Job Discussion Forums

CGriswald309B · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Austin, TX

How difficult is it to get a job at say, a community college, with a Master's in ESL? I'm seriously looking into entering a Master's program. I've had it teaching children and I don't know how much longer I want to live overseas.

Well, as always, thanks in advance!

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

There are jobs out there, but part-time. Full-time positions are hard to come by.

d

Sherri · Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:39 am Post subject:

What Denise said is true. People usually start part time and are in place when a fulltime position opens. But yes, it is possible.
Sherri

CGriswald309B · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Austin, TX

Hmmm...interesting. Thanks for info.

CGriswald309B · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Austin, TX

Sherri · Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 6:55 pm Post subject:

OP--Do you have another question?

CGriswald309B · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 17 Location: Austin, TX

Nope, just wonderin' if anyone else had any info/advice/experiences.

mdk · Joined: 09 Jun 2007 Posts: 425

Hmmm, perhaps if we define "community college" a bit more precisely.

I am thinking of places like West Hills College in Coalinga, California. They might be a good place to have a look. There are places like Coalinga around and it might be worth an e-mail. You might have to coach basketball too, but, hey, it's a job and it isn't that far from Big Sur.

wintersweet · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:19 am Post subject:

My MATESOL program had a couple of good sessions on community college work. According to them, in the SF Bay Area people average 7 years of part-time work before getting full-time work. (Of course, I know a couple of very qualified people who have been working for 15+ years without getting a full-time position, and a couple of people who were hired full-time almost fresh out of grad school.) The market may be better in other parts of the US.

Part-time positions depend a lot on the individual college, too. My husband's part-time CC job is going to give him health benefits after working there for a calendar year; some never give you benefits. The IEP where I work part-time doesn't hire any teachers full-time, ever.

Advice I have heard on getting better jobs here includes getting experience (duh) and supplementing your education (reading certificate, fluency in other languages, etc.).

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish