i wrote this sometime last year on some mailing list (i forget) to star-struck linguists and educators who want to move to 'mecca' (san francisco).
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thanks to everyone for the private email regarding the comments on esl jobs in the san francisco bay area. i received a lot of requests for more info on alternative work with esl/efl background and experience. i've been really busy and i don't have the time to write everyone individually.
if you are technically savvy with computers, technical writing is one career path. you don't have to be an engineer or programmer to be able to write software documentation. i can't write a line of code to save my life, although i've taken courses in programming just to familiarize myself with terms and concepts. i've been doing this for two years. what really is interesting for me is trying to get information from non-native and limited-english speaking engineers from all paths of life. these groups are usually grateful for anytime you can spare in helping them pronounce and spell simple words so that they can communicate effectively.
another area where esl/efl and educational people are needed is in organizational development. this branch of an organization defines how people are grouped together for maximum productivity and profitability. you definately have to be a corporate-kind of person as well as enjoy working with people. another area where i've worked is in localization. i've written documentation for software products and supervised the whole translation process. i am giving a seminar in late july to discuss 'writing for localization' and i will approach it from an esl/efl perspective.
the last comment that i want to make is that san francisco is not the gay mecca. gay people get fatally bashed out here too. it is estimated that half of the gay male population is hiv positive. hiv positive women are sadly growing in numbers. racism and ageism are local past times. club, bar, and superficial culture exist here too. san francisco can be a very cold and cruel place. and you don't have to live in sf to be out.
there are so many supportive communities around the bay area that you'll see that "mecca" is sometimes out of touch with the rest of the world. students and closeted workers need to know that coming out of the closet doesn't mean you must adopt values and changes in your lifestyle that you don't need or want. *flamesuit on*
i am just beginning to start traveling around the world, but i know for sure that the sf bay area will always be my permanent home.
orlando