Job Discussion Forums

[lapiegirl]

I wondered if anyone has experience in teaching at nonprofits or adult schools and can fill me in on the methodology used.

Basically, I was very interested in teaching immigrants and was planning to earn the adult credential for California this fall. However, I just came from my first interview at a vocational esl nonprofit, certified as an adult school, and had a rude awakening.

The philosophy of the school was VERY different from the language schools I have been teaching at, which of course focus on oral communication, fluency, pair work, etc. The idea was that you shouldn't be making them actually try to help them to communicate with real English speakers, much less talk in class, just give them enough grammar to write out a job application.

It was pretty discouraging, and I wondered if this is the case in all adult school facilities. Opinions anyone?

[john_n_carolina]

...i've taught adult ED ESL and for a migrant non-profit. in my classes we used a guide book and the migrant classes also.

however, i've seen other adult ED classes that describe a similar situation to yours. it just seems they don't take it very seriously. the classes are always cancelled, students don't show up, the range of speaking ability varies more than Madonna's hair color, and the teacher is usually hopped up on his/her 7th Medium Dunkin Donuts coffee by that time.

community college programs and university outreach programs are far better.

however, my wife has found a very small niche adult ED program that is stellar. 1-1 GED classes, driving manual classes, etc ....really top notch

[johnslat]

I've taught ESL at a community college (Santa Fe Community College), and
the situation there is VERY different from the one you described. It's much more

" . . . focus on oral communication, fluency, pair work, etc. "

although there are also grammar/writing/reading classes (but even in these oral communication is heavily stressed.)

Now I'm teaching GED (a growth industry), which you might consider. Most community colleges have a GED program, as well.

I'm teaching GED at the New Mexico State Penitentiary, yet another venue you might look into. I enjoy the job a lot - you do get to meet some interesting people.

[15yearsinQ8]

a 'teacher' stuck in a single method (or similiar methods) is not a 'teacher' at all

i always improvize (sp?) based on students ability and mood as well as material - sometimes using several methods a week (or day)
if it works, stay with it until its effectiveness wanes

[rusmeister]

When I was a public teacher, I applied for a county adult ed position - at the interview/sample lesson they wanted me to teach basic electrical safety instead of language - as if most immigrants were aborigines who had never seen an electric socket before!

I said that I would be happy to run a unit dealing with electrical vocab/terms, but not without grammar and communication skills - I never heard from them again - not that I'm terribly sorry about that, but it was irksome at the time.

A teacher "stuck" in a single method CAN still teach - although they could stand personal/professional growth, it hardly disables them from teaching, even if it's only as a one-trick pony.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

[lapiegirl]

Thanks, all of you, for your comments. You have restored my hope! I think this was just a bad experience.

To clarify, I'm pretty sure I didn't misunderstand. They told me directly that they did not think "communicative" methods were good, their students wanted traditional-style grammar. In the practice lesson, there were only 6 students spread out all over the room, and when I asked some to move to work on some questions with a partner, the students were clearly disconcerted. There was also no cd player and no book, which were in themselves a little worrying.

On the other hand, the directors seemed to have a background in social work, not TESOL, and their objectives seemed to be more in line with that.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]