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English as a Second Language Chatboard

Questions for ESOL Teachers

by Denise

Jun 20, 2014

Hello, I'm conducting some research for a class I'm taking. If anyone can answer the following, and also include the state in which you teach and the grade level, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

What led you to teaching ESOL? What is your view of the role of ESOL teachers in schools? What do you think is the most important thing about ESOL for classroom teachers to know?

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Steve McCormack, NY On 6/20/14, Denise wrote: > Hello, I'm conducting some research for a class I'm taking. If anyone > can answer the following, and also include the state in which you > teach and the grade level, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. > > What led you to teaching ESOL? What is your view of the role of ESOL > teachers in school...See MoreOn 6/20/14, Denise wrote: > Hello, I'm conducting some research for a class I'm taking. If anyone > can answer the following, and also include the state in which you > teach and the grade level, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. > > What led you to teaching ESOL? What is your view of the role of ESOL > teachers in schools? What do you think is the most important thing > about ESOL for classroom teachers to know? > Hi, I didn't start out wanting to be an ESOL teacher. I was a Social Studies teacher, looking for full-time work in the late 1980s, when I began teaching Economics, and Participation in Government (Grade 12) in an evening high school program. One night, the ESL teacher was out, and the principal asked me to be the substitute teacher. I really enjoyed the experience, and began teaching one adult ESL class the next semester. I left teaching entirely for 6 years, but then got laid off from my job. I used the time on unemployment to go to grad school to become an ESL teacher. I started teaching ESL full time in 1998, and have been happy about the decision ever since. I look at my role in the middle school as a resource for students to access the information they need to succeed in all their subjects. I spend more time teaching science, math and social studies than grammar. I am of the opinion that their success in their other subjects is as much a demonstration of their English proficiency as their ESL grade is. The most important thing for ESL teachers to know is that they will always be related to the back bench of the academic team in their school, unless they advocate for equal treatment. Also, as an ESL teacher, you can be expected to be asked for lots of favors by staff who assume you speak another language. Me, I do whatever I can: call parents, translate notes, etc., because I can speak Spanish, and like to help. But I make it clear this is a favor, not part of my job description. Do I think future ESL teachers will be happy? If they are in a place that is the right fit for them. I can deal with middle school, but elementary would not be a good fit for me. I still like to teach adults, and do so at the community college every semester. That is a great part-time gig, but it is only part-time. Very few full-time ESL positions at the college level. Mostly taught by adjuncts and doctoral students. If it turns out you love this job, stick with it. If you don't love it, you should try something else. ESOL Students deserve teachers who love their job, not those who look at it as just another way to earn a paycheck.

Jun 23, 2014

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Denise This is great stuff, Steve. Thanks!

On 6/23/14, Steve McCormack, NY wrote: > On 6/20/14, Denise wrote: >> Hello, I'm conducting some research for a class I'm taking. > If anyone >> can answer the following, and also include the state in > which you >> teach and the grade level, I would greatly appreciate it. >...See MoreThis is great stuff, Steve. Thanks!

On 6/23/14, Steve McCormack, NY wrote: > On 6/20/14, Denise wrote: >> Hello, I'm conducting some research for a class I'm taking. > If anyone >> can answer the following, and also include the state in > which you >> teach and the grade level, I would greatly appreciate it. > Thank you. >> >> What led you to teaching ESOL? What is your view of the > role of ESOL >> teachers in schools? What do you think is the most > important thing >> about ESOL for classroom teachers to know? >> > Hi, > I didn't start out wanting to be an ESOL teacher. I was a > Social Studies teacher, looking for full-time work in the late > 1980s, when I began teaching Economics, and Participation > in Government (Grade 12) in an evening high school > program. One night, the ESL teacher was out, and the > principal asked me to be the substitute teacher. I really > enjoyed the experience, and began teaching one adult ESL > class the next semester. > I left teaching entirely for 6 years, but then got laid off from > my job. I used the time on unemployment to go to grad > school to become an ESL teacher. I started teaching ESL full > time in 1998, and have been happy about the decision ever > since. > I look at my role in the middle school as a resource for > students to access the information they need to succeed in > all their subjects. I spend more time teaching science, math > and social studies than grammar. I am of the opinion that > their success in their other subjects is as much a > demonstration of their English proficiency as their ESL grade > is. > The most important thing for ESL teachers to know is that > they will always be related to the back bench of the academic > team in their school, unless they advocate for equal > treatment. Also, as an ESL teacher, you can be expected to > be asked for lots of favors by staff who assume you speak > another language. Me, I do whatever I can: call parents, > translate notes, etc., because I can speak Spanish, and like to > help. But I make it clear this is a favor, not part of my job > description. > Do I think future ESL teachers will be happy? If they are in > a place that is the right fit for them. I can deal with middle > school, but elementary would not be a good fit for me. I still > like to teach adults, and do so at the community college > every semester. That is a great part-time gig, but it is only > part-time. Very few full-time ESL positions at the college > level. Mostly taught by adjuncts and doctoral students. > If it turns out you love this job, stick with it. If you don't > love it, you should try something else. ESOL Students > deserve teachers who love their job, not those who look at it > as just another way to earn a paycheck.

