Job Discussion Forums

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

Next year, I'll be leaving my full-time job in the UK as a univesity ESL instructor to return to full-time education to do an MPhil and, if I can get a scholarship, a PhD. If I do get a scholarship, I'll be studying in the UK for 4 years, but will still need to work in the summers to make ends meet. Working at the UK university summer schools, I can make C$12,000-16,000 for 10-12 weeks' teaching, with that amount being about what I'll need to allow me to survive for the rest of the year. However, if at all possible, I'd really like to spend my summers in Canada (where I'm originally from), so I'm wondering...is there any way of making a similar amount of money teaching in Canada over the summers?

My quals are (or will be by next summer):

CELTA
DELTA
MA English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics
MPhil (a kind of advanced master's degree) English and Applied Linguistics
12 years' teaching experience, including 4 at the university level
Lots of EAP experience

So, what do you think? Is there any way of making the kind of money I could get in the UK by teaching in the summers in Canada (presumably at universities, but I'm open to ideas)?

Thanks in advance,

Chris

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

Because there are so many volunteers teaching ESL in Canada, 12,000 - 16,000 can be what you can expect to earn per YEAR teaching English in Canada. Stay in the UK.

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I used to work at a Canadian university. Yes, there were usually a few lucrative summer projects. But they went to teachers on-staff - it would be highly unusual to hire from the outside for such work. And likely would not endear you to the regular staff!

chan_konabe · Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:02 am Post subject:

A few of the universities and colleges in my area don't actually run the ESL summer programs that take place on campus. Instead, they lease their facilities to private operators. These companies bring in the students and teach them in the university and college classrooms. They hire local undergraduate university students as teachers and, although the wages are at or above average for summer English language teachers here ($18-$25 /hr), your income wouldn't come close to what you quoted above.

As for the serious university and college positions, those are for the insiders as was mentioned above. Vacancies for such positions are rare and, when they do appear, they are highly competitive and you'll need the connections to get them. Often, the instructors at such university and colleges teach in rotating shifts, ex, Instructor A teaches Fall & Spring, Instructor B teaches Spring and Summer, and Instructor C teaches Summer and Fall. So there is always someone around in the summer to run the classes.

A lot of BC school districts in the public school system are now running summer ESL camps for international students. The students range in ages from 13-18. They have English lessons in the morning and then cultural activities in the afternoon - a good mix of fun and study. Some school districts require that the English language teachers have BC teaching certificates, but others don't. The wages can be high ($200+ per day), but, again, they wouldn't come close to what you quoted above because the programs only run in July and August.

ETG · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 67

If I were you I would start contacting universities now and asking them directly about what they have available, many do offer summer programs themselves.
Lots of language schools offer interesting program like executive business programs.
Also check out the possibilities of substitute teaching at language schools that run summer camps and government programs like the LINC programs offered in each province.
There's a lot out there, but you need to contact people directly. Just decide where in Canada you want to be and fish around for who will hire you.

E.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

ETG · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 67

There are jobs out there in the $25 and over range. Contact employers and you'll discover that esp with your qualifications.
E.

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

ChrisV · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 42 Location: Cambridge, UK

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

But you are not qualified to teach TESOL in Canada.

The high paying jobs (indeed most of the jobs) will require that.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

?? I'm a US citizen with an MA from a British university (and have legal residence/work permits for Canada) and was employed in a Canadian university for three years. Why wouldn't the OP be eligible?

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

The OP is definately qualified to teach ESL in Canada. I think Shirley just meant getting TESOL Canada certification. But actually, the OP said that he had a CELTA, and therefore CAN get TESOL Canada certification, but probably doesn't have it now (and really, it probably won't actually be an issue).

Depending on where in Canada it is, being male (assuming Chris in this case is a male's name) may be a bigger issue, but one that people will try to get around with the ever present catch all for denying jobs-- 'not enough Canadian experience'.