Job Discussion Forums

choctawmicmac · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Montreal

That sounds like my lifetime of experience trying to teach Math or Science. I used to assume it was because kids thought I wasn't even the teacher, let alone qualified or competent in Math just because I am female. Now I see that it sometimes happens to male teachers too. But I think it still happens more often to women, and to me because I am a woman.

adz595 · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Posts: 16 Location: Scotland

yeah sometimes I find being a 5'4 woman a problem in some classes of older children... but then I teach in a school where children have emotional difficulties.

choctawmicmac · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 18 Location: Montreal

Well, I'm 5'1". Ten-year-olds are taller than me! Also, all I find are "leftover" assignments, the ones they can't fill because, obviously, no one wants, which are the teenagers with behavioural and emotional problems. Or sometimes adult immigrants (when it's English as a Second Language) with the same behavioural problems when they see a female in front of the classroom. People from cultures where women aren't supposed to teach, I guess.

And actually, for the record, most of my Math and Science teachers in high school were female. The male teachers were the ones in the English, Social Science, and Language departments. So there goes that stereotype dashed to pieces. Of course, I grew up on the West Coast, which, apparently, is a different planet from "the rest of the world."

shantaram · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 42 Location: Montreal, Quebec

Bump.

I could be heading to Montreal in the next month or so.

I have a CELTA from Vancouver, have been teaching ESL in Calgary for 2 months (or will have been by the time I move to Montreal) and taught in Australia, Korea and India as well. Basically, I have about eighteen months experience. I also have a visa that allows me to work with children (I'm here on a working holiday visa).

Does anyone have an update on what's going on in Montreal?

R2 · Joined: 14 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

As a teacher here is my advice: visit all schools and schoolboards once you get to Montreal. There is a shortage of university graduates to teach ESL in Quebec's schools so they might just offer you a job (though if you ever decide to stay for a few years they'll ask you to go get a 4 year university degree to teach ESL.)

Schoolboards hire teachers but it is each individual school secretary who has to call in substitutes when someone takes a day off. If they call you once and you are up to the job, they will keep on calling; and if they need someone for the year, they'll ask the schoolboard permission to hire you.

Bonne chance

shantaram · Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 42 Location: Montreal, Quebec

Merci!

Alex Makar · Joined: 26 May 2008 Posts: 7

I am currently a TESL Ontario certified instructor, and am looking to get into Montreal by 2010, if not sooner. I have an MA in Humanities, which should also be helpful, despite not really being a language related degree. I have applied to 9 different schools at this point, including Mcgill and Concordia Universities...I hope something good comes out of this!

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Anyone have any updates on life in Montreal? I'm moving in June 2010 for my husband's job and the reality is sinking in. I have a degree with a linguistics/English focus and TESL Canada certification. I phoned Concordia and McGill but they want me to do ANOTHER 2-3 years of university! Eek. I would do an MA instead.