Job Discussion Forums

[mavally]

Dear ESL cafe customers,

I am graduating in half a year from master's program in Linguistics and currently looking for job in the U.S. It would be nice if you could give me some advice to find some school which would help me to obtain working visa/green card in the U.S.
Sincerely, Valentyna.

[Jetgirly]

You might want to ask the Linguistics department to teach a lesson on articles.

[mavally]

I didn't get it

[mavally]

I don't need a lesson. If you can't help - don't poke smb. Nobody's perfect. Americans cannot speak English proper. Yes, articles are my problems. Are you genious?

[spiral78]

It''s not that we think we're geniuses. It's just that it is pretty unlikely that a country that with 250 million + native English speakers is going to offer a non-native speaker a job and a green card to teach English.

With your Ukrainian passport, you are probably well qualified to teach in some European countries where English is not the native language.

But the ESL market in all of the U.S. states is tight, and requires substantial qualifications (MA+) from native speakers. It's tough for us to find decent positions there, as native speakers with qualifications.

It's highly unlikely that you're going to be eligible for a green card and a good job, as a non-native speaker.

We are not the U.S. immigration experts here. You should probably address your inquiries there, I think.

[Brooks]

if you get a Phd, then things change.
Or if you want to teach linguistics at a university, it may be possible, but generally colleges demand Phds.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

mavally--

You'd be more likely to get a job teaching Russian than English. Ever considered that?

As Brooks said, a PhD opens more doors. One of the professors at our uni is Italian. She teaches Italian, along with TESL courses.

[Brooks]

I knew an Indian woman who got a job teaching English lit in Ohio.
She had a Phd from Cornell, and got a job at Kenyon College.

[TokyoLiz]

Your Indian colleague was likely a native speaker of English. Most urban Indians with degrees are likely multi-lingual, and English is the de facto working language for Indians in institutions of higher learning.

[TokyoLiz]

Valentyna Mavally wrote:

[Brooks]

nope. The Indian`s first language was Hindi.
She taught English lit to Americans.
But her Phd was from an Ivy League school (maybe that`s why).
I doubt most countries would be so generous in having a foreigner teaching the natives literature in their own language.
Certainly never in Japan.
The program I think was interdisciplinary and she didn`t just teach　British lit, maybe it was lit in English, by authors from various countries, like from India.

[fraup]

With a master's in Linguistics you should be able to teach in a community college program. Positions at universities are often "reserved" for Ph.D. candidates. In addition, there are several private companies that provide ESL programs at various campus locations; The Language Company is one that I know of, and there are probably others.

Look at www.chronicle.com, which has job listings for colleges. Also check out individual college websites for jobs in programs with names like "Intensive English Program" or "English Language Institute".

Good luck.

[spiral78]

The problem with those possible positions is that they will not likely (be able to) arrange for a green card for a candidate without one.

It's too bad, but true.

[JZer]

mavally, your only chance besides teaching Russian or at a community college would be to teach in inner-city schools. Despite a tight ESL market, many schools in Philadelphia, New York City, and other large cities have a difficult time finding teachers.