That's a great idea. I wish I'd worked as a school para in when I was younger first. I used to work in DC Public Schools but moved to another state in the northeast, and with the funding model, special Ed provides more funding based on need but not ESL. Thus ESL teachers are less needed. Plus with the current administration, I'd bet special Ed is a bit safer. However, I don't think not speaking Spanish as an ESL teacher is a huge issue. At least a few ESL teachers I've worked with didn't. |
Just to clarify- this person is talking about ESL in elementary school. The model in elementary is that ESL providers push in or pull out and help smaller groups of kids, but they don’t have self-contained classes or classrooms. In middle and high school ESL teachers conduct their own classes. They are the teachers. |
FYI- the test which needs to be passed is not common sense questions like PP mentioned. You will need to know linguists and details about their language acquisition theories, the IPA alphabet, phonetics, advocacy laws, language acquisition assessments including bias/reliability/validity and hundreds of related ESL vocabulary terms,etc etc. The exam is very specific to ESL knowledge; it’s not a basic generalized exam for all subject areas. FYI |
They all passed; every single one of them. Didn’t even need a second try. You do not have to get 100% of the questions correct to pass.
The point being that studying/memorizing and taking a test is far less work and less expensive than taking classes. |
I worked in sped and ESOL and I love ESOL (now called ELD in MCPS) and and don’t want to go back to SPED. I speak some Spanish, which helps, but is NOT required to be an ELD teacher. The SPED staff I worked with love it have done it for decades, but it was not for me.
I suggest you pick up some sub jobs in both and see what they are like before committing to either. |
I personally would do ESOL just because it’s easier. SPED is a ridiculous amount of paperwork and take-home work. Yes, you can start teaching almost immediately and get the degree along the way, BUT, you are going to regret it. If you decide to go this route anyways, stay away from Non Cat/ CAT B and autism classes. These classes without proper training will destroy you. If you are interested in autism and want to work with autistic children - look into getting an ABA degree. If you have a degree in something already - look into middle/high school teaching endorsements. Good luck. I’m in the same boat, also thinking about going into education, mainly because of my kids. |
You can't seriously want to teach right now. Things are bad and likely to get much worse. Save yourself in advance and don't start. |
A lot of these positions are getting cut. |
My degree is in a foreign language that is not taught in the local school district. |
That's not true everywhere. There are still sheltered ESL classes in some schools, especially outside of FCPS. |
You should attend some job fairs and recruiting events. You'll have the best luck in FCPS elementary schools, which have a lot of ESL openings, and in PWCS, which have openings at all levels. In FCPS, some of the recruiting events have an option to speak with people in the licensure department, which would be very helpful for you. |
If you're not fluent, you're not bilingual. |
A lot of posters here are confused. Department of education cuts are not the same thing as teaching positions being cut. There is so much administrative bloat in education at all levels and there is always a need for more teachers.
Before you do anything else OP you should substitute teach. That will give you a clear sense if you can handle the job. Oh also do not get both ESOL/ELL and special education together your teaching schedule would be a nightmare pick just one. |
Title I schools receive funding from the federal government, which includes staff positions. 22% of the workers in my city are federal workers so the school system is also planning its own cuts. |
Not in APS! We’re throwing tens of millions of dollars to more ELL and SPED teachers while reducing library availability |