Job Discussion Forums

[santi84]

I just graduated with a Bachelor of General Studies degree (TESL, Language Acquisition, Children's Literature) and a TESL certificate (250+ hours). I only have two months work experience (my practicum). I haven't gotten a peep from any prospective employers. I have five years experience as a police dispatcher and I have a lot of skill dealing with pressure and difficult situations, but it isn't teaching.

I am willing to start at the bottom but I'm also not will to undercut teachers in the industry (Vancouver is famous for offering $8/hour but requiring a BA + two years experience). Overseas is really not an option at this time (mortgage, five month old, partner has a good job here). I don't know how to get experience if someone won't give me a chance. I already worked two months for free (my practicum).

Is it time to consider public school certification? I already have $15,000 in student loans. I am so disappointed right now.

[Justin Trullinger]

Bummer. Hang in there, now. It's a rough one, we understand.

English speaking countries are notoriously hard places to start out as an EFL/ESL teacher. Made harder by lack of experience.

You have some serious sounding qualifications, though. So I wouldn't say all is lost by any means.

Problem, though, is most of us here don't know the VAncouver market- do you have anyone there, a working EFL/ESL teacher in your area, that you can talk to about what's out there?


Best,
Justin

[santi84]

[naturegirl321]

get two years experience where you are. And then apply to jobs in the Middle East.

Or do the public school cert, and apply to intl jobs at www.tes.co.uk

[spiral78]

A couple of the problems with the Western Canadian ESL job market just now (I was based in Calgary for a while and have current contacts there still) is that the economy and the worry over H1N1 virus have reduced the numbers of the Asian 'language tourists' who are the mainstay of private language schools in the region.

Hang in there. They'll come back.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

In ESL teaching, in Canada at least, the 'go overseas' thing isn't just to offset a lack of local experience, overseas experience itself is often required because it's seen as an indicator of intercultural ability- if you have experienced life as someone who has had to live life in an entirely different culture and linguistics area, then you are much more likely to be able to empathize with your ESL students in Canada.

It's coming on summer. There will be summer camp jobs opening up soon. You shouldn't have much problem landing one of them.

You may want to think about looking at Australian universities' masters degrees in TESOL or Applied Linguistics in the future, because they will often give transfer credit and so you may be able to finish in less than a year, and that would open up college and university level positions. There's a distance masters in TESOL through Trinity in BC, as well (it would be cheaper, but if they don't offer transfer credit may take longer).

Honestly, if it weren't for the five month old, I'd be suggesting going overseas for at least a year as well. You can live in Korea or Japan and if you try to save at all, then you would be able to send back more than the total earnings of an $8/hr job each month. You would get through your debt a lot faster, and get that experience at the same time.

I agree with spiral78, the H1N1 will be killing the industry- the same thing happened in Toronto with SARS.

[natsume]

[santi84]

Oops. Double post.

[santi84]

Thank you for the support and encouragement

spiral78:
H1N1 is certainly having an impact here. We have a large Mexican and Asian international student population here (compared to other parts of Canada) and I think those are the groups that seem to be most concerned about the virus.

GambateBingBangBOOM:
Funny how you should mention that, I actually live down the street from Trinity and would love to do their MA TESOL program on campus. Unfortunately, they have very strict requirements for admission (ie. no drinking, no sex before marriage) and my partner and I are not married I am looking into McGill or Concordia, although I will certainly give the Australian universities a look.

I agree that international experience is very important. I travelled quite a bit before I went back to university (Europe, Middle East) but didn't decide to go back to school for teaching until May 2008. I always wanted to go to Japan (I even took several years of Japanese in high school), but what sort of 19-20 year old thinks that kids might get in the way of life-long international travel

Luckily, we are moving to Quebec next June (my partner is francophone) so I think I'll have much better luck out there. I prefer to work with children anyways, so I'll strongly consider teaching private lessons or even opening a daycare.

[slaqdog]

Have you tried the online companies such as global english? a good source for someone in your position (you do need to be computer literate have a high speed connection and up to date computer-which you probably are/do have)..........and er........exaggerate your experience a little or to put it another way: "big up yourself"....the online companies are not so rigourous at checking references; they are more interested in how you come across in interview and how you handle the training. So a little exaggeration of experience is not a crime- gawd onoy knows my experience from doing recruiting everyone is at it! and then some....pay is about 24 us$ p/h in blocks so could be good for you