'm going to be an ESL teacher abroad for a while, I may as well milk it.
And it seems to be paying off.
It SEEMS to be paying off. I have POSSIBILITIES. I swear I won't leave you people out in the cold when I get back. I will report back my findings. But so far, it seems as though there is actually a demand of some sort for our skills, IF we hone them enough.

[Cdaniels]

Gregor, what part of the US?, if you don't mind me asking. I've heard that schools in NYC have been trying to provide more EFL outreach to parents. This is an important development because communication with parents has been neglected, traditionally, and while schools can usually train teachers "in-house" to do some ESL with small groups of students (It seems like this has been the practice in many school districts) To really communicate with immigrant parents requires more than the ocassional part-time ESL teacher on staff. So I'd say there should be opportunity for experienced teacher. The question might be if there is enough money in the schools to hire qualified people. It does seem like Americans are coming to beleive that the world is getting "flatter" (as in Friedman's book) in this will mean more demand for English teachers and translators within the US as well as abroad.
At least I hope so because its my only Plan B!

[Cdaniels]

Omeo, you might also want to ask this in the North American forum.
Omeo, Omeo, wherefor art thou Omeo?

[Gregor]

Cdaniels,
I'm going to the Northwest. Probably Oregon (that's where the jobs I alluded to are). And i am NOT planning on teaching in the school system. I've about had it up to HERE with dealing with government regulations. I'm looking only into the private sector. If it doesn't work out, I'll just go back into studio work (making music for TV or commercials, etc.) or something. I am NOT going to work for ANY school system. Those are run by governments, and governments care NOTHING about the students.
Individuals working for the government do, yes. But individuals who work for the govt. and care for the students' education don't make regulations.

That said, I have to admit that coming to China for a few years was a good way to slowly get back into the swing of living in the U.S. The government is a big, lumbering, stupid creature that seems to actually take pleasure in tossing arbitrary stumbling blocks in people's way for no good reason. I lived in Third World countries that don't do this for a long time. And I was a teacher, not a director.
NOW I may just be able to make the adjustment.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

I must admit that I was very skeptical about finding ESL work in the US when I returned to do my Masters. Luckily, I was in the right place at the right time. I did work my a$$ off to find the job I have now, though.

I'm fortunate enough to be a full-time instructor in a university intensive program (where I'm earning my MA at the expense of the uni!), and (as I've said before) my experience abroad set me apart from the other applicants, even though I did my undergrad in Business Admin.

As for public school work, they usually have the best retirement schemes, but from what I've seen, it's a hell of a workload for minimal recognition. There's a distinct take-our-kids-and-don't-give-'em-back-until-they-can-speak-English attitude in the public school system. I know one ESL teacher who said that she goes home crying every day from all the pressure placed on her by administration, parents, and other teachers. And with NCLB, things are tougher than ever. The government expects ELL's to be at the same standards as native speakers, or schools can lose their funding or, worse, be taken over by the state.

From what I've seen, the highest demand for ESL teachers is in VA, NYC, MA, and CA, even though most of these jobs are part-time with no benefits.

As far as the NA forum, there's never any traffic over there.

[JZer]

If you are willing to work in a high school I think you can get a job. Many intercity schools need teachers. If you look at the job listings on Dave's you will see that Philadelphia and Texas are offering an alternate certification program. If you are accepted into the program you will receive the same starting salary as a begining teacher. The one draw back is that a public high school job is rough compared to teaching in an Asian university and many people get cozy Asia Uni jobs with only a B.A.

So, I would say that there are EFL jobs to be had but they might not be inline with what one is used to when they were teaching abroad.