Korean Job Discussion Forums

[icnelly]

Out of the EFL teachers here, how many are actual ESL teachers back in their respective country? Hopefully there are some, as I have a question for you:

I really enjoy the teaching here (public elementary schoool), and am thinking about getting certified once back in New York, but I want to know what ESL teaching is like in specifically American public school, but also Canadian/European schools.

[tob55]

I was a public school teacher for 18 years in the USA before coming to Korea...I actually loved the work there, but it became an issue of not enough money with all of the expenses I faced there...As for ESL instruction in the States, you will have to decide where you want to teach before being able to assess the environment for teaching...there is a large demand for second language teachers in the south and southwest because of the amount of immigrants living in those portions of the country, but as a general rule, you should have little trouble finding a place to work...

I wasn't an ESL teacher, my certification area was secondary social studies, but I had enough Spanish to be used as a sub occasionally in the high school. It was challenging and usually I had a number of students who were forced to take the class in order to be enrolled in the school, so it had its good and bad things, just like here...I knew teaching ESL was tough and the expectation of what I would face really didn't surprise me...You will find some things similar and some things dissimilar...BUT it can be fun if you want it to be...

[robot]

I taught English and ESL in Vancouver for 5 years before coming to Korea.

For most, it is definitely an issue of not enough money. Average ESL teachers in Vancouver work 27-hour weeks at CND $18-22/hr. There are better positions within school boards at higher rates plus benefits.

Going private is hard, and the hourly is half of what you can charge here. However, private test prep is still a lucrative market. I know of one guy who has become a millionaire in NYC teaching SAT privately. He tests many times yearly and gets perfect each time, though...

I am convinced that you can make a career of ESL if you are creative enough.

[Ekuboko]

I was an adult ESL teacher in my home country before coming to Korea. I intend to go back and do the same thing.

[icnelly]

Thanks for the ideas. I know my local state unis offer degrees in TESOL, so I'm suspecting NY would have some kind of program, but I'll have to do more research and see.

Money as an issue though... Would getting teacher training/certification pidgeon hole me into that career track??

[tob55]

It could, but time will tell...Are you convinced this is what you want to do for a teaching career? I started out as a history major, and found myself teaching everything but history...Now I am far enough along in my career that I am choosing what I want to do rather than feeling stuck in one area of education...I several licensure areas from taking a number of different programs over the years, so it isn't as much of a concern these days...

[Jizzo T. Clown]

Sorry if this is a bit obvious but have you looked in the North America forum?

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=9257cdb98c5ae4c76b39bf7d23c396bb

I taught for two years at a uni IEP before coming to Korea--very fulfilling job but pay was substandard (as is most ESL pay in the states). I presume you know what getting certified entails? It may or may not be worth it, but do a lot of research on it. I actually considered going public school at one time and can share what I found--just PM me if you're interested!

[icnelly]

[tob55]

A quick answer

1. Yes
2. Applied Linguistics with an emphasis in ESL (There are some TESOL programs, but you would be better off with the Applied Linguisitcs program)

You cannot by bypass the student teaching requirement in the USA because of strict standards which are applied, regardless of your teaching experience abroad...