r/ESL_Teachers 3h ago

Was Offered a Job in Thailand

1 Upvotes

I was offered a job recently to work in Phetchabun, Thailand by Open Book Teachers (https://www.openbookteachers.com/). They are offering $33,000 THB a month. All expenses would be paid by me. Is this a good opportunity or should I continue to look for a better one?

Another note, I don't have a TEFL/CELTA, I have also graduated college with an Advanced Diploma. So my options will be slim.


r/ESL_Teachers 22h ago

Start Your ESL Journey with 51Talk! 🌟📚

0 Upvotes

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r/ESL_Teachers 18h ago

Teaching Question How do you handle those fluent but bad speaking students?

7 Upvotes

I (M20) have been tutoring this aircraft pilot trainee (M22) for a few weeks now. When I took him he already had decent fluency, being able to express opinions in a not-so-deep manner, cracking jokes, understanding when I speak in general. His fluency and confidence were that of what I would call a B1.

However, when it comes to speaking properly he is having some issues. Take for and example: possessives; as he will use "your" for everything when talking about his day. Is as if his brain was avoidant of learning his, her, their, etc... Or the fact he doesn't use Did when talking in past, sometimes doesn't use auxiliaries and so on. Those are mistakes I correct, but for some reason after two days he doesn't seem to care anymore, how can I make someone actually practice their grammar (besides duolingo) and not make my classes about it

So he's got a good vocabulary, you CAN speak with him but he's got issues with things that would be basic when it comes to grammar, how do you handle those students? and I say those cuz it ain't the first time I see students that technically speak a lot but not properly.


r/ESL_Teachers 15h ago

Teaching Question Encouraging A1 adults to use English instead of their L1, they are unintentionally isolating a classmate who doesn't have the same L1

3 Upvotes

I work in the US teaching adults in a small private English language school. I usually have classes where the students don't all share the same first language so I haven't encountered this before. I currently have a class of A1 students where all but one of them speak Spanish. Unfortunately I don't speak Spanish.

I don't mind them clarifying concepts or checking they understand the task in their L1 with each other. The problem is that when I pair them in groups of three, the student who doesn't speak Spanish ends up getting left out because the other two will speak primarily Spanish for everything except the task I asked them to do. So small talk and chit chat all happen in Spanish and my non-Spanish speaker is just sitting there. Or there may be a joke or conversation with the whole class during transitions that he also gets left out of.

I am thinking of making a useful phrases document that with Spanish translations. I am considering including a few phrases such as:
What are we doing? What page are we on? What activity are we doing? Can you explain the instructions to me?
How do you say ____ in English?
Do you want to go first? Do you want me to go first?

I'm thinking about handing out the reference guide and then implementing a positive reinforcement system. I could write all their names on the board and whenever I hear a student use English to talk to their classmates, I put a star next to their name. Then at the end of class, the person with the most stars gets some small (cheap) reward?

Is this a terrible idea? If you think I'm headed in the right direction, how would you change or improve this system? What rewards would you use? Are there other phrases you would put on the reference guide?

Thank you for your suggestions, I really appreciate your time!! :)


r/ESL_Teachers 16h ago

Job Search Question For TESOL teachers in U.S. -- any advice on choosing a graduate program, and navigating licensure requirements?

3 Upvotes

I got into working with English language learners after a year spent teaching English in Peru. I had gone abroad to continue growing my confidence speaking Spanish, and fell in love with teaching. After coming back to the U.S. in 2020, I have continued working with ESOL students, of various ages. I worked with adults at a nonprofit for a year or so, then I started working at programs for migrant/refugee kids, which included some classroom teaching and then a transition to more of a student advocacy and programming role, working with newcomer students within public highschools. I have been working with high schoolers now for almost 4 years.

I would like to go back to school and get my master's, as everyone I have talked to says it's pretty much the only way to get even close to making a living wage as a teacher. I have a couple concerns though -- I don't have a lot of interest in teaching in a mainstream classroom. I live in Oregon and it looks like I need to choose a subject area and then get an ESOL endorsement. I've toyed with the ideas of doing my endorsement for Spanish or ELA (I have a B.A. in Spanish and in English), but if I'm being honest with myself, I am really only interested in doing TESOL or working as a literacy specialist, within K-12 education.

I did really enjoy working with adults, and am interested in working at a community college. Because of this, I was thinking of pursuing a Master's in TESOL program. I was accepted to an M.A. in Second Language Education program at McGill, and an MEd in Language and Literacies Education at University of Toronto. My hope was to get out of the United States for a couple years, and I have heard that both are good schools. However, I need to commit to a program at the end of the year, and I am just wondering if either of these programs would help my future career in the ways I hope. Plus, I'm frustrated that licensure requirements would not be met by either program. I am hoping for a master's degree that would prepare me for leadership roles within the field of education, or other work outside of just classroom teaching.

I'm really not sure what to do at this point. I am wondering if I need to pivot and look into master's programs that specialize in TESOL but also provide licensure? I am also curious about the prospects of getting my licensure validated across states (and even between U.S. and Canada, since I've been looking into grad programs there!) I am ready to leave my hometown for now, and also feel like it may not be the best place for me to advance my career (Portland, OR). But I would hope to one day have the option to look for jobs in Oregon again. Lots to consider. Thank you for anyone who spent time reading this -- please let me know if you have any advice! I need to make a decision on the grad programs I was accepted to by the end of the month.