Job Discussion Forums

zartic · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

My qualifications are listed below:

OTC ESL and art, intermediate and sinior level,
18 years of teaching experience in TDSB (Toronto District School Board).

If you can help me in finding some evening ESL courses I would be grateful.

Ms. Markovic.

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

Non-native speaker wishing to take or give evening classes? Not clear....

zartic · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 10

To give classes - based on my qualifications.

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

I'm sure your quals are solid, but I'm afraid you will find that most students seeking ESL in Vancouver are going to prefer native speakers...not that I think that native speakers are always the best teachers - I don't!

But it may be hard to compete on that job market, which is so competitive in many ways - as a non-native speaker.

Perhaps you can find some specialised niche? Teaching English to speakers of...? For some specific purpose?

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

Spiral, why are you assuming that she's a non-native speaker? It doesn't say that in her post. Also, she's asking about Toronto, not Vancouver.

Ask at private language schools if they have evening classes. Tutoring places have classes after schools, but I don't think they do ESL. Other than that, I think there's just go to libraries and see if they have any (but they would be mostly volunteer positions) or actually start up your own side business teaching out of your own home or go to theirs (you would need a yellow pages ad, word of mouth, maybe you could poster some telephone poles etc).

eslgypsy · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Posts: 11 Location: North of 60

Toronto is a hot market for ESL teachers who want to work part-time. I know quite a few people who taught at International Language Schools of Toronto (http://www.ilsc.ca/). Bonus: ILS pays 50$ per hour.

There is also Hansa (http://www.hansacanada.com/eng/index.php) and International House (http://www.ihtoronto.com/). Though I don't know anyone who worked at these places, they are well-established.

Also, you are OTC certified, so check out the public school boards. They do hire part-timers for adult night-classes.

Good luck!

Symphany · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 117

Zartic, your qualifications are a good match for what colleges are looking for. If you're interested in teaching adults I think it would be the way to go. In Toronto there are a number of colleges, you may want to do an internet search or go to your local library for contact information for colleges in Toronto, you can also go to this website for Ontario colleges

www.ontariocolleges.ca

You may also be qualified to teach at universities, although they may require a master's degree before you could teach there, I'd say to give it a try though. For universities you can look at

www.aucc.ca

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

Actually, most of the colleges are asking for an MA in Applied Linguistics or TESOL, though sometimes accept people with a TESOL cert from UofT etc (overseas teaching experience is also sometimes sited as necessary).

Universities are requiring MAs though will sometimes accept the UofT kind of TESOL certificate- if you have an MA in something else as well (especially when you are trying to teach ESL at the same university where you got your TESOL certificate). Again, overseas teaching experience is sometimes requested.

Adult education would be a good area to branch out into with a B.ed and experience, though the pay tends to be very, very low. There have been articles written in the Toronto Star about the poor conditions of Adult Educators, especially when compared with k-12 teachers (even though the OTC is usually required to teach Adult Education).

Symphany · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 117

Gambate, I have not seen in postings or on the websites of colleges I have been to, including the college where I got my certificate, specification for a measter's degree before one can teach ESL there. I would imagine that would be the stipulation with universities, however I had a response from a job that I applied to at one and this was without my having a master's degree, so I would say it depends on the individual school's requirements. I would recommend that the original poster give colleges/universities a try also because I know people who graduated from the same certificate course that I did who got jobs without a master's degree at the college where we did the certificate. Zartic, my understanding is that the Toronto District School Board has night classes in different subjects, including ESL, especially since you're OTC certified you may want to check with them for openings.

Chancellor · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject:

Symphany · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 117

The college that I attended for my TESL certificate program, and the universities/colleges that I am suggesting that the original poster look into are government accredited post-secondary institutions.

cassava · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 175

Zartic:

You might want to check out the LINC programs which sometimes need part-time teachers. However, the administrators will likely require "Ontario qualified" ESL teachers. Your OTC certificate, designed for intermediate and senior high school students, will not qualify you unless you have taken the necessary courses. Nevertheless, there is no harm in trying; some administrators might be flexible.