Job Discussion Forums

[Mairi]

I was wondering if this was possible.

I've read in a couple of blogs about people who have taught ESL on Reservations in The U.S., but finding concrete information about it is really difficult. If there are jobs, they aren't advertised well.

Can anyone help?

Mairi

[johnslat]

Dear Mairi,

Are you talking about Native American reservations? If so, I would be very surprised to hear that ESL teachers are required since these days English IS the "native tongue" on such reservations.

And I've taught on such a reservation, the Navajo reservation, at Shiprock, NM. I taught English (well, Language Arts, really) but not as a second language.

Regards,
John

[spiral78]

I think there are a few such jobs in the far north of Canada.

Here's a thread where the issue is discussed:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=88142&start=0

[Mairi]

That's exactly what I thought when I read it, it was on an esl travel blog (can't remember for the life of me which one!), it was a woman who said she had taught esl at Pine Ridge for 3 years. I've never heard of that before so I thought I'd come to this hub of info. and ask...

Thanks for the link!

[Steinmann]

It depends on where you teach. I teach in a native village in Alaska, and, while only a few elders around here speak only their native tongue, my students' first language is what we call "Village English." We understand one another very well, but those desiring life outside of the village need extensive training in standard English in order to be competitive in the working world in Anchorage and beyond.

There's definitely an ESL component to native education.

[johnslat]

Dear Steinmann,

Are you hired as "an ESL teacher" or as "an English teacher?" Do you need state certification?

Dear Mairi,

Was that Pine Ridge teacher an ESL teacher or a Special Ed. teacher (I found some posts on another site from a lady who taught Special Ed at Pine Ridge.)

Regards,
John

[Steinmann]

[johnslat]

Dear Steinmann,

I certainly agree that there can be an ESL component to teaching Native Americans. Having taught here in the public schools in New Mexico, I can state that there can be such a component there, as well (New Mexico has a majority Hispanic population while some other states have a majority/minority population.)

"The U.S. Census Bureau reports that Texas has now joined Hawaii, New Mexico and California as "majority-minority" state, in which the combined population of minorities exceeds the majority population.

According to July 1, 2004, population estimates, Texas had a minority population of 11.3 million, comprising 50.2 percent of its total population of 22.5 million. In comparison, 77 percent of Hawaii�s population was minority. In New Mexico and California, the proportions were 57 percent and 56 percent, respectively, while the District of Columbia was 70 percent minority.

The Census Bureau considers the minority population to include all people except non-Hispanic single-race whites.

Five states � Maryland, Mississippi, Georgia, New York and Arizona � are next in line with minority populations of about 40 percent."

However, the OP did ask about ". . . people who have taught ESL on Reservations in the U.S. . . ."

As far as I know, ESL teachers are not hired by Native American reservation schools to teach ESL. As I mentioned, I taught on the Navajo reservation but as a Language Arts teacher, not as an ESL teacher.

Regards,
John

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

[johnslat]

I suppose it may be nit-picking to point this out, but the OP was asking about teaching ESL on reservations in the U.S.

Unless I missed something in the news, I don't think the US has annexed Canada.

And as for Native American reservations in Alaska, well, the supply is rather paltry:

"The largest settlement on the island is Metlakatla. Metlakatla is a native Community founded by the Anglican missionary William Duncan. The entire island is a Native reservation, the only one in Alaska. The island's population was 1,447 at the 2000 census. The island is composed mainly of Tsimshian Natives and is a cultural crossroads for Tlingit and Haida Natives as well."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annette_Island_Reserve

Regards,
John

[Zero]

I have reservations about this.

[Steinmann]

Right - there aren't many reservations in Alaska. That's because the natives were never pushed onto them. They occupy the land that they always have. Every bush village out there is mostly native.

[AGoodStory]