Job Discussion Forums

[Finnegan]

Hello all,

Please help me understand why there is a forum for North America or any other jurisdiction where English is the native tongue. It seems like such a waste of time to entertain it as a viable possibility leading to employment, no?

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

It's a nice place to vent your frustrations at being unemployed or trapped outside of the country in which you'd like to be.

[marblez]

Nevermind... sounds like a joke that I don't get.

[Finnegan]

Dear Marblez,

Perhaps you are making the joke--one of those very cryptic ones that takes hours to sink in. No? Oh. well then.

The question was why the heck (unless there is some secret that I don't know of) would people EVER think that they would be able to find a job teaching English in an English-speaking country, fresh out of university with a BA, when they are competing with everyone else who believes the same thing?? That is no joke. It is a question. It might seem less silly for a Quebecois(e) to think that they might teach French in Quebec after graduating likewise (the analogy is not water-tight, but serves the purpose). There are tons of people graduating with BA's, all bumping into each other. This degree is not employment-producing in the present marketplace, with or without a BEd.

[Gordon]

First of all, Finnegan, I am not sure what the point of your post is. Why would North Americans want to teach in our home country with our friends and family around? Who said anything about only having a BA and no experience? You did. What is wrong about getting info about NA? I think many of us who are overseas want to return to our home countries one day and this can be a useful forum. If EFL/ESL is a career like it is for many of us, than this can be a good place to garner information.

BTW there are ESL jobs of all varieties, some good some bad, like everywhere in the world. I taught ESL for 5 years in Canada and had the good, bad and ugly. Some of my experiences there could help people and people currently in Canada could help me too one day too when I choose to return.

[marblez]

If you want to be a teacher in North America, then you must obtain the 12 month (or more) teaching certificate. This is what I am doing. To be a teacher, you must be qualified as one. A lot of people are too lazy to take this route (I hav nu skewel, can i teech), and suffer the consequences. Then there are the qualified teachers who can't find a job!

[Finnegan]

"Dear" Gordon,

Did I not address at least the above post to Marblez? Yes. I have no issue one way or the other with the forum, per say. I am simply offering the observation that now (and times may have changed since you were teaching here) here in good old BC (and how long has it been since you worked here as a teacher??), it is nightmarish for job searchers. My reference to the "BA" and "no experience" was again under my title, "Marblez", and that was referring to those people graduating (I should say like sausage links) with BA's here, thinking that they will find work teaching English. And asking questions in this forum like looking for the secret door in doing so. There are no secrets. There are no jobs in teaching ESL here (qualified) for new grads, and I would say the same for new BEd grads as well. There are no teaching jobs for new grads (again somewhat qualified), except TOC. And I am unsure of your own credentials, but the sad thing is (so I seem to be hearing on this website) that others who have returned here in hopes that there amazing experiences might be appreciated by employers, are often very disappointed. Not working in the jurisdiction that you hope to return to = no seniority, and the applicant (with some wonderful years teaching abroad) sits with the new grads hoping for work. It seems that working abroad is great for a year (or two tops) if you are thinking of returning to your profession at home. Longer, is a ball and chain.

The question is not what would teachers not wish to remain at home with friends and family. This is a rhetorical question. I simply wished to understand that which I didn't. That is, why would anyone imagine that they could work as a teacher, in ESL, as a new grad, in BC, full-time, these days, when it is already very difficult to teach (in other subjects)?????? If you are thinking of returning, perhaps you too might be interested in the employment climate here for teaching. Or simply return and work in Walmart.

The taking off to Japan (eg) is very tantalizing, but I am also thinking of how crapping it can be upon return (at least from what I sem to be reading on these forums). Thank you for your thoughts.

[Brooks]

The USA is in North Ameica too.
There are jobs there for people who are certified and/or have a MA.
It is my long term plan to teach ESL in the US at a public school, community college, or in an intensive English program at a university.

[Finnegan]

Dear Brooks,

How ironic for an American to remind a Canadian that the US is in North America!! Sorry, a little inferiority-complex Canadian humour in there.

Your citizenship aside, the idea is no doubt similarly difficult and highly competative for an individual to teach ESL in an English-speaking country. Unless you possess a master's from a reputable university in addition to your teaching certificate, and some experience, your hopes of finding a full-time ESL teaching job are lousy. And sure, there are a few exceptions somewhere out there, and that hope is what keeps fueling everyone.

[Tamara]

Okay, you're talking full time. So this is not as relevant, but I'm writing it anyway. I teach at a community college in North Carolina, part time. The qualification for all instructors (all part time) in our program is to have a bachelor's degree in any field. Granted, those with teaching experience and English-related degrees have preferance, but I've taught along side others with no previous teaching experience.

Full time is easy to get, also with a degree, as long as you're okay with working in public schools. In fact, ESL teachers for public schools are in demand around here.

This forum makes a lot of sense to me. On the other hand, I don't read it as often as the others. That may be because I already have a job doing what I want here, but I'll be looking for a job overseas in a couple of years.

[Finnegan]

Dear Tamara,

Full-time is pretty much requisite for people to travel on account of. Part-time anything seems often reserved for those who can somehow afford not to work full-time. If you choose to try your skills abroad, you may then be looking for something full-time. And then it may be harder to find (maybe not).

It is difficult to compare across jurisdictions---I have no idea what standards are in place in your state. It varies from province to province in Canada to a certain extent, but an undergraduate degree plus a teaching certificate are the minimum to teach in the public system whatever discipline. In this area (urban, highly populated), there are many people graduating from university--the market is saturated already, and as a consequence, the job seekers must be ready for a more competative environment. Supply and demand.

[the fat dragon]

Finnegan,
the US, particularly the southern states, has an enormous immigrant population. Most public school systems in areas with a large influx of immigrants have an ESL program and adults wishing to become citizens must also learn English. Obviously, ESL programs in North America are not aimed at those that have grown up speaking English. And, though Latin America has its own forums, Mexico and Central America are part of North America too.

[spiral78]

From Calgary, I can assure you that with a BA in anything and a basic TEFL/ESL certification (120 hours), there are full time jobs. Ok, not especially well-paid, but there ARE jobs. I'm currently serving time here, and thanks to my MA, have a decent uni job. But before landing that position, I did fairly extensive research in the city. If you're happy with a subsistence income, there is work.....and overseas experience will help you get slightly better pay.
Ok, everybody, don't come rushing to Calgary and flood the market now, making my observation obsolete!!

[wintersweet]

I live in Northern California and there are multiple ESL programs in every city, plus EFL programs for international students. Volunteer programs, adult school, intensive residency programs, conversation schools, university classes, Berlitz, accent-reduction, posh tourism/study deals, you name it.

I plan to look for a job here after I get some teaching experience in Japan.

[valley_girl]