Jun 25, 2014

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Maggie I need help knowing how to study for my ESL Praxis. I've studied the study guide and taken one online test and one test in the study guide. I have to make 142 in Arkansas to pass, but don't know how to convert the percentage score I got to the raw score I'll have to get on the real thing August 7. Has anybody taken and passed the test and if so, ho...See MoreI need help knowing how to study for my ESL Praxis. I've studied the study guide and taken one online test and one test in the study guide. I have to make 142 in Arkansas to pass, but don't know how to convert the percentage score I got to the raw score I'll have to get on the real thing August 7. Has anybody taken and passed the test and if so, how did you prepare? Maggie

On 6/25/14, Denise wrote: > This is great stuff, Steve. Thanks! > > > On 6/23/14, Steve McCormack, NY wrote: >> On 6/20/14, Denise wrote: >>> Hello, I'm conducting some research for a class I'm taking. >> If anyone >>> can answer the following, and also include the state in >> which you >>> teach and the grade level, I would greatly appreciate it. >> Thank you. >>> >>> What led you to teaching ESOL? What is your view of the >> role of ESOL >>> teachers in schools? What do you think is the most >> important thing >>> about ESOL for classroom teachers to know? >>> >> Hi, >> I didn't start out wanting to be an ESOL teacher. I was a >> Social Studies teacher, looking for full-time work in the late >> 1980s, when I began teaching Economics, and Participation >> in Government (Grade 12) in an evening high school >> program. One night, the ESL teacher was out, and the >> principal asked me to be the substitute teacher. I really >> enjoyed the experience, and began teaching one adult ESL >> class the next semester. >> I left teaching entirely for 6 years, but then got laid off from >> my job. I used the time on unemployment to go to grad >> school to become an ESL teacher. I started teaching ESL full >> time in 1998, and have been happy about the decision ever >> since. >> I look at my role in the middle school as a resource for >> students to access the information they need to succeed in >> all their subjects. I spend more time teaching science, math >> and social studies than grammar. I am of the opinion that >> their success in their other subjects is as much a >> demonstration of their English proficiency as their ESL grade >> is. >> The most important thing for ESL teachers to know is that >> they will always be related to the back bench of the academic >> team in their school, unless they advocate for equal >> treatment. Also, as an ESL teacher, you can be expected to >> be asked for lots of favors by staff who assume you speak >> another language. Me, I do whatever I can: call parents, >> translate notes, etc., because I can speak Spanish, and like to >> help. But I make it clear this is a favor, not part of my job >> description. >> Do I think future ESL teachers will be happy? If they are in >> a place that is the right fit for them. I can deal with middle >> school, but elementary would not be a good fit for me. I still >> like to teach adults, and do so at the community college >> every semester. That is a great part-time gig, but it is only >> part-time. Very few full-time ESL positions at the college >> level. Mostly taught by adjuncts and doctoral students. >> If it turns out you love this job, stick with it. If you don't >> love it, you should try something else. ESOL Students >> deserve teachers who love their job, not those who look at it >> as just another way to earn a paycheck.

Jul 8, 2014

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Michelle NYC Hello Steve,

I have some questions about teaching ESL in a NYC public school. What is some must haves for middle and high school students in regards to teaching and administration? I am a new teacher and I was wondering if you can give me some advice on my year and the things I need to know?

On 6/23/14, Steve McCormack, NY wrote...See MoreHello Steve,

I have some questions about teaching ESL in a NYC public school. What is some must haves for middle and high school students in regards to teaching and administration? I am a new teacher and I was wondering if you can give me some advice on my year and the things I need to know?

On 6/23/14, Steve McCormack, NY wrote: > On 6/20/14, Denise wrote: >> Hello, I'm conducting some research for a class I'm taking. > If anyone >> can answer the following, and also include the state in > which you >> teach and the grade level, I would greatly appreciate it. > Thank you. >> >> What led you to teaching ESOL? What is your view of the > role of ESOL >> teachers in schools? What do you think is the most > important thing >> about ESOL for classroom teachers to know? >> > Hi, > I didn't start out wanting to be an ESOL teacher. I was a > Social Studies teacher, looking for full-time work in the late > 1980s, when I began teaching Economics, and Participation > in Government (Grade 12) in an evening high school > program. One night, the ESL teacher was out, and the > principal asked me to be the substitute teacher. I really > enjoyed the experience, and began teaching one adult ESL > class the next semester. > I left teaching entirely for 6 years, but then got laid off from > my job. I used the time on unemployment to go to grad > school to become an ESL teacher. I started teaching ESL full > time in 1998, and have been happy about the decision ever > since. > I look at my role in the middle school as a resource for > students to access the information they need to succeed in > all their subjects. I spend more time teaching science, math > and social studies than grammar. I am of the opinion that > their success in their other subjects is as much a > demonstration of their English proficiency as their ESL grade > is. > The most important thing for ESL teachers to know is that > they will always be related to the back bench of the academic > team in their school, unless they advocate for equal > treatment. Also, as an ESL teacher, you can be expected to > be asked for lots of favors by staff who assume you speak > another language. Me, I do whatever I can: call parents, > translate notes, etc., because I can speak Spanish, and like to > help. But I make it clear this is a favor, not part of my job > description. > Do I think future ESL teachers will be happy? If they are in > a place that is the right fit for them. I can deal with middle > school, but elementary would not be a good fit for me. I still > like to teach adults, and do so at the community college > every semester. That is a great part-time gig, but it is only > part-time. Very few full-time ESL positions at the college > level. Mostly taught by adjuncts and doctoral students. > If it turns out you love this job, stick with it. If you don't > love it, you should try something else. ESOL Students > deserve teachers who love their job, not those who look at it > as just another way to earn a paycheck.

Aug 28, 2014

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