Job Discussion Forums

[mlow]

Hello,

I am set to attend an Ontario college for a one year certification program: TESL. Upon discovering and meandering through this site, I've become a tad discouraged. I had not realized that employment opportunities were so rare. After a thorough job search and research about actual ESL providers in my area, I'm beginning to seriously question whether I am making the right choice.
My intentions are genuine; a love for language, culture, people. However, as a mother of two, I cannot travel to teach. The tuition is significant, the time commitment is heavy.

Someone here used the phrase, 'churning out' ESL teachers from community colleges - that sounds ominous.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Karen

[Jetgirly]

What are your other qualifications? Do you have a Bachelor's degree?

[mlow]

Yes, I have a BA in English literature. I've been studying from home for the last several years.

I live in an area where it's very difficult to find employment as a teacher even with recognition from the Ontario College of Teachers.

I'm now left wondering if this may be a case of not seeing the writing on the wall.

Karen

[Jetgirly]

Could you become a practicing Catholic? I hear that opens doors in terms of teaching jobs in Ontario...

But yeah... if it's already tough to find a teaching job I doubt that this certificate program will help. It doesn't sound very promising.

[mlow]

Thanks Jetgirly,
As far as converting: doubtful. But it's true, the Catholic Board of Ed. seems to offer ESL.
Karen

[J.]

I don't think the certificate will be of use unless it is some kind of official post- graduate certificate, and probably then not so useful in Canada, as the jobs seem to be quite rare. A masters in TESL is usually needed to teach in the university programs in Canada and as a coordinator of community literacy or upgrading programs, often run from libraries. These often have new immigrants as some of the students, and are staffed by volunteers other than the Coordinator, which may or may not be a part-time position. Another useful degree for this kind of work might be a Masters in Adult Education, but before you decide on either, I would recommend doing a bit of research locally as to whether there are jobs available ( and if you are interested in this kind of work).

There is a crying need for more government-funded ESL programs in cities with a large influx of people, but seems to be little funding.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[mlow]

I haven't checked the boards for awhile. Thanks to those who have responded.

I don't quite know what I'm getting into, but thanks to these discussions I feel much more prepared. With the tuition cheque in the mail, it seems my decision has been made. I don't doubt the integrity of the program and I assume it will prepare me to teach ESL. I am nervous, though, about what will come after the certificate.

One thing at a time.

Thanks again,
K.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

All you can do is try. If you get a placement where there is a need for a new teacher that is as paid postion, then chances are really good that you'll get it.

It's not like it isn't the same situation in other fields in Ontario. There are tonnes of those college post grad certs available, but they cannot guarantee you a job. For me, I knew ESL was a bit of a risk, but I also knew that I had nothing really stopping me from going overseas. You do have something stopping you from going overseas, but that just makes the ESL thing the same as all the other areas that are offered that are offered by colleges. The Canadian publishing sector is pretty small, but that doesn't stop two colleges (Centennial and Humber) and a university (Ryerson) from sending out people to work in these industries every year. In fact you can do a double major through York and Centennial to do an undergrad and the Publishing certificate together.

Colleges will say that most of their graduates are getting jobs (but then 'freelancing' counts as a job even if the freelancer has never had a contract and is working at Starbucks and has given up looking in the field for which they were trained). The industry itself says that jobs are really tight and you need to know someone to get an in (in fact, although magazine publishing is available to anyone with a degree, to get a job most employers want your degree to be in journalism or communications BEFORE you do the certificate in publishing). So who's telling the truth? The educational institutions that require students as thier income, or the industry that is turning more and more to contract work and nonpermanent staffing?

[mlow]

Thanks Gam! You are so informed and your replies are so balanced. You're right, I know. Other post grad programs are certainly risky. In fact, when you mentioned Humber I had to laugh at myself. I almost applied for their (so-called prestigious) creative writing program. While they do boast that most of their graduates become published writers, I doubt many of them are making a career out of writing...creatively
The tuition for that program is steep.

I read something you wrote in another thread about these one year certificate programs being somewhat recognized as an (almost) master's degree and I must say, that made me feel pretty good.

While we're on the topic (sort of..I do tend to ramble), can anyone recommend any books I might want to read over the summer? Any "bibles" of the TESL world?

Thanks,
Karen

[canadashirleyblue]

Hi mlow,
You say that as a mother of two you cannot travel to teach. There are lots of mothers of two who have travelled to teach! Children do just fine in international schools.

[naturegirl321]

YOu might do better overseas, especially if you get a flat and school fees paid for bny the school.

[mlow]

I would love to teach overseas. My husband is a CA (South African born but now a Canadian citizen) and my girls are eight and three years old.

I haven't seriously considered living abroad as a possibility, but I have heard that international schools are very good in most places.

My husband and I had discussed seeing a bit of planet earth when the girls are older (me: teach; he: retire/cook for me)

But where?

Thanks for planting the seed I have always had an overwhelming urge to travel and for other places. I think that is partially why I am drawn to teaching English.

K.

[naturegirl321]

[canadashirleyblue]

International schools are as good/bad as any others. My advice (for what it's worth!) is that it is better to take younger children abroad. They will learn reading, riting and rithmetic for sure. Most of the other stuff is the same every year - more or less. When they get into the upper years of high school the subject choices are sometimes limited. There seems to be lots of chemistry, biology and math offered but not much sociolgy, history etc. This may be because of the political implications involved in these subject or maybe just because the kids at the schools where I have taught tend to be almost entirely ESL students. Also older children will have friendship groups (especially boyfriends or girlfriends) and it can be difficult to rip them away.

Also you need to consider your husband's job. Jobs are not easy to come by in any field. And there are the pension implications.

You have lots of time. If you can get a job in Ontario when you graduate go for it.