Job Discussion Forums

[tedkarma]

[pollitatica]

I was trying to say that you can teach in schools that aren�t "nasty inner city schools." A lot of the more rural schools NEED ESL teachers the most. Every school webpage I've looked at here in Central PA, needs ESL teachers for this coming school year. I'm going abroad and am not getting my teaching cert/Masters until I get back, but they all need them. All four years I was getting my BA, I worked two jobs.

I agree, the semester you student teach would be tough. But there are teacher-intern certification programs, that you are working, getting a teachers salary and take courses to get your regular certification.

If you dont want to teach within the school system, then I'm not really sure what to tell you. Move to somewhere were there is a high concentration of non-Englsh speaking folk and see where that takes you I guess.

[JZer]

Interesting, are those schools willing to hire someone with out a teaching certificate. I am from Central PA but in my county there are no ESL teachers. I am from the Indiana, PA area.

[JZer]

[tedkarma]

Hi JZ,

Only my opinion as an old real estate hack - and I am not a millionaire - so you can also ignore my advice without peril . . .

A lot of real esate in the east is lower priced - as it is worth less. But I do hear your about income to investment.

Consider also real estate taxes - MUCH lower in most western states than in the east. A friend/co-worker a few years back inherited some property in New York that - because of the incredible property taxes - was worth almost nothing as a rental property.

Also, consider not only income - but long term appreciation. High population growth in some states means increased appreciation over time.

Another issue is that much property in the west is newer. I have an older property that - because of its age - is less productive. The income to cost is very good, taxes are low, but it is constantly needing expensive upkeep/repair/rebuilding.

You are right - probably no one is going to loan you money on real estate while you are working overseas - unless you can get close to 50% down - then their risk is quite small.

But - I also understand investing in an area you know. I am from Arizona - so have luckily been in the path of some very rapid growth - but might not have been so lucky if I had not known the area.

Regardless - you have some good ideas. Over the long run real estate can give very good returns - without the heartburn of the stock market.

[JZer]

[JZer]

[tedkarma]

[JZer]

[tedkarma]

[quote="JZer"]

[guest of Japan]

I'll comment on the teaching in public school issue. I was previously certified in NY for secondary social studies and am newly certified (actually so new that the paperwork isn't finished) in MA. I spent the past five years in Japan teaching EFL.

The job market for social studies teachers is terrible. In the northeast most schools will not consider someone for a social studies position unless they have a masters. Out of 50+ resume packets sent out I have secured only one interview and that is at the district I am subbing in. Boston has an extra tight job market for education, but do not believe the press about teacher shortages.

The only teacher shortages are in math, science, and special ed. Those special certification programs are usually for these areas only. Often to qualify you must have a degree in math or science.

Between 300 and 1000 people apply for every advertised public school position. Private schools and charter schools require less in terms of qualification and pay accordingly, but there are so many teachers looking for jobs that even they are hiring people with masters degrees.

The path most people follow to get a public school job is first substitute, the get a teachers aid positon, then finally if you've proven yourself you may get a full time position in the school you've been working at. If you are a math or science person it is a different story, but if you want to teach in the humanities even fully qualified teachers are a dime a dozen and it could be years before you get a full time job.

[JZer]

[guest of Japan]

With the exception of some of the southern border states the ESL boom is now over. When I first started teacing about 10 years ago there was a boom for special ed. and ESL. An amazing number of teachers and prospective teachers went back to school to get add on certs in ESL because it looked like a sure thing and it seemed preferrable to special ed. The result now is that most schools are fully staffed with young fully qualified ESL teachers and as the average age of these teachers is far younger than other subject areas there will not be any new hiring booms. Those district that are in desparate need of ESL teachers are very poor districts usually. One reason they are in desparate need is that they can't keep teachers.

Here in Boston there are a lot of ESL jobs open. There are ads for public schools, but certainly nothing unusuallly high. Boston also has a lot of people with MAs in TESOL, so that even language schools which pay crap and only offer a few hours a week with no benefits demand that applicants have MA's. I'm sure people can pick up work and live, but there aren't many opportunities to live a stable life doing ESL in Boston.

There are some, but one needs patience and luck.

[JZer]

[Deconstructor]

Returned to Canada a couple of years back; began teaching in the public system; realized that my life is being cut short by about a decade; quit; returned to private language school teaching where the money sucks and I need an extra job to call myself a middle class. Still manage about 30 grand a year after taxes and that's enough.


With a MA in English and BA in TESL I could work in advertising and marketing companies, but why on earth would I want to wear a tie?!