English language teaching as a second career / Sarah J. Shin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shin, Sarah J., 1970- author.

Series:

CAL series on language education ; 1.

CAL series on language education ; 1

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English language--Study and teaching--Foreign speakers.

English language.

English teachers--Training of.

English teachers.

Physical Description:

xi, 188 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Bristol, UK ; Blue Ridge Summit, PA : Multilingual Matters, [2017]

Summary:

This book explores the experiences of men and women who train to teach ESL as a second career. Drawing from in-depth interviews and observations of 30 students (aged 45 to 73) in a TESOL graduate program, this book provides portraits of these individuals as they develop as teachers. It describes the processes they go through to launch their teaching careers, the successes and challenges they face, and the evolving significance of their work in their overall life goals and achievements. A welcome addition to the growing literature on teacher development, this book will be an important resource for teacher trainers and anyone working in TESOL. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Wanted: Well-Trained ESL Teachers 6

Increasing Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the United States 6

America's Aging Population 8

Generational Gap between the Gray and the Brown 12

Challenges Pacing Children From Immigrant Families 15

What Should Be Done to Help English .Learners Succeed? 19

Toward a Future of Intergenerational Cooperation 20

Baby Boomers as ESL Teachers: A Win-Win Situation 22

A Note About the Methodology 24

2 Adulthood II 26

Erikson's Eight Stages of Psychosocial Development 27

Psychosocial Development in Adulthood 29

Adulthood II 31

Third Age, Third Quarter, Third Chapter: What's in a Name' 33

Cohen's Model of Adult Development 35

Andrea: Out of the office and into the community 36

Paula: Helping to empower people 37

Anna: 'It's time to give back' 40

David: 'I feel like I have a lot to say, and I want to say it' 41

Turning Crises into Opportunities 43

Henry: Downsized but not defeated 43

Julia; Forging a new life after losing her husband 44

Joni: Regaining confidence after divorce 45

Conclusion 46

3 Cognitive and Social Benefits of Teaching ESL 48

The Power of the Aging Brain 48

What Exactly Can the Healthy Older Brain Do? 50

Developmental intelligence 50

Lesley: Seeing the big picture 51

Regulating emotions 52

Patricia: Achieving peace of mind through self-awareness 54

Creativity 56

Anna: Keeping Alzheimer's at bay by activating the brain 58

Benefits of Multicultural Experience 59

Suzanne: From Elderhostel to TESOL 60

Jonathan: Coming into a new place with an alien culture 62

The Dangers of Negative Age Stereotypes 63

Toward a More Positive View of Human Potential in Later Life 65

4 The Role of Prior Work Experiences in Choosing TESOL 67

Requirements for Entering TESOL Programs 67

Educational Backgrounds of the Participants 69

Job Histories of the Participants 74

Bill: A corporate trainer turned ESL teacher 76

Elizabeth: 'The world is my stage' 77

Diane: TESOL draws together all the strands of everything I've learned' 79

Barbara: A graphic artist who 'retired' out of college 81

What Do People Want from Their Work? 82

Jobs that people disliked 82

Jobs that people liked 85

Why teaching English is attractive 88

Conclusion 89

5 Constructing a New Professional Identity 91

Communities of Practice 91

Entering a New Community of Practice 93

The Value of Previously Developed Skills in Teaching ESL 96

The Value of Immigrant Experiences in Teaching ESL 98

Brokering Between Different Communities of Practice 100

Affirming Identities Through Collaborative Learning 105

Conclusion 107

6 Learning to Teach 110

Changing Views about Teacher Learning 110

Teaching is Hard Work 112

Teaching is Performance 114

Teaching Requires the Ability to Manage Classrooms 119

Good Teaching Empowers Students 124

Conclusion 128

7 Launching a Career in TESOL 130

State of the ESL Job Market 130

Job Search Experiences of the Participants 133

One Profession, Multiple Paths 134

Job Satisfaction in K-12 ESL 138

Job Satisfaction in Adult ESL 143

Waiting for an Opportunity at the Right Time 146

Conclusion 148

8 A Vision for Lifelong Learning 150

Needed: A Compelling Vision for Later Life 150

Helping People Return to School 152

Supporting New Teachers through Professional Learning Communities 155

Focusing on Progress and Not on Perfection 160

Conclusion 164.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9781783096930

1783096934

9781783096923

1783096926

OCLC:

953980880