Job Discussion Forums

[LongShiKong]

According to Spiral78, the vast majority of ELT (at least in Europe) is with adults but I'm wondering what that breakdown actually looks like for Asia and Europe (at least among forum participants)? If the difference between the # of Adult Ed forum posts compared to Elem Ed posts is any indication, it's 2:1.

[santi84]

I'm still in progress but setting up my business to teach children here in Canada.

[denise]

As I'm sure you know, it varies by region. In the Middle East, for example, there are tons of university jobs available--maybe university students should get their own group, instead of being grouped with adults. Teaching adults often means business teaching, very different from academic/pre-university teaching.

I teach university students in the US.

[spiral78]

I checked 'adults in Europe' but I also teach adults in North America.

Agree with Denise that 'university' would have been a useful category, particularly as some will argue that university students can be termed 'children,' depending on cultural norms (those I work with are adults, thankfully).

If you added a 'university' category, I would have to check both it and 'adult' (businesspeople) for both Europe and North America.

Anyway, even if it can only be relatively accurate, it's interesting.

[MotherF]

I was also tempted to choose Both (elsewhere) because my students (17-23) are adults some of the time, but it's often not unlike teaching kids (which I did in Asia in the 90s). Especially at 6pm on a Friday!

[Glenski]

I wouldn't call my post-secondary students here in Japan "adults". Not mentally or socially speaking. Not by a long shot. So, sadly, I cannot add to the poll.

[naturegirl321]

[Denim-Maniac]

Im adults only in China. Post university, those with work experience typically. Average age is probably over 25. I havent ticked a poll box as adults in Asia seems to include university age students.

[contented]

IMO, Asia is quite broad. There's East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia.......

[Sashadroogie]

Amy way you dice it, the Adults seem to in the majority - by quite a margin too.

[DebMer]

I teach adult ESL in Southern California through a community college program. My students are mostly mothers of school age children, with a couple of older women in the mix. I would venture to say, however, that most ESL offered in my area is to K-12 children in the school system. Mostly the children of Mexican immigrants.

[spiral78]

[DebMer]

It's been some years since I taught in the K-12 system full time (late 1990's), but I remember that my predominantly Hispanic elementary school had one full time ESL classroom for students transitioning into English. The rest of us were asked to use English language development materials in our classes with students who tested below a certain level on the ESL test. Any student whose school forms indicated that English was not the first or primary language spoken at home was tested and placed.

That aside, California is in such an economic crunch, I have no idea if schools are carrying out these special programs right now. I should check the edjoin website to find out if districts are listing jobs for language support personnel.

[santi84]