Job Discussion Forums

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

As much as I enjoyed my adult TESL experience, I still want to teach children instead. Since my husband and I are moving to Quebec next year (he is francophone), I was thinking of getting into ESL preschool education. There is a fairly huge demand in that province. I'll have to go back to school for ECE certification but I think I would really enjoy it. I have experience in children's literature, storytimes, a couple of ESL activity and theory books for children, etc.

Is it insanity to teach children 4 and under? I have several friends who are transitioning from high school ESL to adult ESL (perhaps on the recommendation of their therapists). I don't mind teaching English in an explicit manner, but I'd rather just use a giant picture book and sing songs, to be honest!

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

It can be depending on how long the class is and how many kids there are. It's VERY hard at first.

If you do immersion it's better. BUt there are places that make you teach 30 kids, for an hour a week. They don't learn.

If you can stay with the kids ALL day, and have a small class, they'll learn in a couple of months.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I haven't done any early childhood stuff, but I do teach a couple periods each week of elementary ESL in the public school where I work, and it's wonderful. I wish I could kidnap all the kids and bring them home with me! However, you would have a hard time finding an all-ESL ECE class here in Alberta. I teach Socials 9 here, and our textbook says that in Quebec Francophones have to go to school in French- that could obviously be untrue or a simplified version of the truth- so are there really that many full-time ESL ECE jobs?

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Thanks for the replies so far! I'm glad to see that you all enjoy teaching to children.

Jetgirly, as far as I can tell, students with francophone parents must attend francophone school as per the language laws. Students with at least one anglophone parent are eligible to complete their education in English.

I don't think there are many full-tme ESL ECE jobs at all. Luckily, I am looking to work part-time so perhaps my best bet is private lessons for francophone students.