A Guide to ESL Teaching in Georgia
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012, Georgia has more openings than most states for people in the ESL profession. While it does not measure up to California and New York in terms of quantity of ESL programming, the state’s population density and diversity make it appear likely that continued openings will be available for qualified educators interested in TESOL, ESL, sheltered English, and bilingual programming.
Outlook for Georgia ESL Teachers
The best strategy in a competitive job market is to follow the immigrants. The Georgia Department of Education GaDOE’s ACCESS Participation Rates spreadsheet indicates the regions and school districts that had the highest enrollment of ELLs in the 2012-13 school year, which include:
- Gwinnett County
- Dekalb County
- Cobb County
- Hall County
- Fulton County
- Forsyth County
- Douglas County
The National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition (NCELA) reports that Georgia saw a huge wave of immigrants settling in the state from 1998 to 2008, a 406 percent increase. The major languages of these newcomers are Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, French, and Chinese.
Openings in Georgia ESL Education
- GaPSC’s TeachGeorgia site is the official hiring tool of the GaDOE. Candidates can upload resumes and browse current educator job openings throughout the state, sorting by school system, subject, and job title. The site also has a link to upcoming job fairs.
- The Georgia TESOL Job Board lists jobs outside Georgia’s K-12 public school system, including private language school posts and community program openings.
Professional Resources for Georgia ESL Teachers
- Georgia TESOL (GATESOL) is the state affiliate of the international TESOL organization. Professional and pre-professional members join through their GATESOL region and can participate in meetings, conferences, and professional development sessions pertaining to ESL and bilingual education.
- GaDOE’s webpage dedicated to English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Title III outlines its programs and policies.
- The Atlanta Association of Educators represents Georgia’s largest employer of ESL, bilingual, and sheltered English educators – Atlanta Public Schools.