One of the largest populations in the United States, combined with several large and mid-size cities historically populated by immigrants, make New York state a solid option for teaching ESL, EFL, and sheltered English. While the ESL positions in some states are mostly limited to public schools and community colleges, New York’s ESL teaching opportunities range from adult education settings and corporations to grant-funded programs and beyond.
New York ESL Career Outlook
According to the New York City Department of Education’s guide to teaching in New York City (the nation’s largest school district), recent hiring needs include qualified ESL, bilingual, English, Spanish, and Chinese teachers.
In addition, the article “The Changing Face of Immigrants in the U.S.: Implications for Adult Educators,” published in 2013 in the PAACE Journal of Lifelong Learning at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, identifies New York as one of the states projected to have high immigrant populations in the next few years. This prospect is typically a strong indicator of the need for more ESL, bilingual, and sheltered English educators.
Hiring Agencies for New York ESL Educators
- New York State TESOL maintains a job board for TESOL, TEFL, ESL, and related teaching jobs throughout the state. The board is updated every Monday.
- OLAS, the online application system for educators, serves over 300 school districts in New York state. The service is free and jobs are updated weekly.
Resources for New York ESL Teachers
- NYTESOL is the New York State branch of the international TESOL organization of professionals. The group hosts an annual conference, publishes information, advocates on behalf of ESL educators and students, and maintains a list server.
- NYSABE, the New York State Association for Bilingual Education, in addition to its advocacy mission, also publishes new research, hosts conferences and events, and keeps New York’s bilingual and ESL educators abreast of relevant news and developments.
- NYC Teaching Fellows is a program that provides training and education concurrent with working in high-need New York City public schools, including those with ELL student populations.