Job Discussion Forums

xiongmao · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 4

Hello, I am wondering how easy or difficult it would be for an experienced British TEFL teacher to get a job in LA? My girlfriend is at university there, and I'd really like to join her there if possible... If the US is no go, how feasible would it be to find a job just across the Mexican border and regularly cross the border? I'd be grateful for any help!

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

By LA do you mean the city of LA proper or just the LA area in general?

In addition to TEFL experience, do you have degrees of some sort?

If you haven't already, you might also post in the Mexico forum. Someone over there might know the teaching possibilities in Tijuana, which is the closest border town to LA, and how easy it is for a Brit to cross the border.

xiongmao · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 4

Thank you for your reply! I have a BA and an MA, both from a good university, and 3 years TEFL experience. Anywhere close to LA would be good; ideally I'd be able to live somewhere near to the UCLA campus where my girlfriend studies so that we could share a flat. Do you think that would be possible?

I'll try the specialist Mexican board too, thanks! Wasn't sure if Mexico was included in N America... Smile

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

Honestly, I don't know what is going to be possible for you, but it is easier for people to be helpful and come up with ideas when they have more information.

Unfortunately there are plenty of US TEFL/TESLers in LA with qualifications similar to yours. It is going to be hard for a school/company to justify hiring you and sponsoring you for a work permit over hiring a US citizen.

One thing to look into is getting into a fast-track emergency K-12 credential program to teach ESL at a "high-risk" school in a "disadvantaged" neighborhood, or what ever the politically correct terminology is. Most people think of these schools as strictly inner city east LA, but there are other areas with less bad schools (Long Beach and Santa Ana for example) that are also short on teachers and have a lot of non-English speaking students. Maybe not optimal teaching conditions, but they might take non-US citizens. I think I've seen other posts here about programs in New York and Texas that will take non-citizens, so maybe that is possible in California as well.

Very Happy

Geographically speaking, yes! From a board standpoint though, this one appears to be limited to the US and Canada. It gets very little traffic for some reason.

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

You are well qualified for the best TEFL jobs in Mexico and you will be able to get a work permit in Mexico. I do not know what the job market or living conditions are like in Tijuana or Mexicali, which are the two biggest metro areas along the CA border.

15yearsinQ8 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 462 Location: kuwait

email all school districts in the greater la area
google them - they should have indidvidual websites