Job Discussion Forums

[oreochicken]

I am a native speaker of American English who will be graduating from one of the top five ranked MATESL programs in the US this spring. I have seven total years of ESL and FFL (French as a foreign language) teaching experience in the states, though none of it full time. I also have solid curriculum development experience, as well as limited experience supervising other teachers. Unfortunately, I have never taught abroad, and that option is not open for me due to my partner's circumstances.

Until I started lurking on these boards a few weeks ago, I am afraid I was living with my head in a bubble: I was assuming I wouldn't have all that much trouble finding a good, full-time job teaching ESL to adults in North America. But now I am starting to panic. My academic department is reorganizing, and we lost our job placement help, so I'm on my own in terms of searching. I know to search universities, community colleges, private language schools and such. Any other suggestions? I do not have a public school teaching license, though I know some districts will emergency-license.

My real questions are these: I have never been to the TESOL conference because I've never had the money to go. I know they have a large job placement fair, but since I am only able to teach in NA, I'm wondering if my going into debt to go to this conference would be worth it what with my NA market restriction?

Secondly, can anyone give me any idea of just how big a draw back my lack of experience teaching abroad will really be? I am aware that most of my competition will have taught abroad. Should I lower my job search expectations based on the fact that I have not taught abroad? I have no sense of just how big a liability this is.
Any comments welcome. Thanks!

[Capergirl]

I've never been to a TESOL job placement fair, so I can't comment on that. It does seem like a good way to investigate your options, however.

I think that your lack of experience overseas is more than made up for by your Master's qualifications. Relax...I'm sure you will find something. Have you considered teaching in Canada? University ESL programs here are always looking for people with a Master's in TESOL or Applied Linguistics.

[Capergirl]

Edited OP after rereading.

[Gordon]

I went to one about 5 years ago. I wasn't really looking for a job, just scouting out what was out there and the conference was in my city. Most of the jobs were overseas if I remember correctly. If the conference isn't too far for you, I'd say go for it, but it sounds like it is.

[denise]

Interesting, Gordon. I went to the Salt Lake City conference two years ago, and it seemed to me that most of the jobs were in the States--since I was looking for overseas jobs, I was a bit disappointed.

Another thing I noticed was how few employers/recruiters for any sort of job (overseas, domestic, university, K-12, etc.) there were. I had really expected more.

d

[Gordon]

Denise I agree that the number of employers was less than I expected. I went to the one in Vancouver. The publishers also were pretty cheap with their sample books, unlike Japan.

[fat_chris]