Job Discussion Forums

[Gordon]

I am a little surprised at the lack of posts in the NA Forum. This isn't Qatar or Turkmenistan. There are so many people in the ESL field in Canada and the U.S., so why isn't anyone writing? Are people just too busy? Is the TV that good? Do N.Americans not use this site? Feel free to give us your thoughts on this profound topic.

[denise]

My guess would be that most North American teachers (myself included) teach elsewhere. I know nothing about the Canadian situation, but there just aren't that many jobs in the States. Demographics, basically.

I could, of course, be completely mistaken.

d

[Gordon]

True that many N.Americans are abroad. However I know in Vancouver alone there are hundreds of ESL schools.

Many teachers overseas would like to return to N.A. at some point and want to stay abreast as to what the work situation is like there.

Where are you people?

[khmerhit]

Stay away from North Americkay... not much work here.

[ls650]

[Brooks]

I am in Japan. I am not certified, so I would need to be in order to teach in New York. I think at some point I will go back but I prefer living abroad.

[chinagirl]

Depends on the kind of teacher you're referencing. Most of the ESL teachers that visit the board here are uncertified to teach in public schools in North America. There are thousands of certified ESL teachers with stable jobs in the public sector who probably do not ever post to Dave's. At the college level, most ESL teachers here have at least master's degrees. They too, seem to avoid posting here, for the most part. There are very few private ESL schools outside of major metro areas. There are very few full-time jobs here for non-certified teachers or instructors without a master's degree in TESOL/Applied Linguistics.

My experience is that EFL teachers outside the US/Canada post to the ESL Cafe primarily, but those with more credentials (and most of the US ESL jobs) do not.

[denise]

So now the next question is: Why do those folks (certified, ESL as opposed to EFL, living in N.A.) avoid us on the forum? We're a jolly lot! Lack of relevance, I suppose--in their home environment, they don't really need to know how to cope "abroad."

d

[Gordon]

Denise said

[Capergirl]

Well, speaking for myself, I don't avoid this forum, but there doesn't seem to be much action on it. I'll throw a question out there anyway. How many reading this are teaching in NA right now, and where are you?

P.S. Gordon, I'm envious. I wish I could be teaching in Japan or some other intriguing locale. However, as a single mom it's pretty difficult. Plus, my daughter's father (who lives in England, by the way) doesn't want me to take our daughter anywhere outside of North America (except for England, of course). *sigh*

[Gordon]

Capergirl, that's too bad that your ex-husband (I assume) won't let you take your daughter to another country.
I believe it is really good for a child to grow up in a foreign country, learn a new language and experience a new culture. However, they must have a stable environment. Of course that applies everywhere, but in your home country, you'd most likely have family and government support.

BTW, how old is your daughter? My daughter is almost 2 and is learning lots of Japanese already. She'll be teaching me next year.

[Capergirl]

Ex-fiance actually. I understand why he is hesitant, though. He was with me in Korea and Taiwan, and not all of our experiences were positive. If you have been reading my posts, you probably have some idea. In any case, it would be really tough to make that kind of a move with a preschooler by myself. (She's 3, almost 4, by the way. )

I shouldn't complain because I do have a great job teaching ESL at a university here. However, wanderlust gnaws at me. Perhaps when she is a bit older, he will reconsider. We'll see. I may end up taking her to England for a while. In spite of what I've been told, it's not that hard to get an ESL post there and the money is not bad.

[Corey]

What uni are you at?

[Capergirl]

UCCB, Corey. Where are you?

[Corey]

Nice. Does the ESL program there require an MA or PhD. ?

I am currently in Costa Rica but I will be returning home soon.