Job Discussion Forums

greent · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 40 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Are there any nice and not too expensive areas to live in Los Angeles or Orange County? Anyone know which school districts hire a lot of esl teachers?

thanks... Confused

chinagirl · Joined: 27 May 2003 Posts: 235 Location: United States

Do you have your CLAD and certification in CA?

saybanana · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 8

finding an inexpensive place in LA or OC is difficult. There are many factors.

Do you have a car? What do I mean, you need a car in Southern Cali.

So if you have a car, you can live anywhere in and drive to where you want. So many from Palmdale, Riverside, Ontario will travel 2 hours each way to work for a job in Downtown LA. Wait, 2 hours is getting from Pasadena to Santa Monica (30 miles) in rush hour traffic.

Some nice areas are Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Burbank, and most places with "hills" in the names. I saw they are nice because it is generally safe to walk about, are greener, and located near major leisure centres like shopping malls, restaurants and theatres. Im not sure of OC, Irvine is great and also Huntington Beach. Most beach cities are great areas to live in.

I think its difficult to find a place cheaper than $800 for a one bedroom in nicer communities. You can always find rooms for rent everywhere sometimes its cheaper, especially near student areas like Westwood or near 10/405 interchange.

Southern Cali cities are not the most affordable places. But compared to New York, $1000 is the size of a closet in NYC in LA thats a nice large bedroom.

greent · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 40 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

thanks for all the location tips...

I have esl k-12 certification in Virginia, but moving to the LA area. Difficult to find a public school teaching job there though without a BCLAD etc. even though I have a Master's in TESOL... Cali schools seem to require much more than the east coast.

taikibansei · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Posts: 811 Location: Japan

deadpoet · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 12 Location: Los Angeles

Only thing good in Inland Empire is the mexican food. Redlands and Riverside are ok. Orange County has nice areas but very conservative. You can find a studio/1br for under 800 in Los Angeles in many cool areas like Hollywood, Silverlake, Pasadena area, and around the 10/405 interchange. Only a few community colleges though in LA. Best alternative with the cheapest rent I think would be Long Beach.