Job Discussion Forums

[illegalme]

Hey I figure there might be a few certified teachers on here so I was looking for some advice. I've posted here before so forgive me if I'm starting to get annoying with questions, hehe.

In your opinion, would you recommend getting teacher certification (master of teaching/education) before or after having a stint of teaching English overseas? I've read some related threads and some people imply that its better to get it after because teaching in some countries like Korea, Thailand etc will drive a certified teacher crazy. Also I figure if I took a break after certification, I might lose valuable contacts and stuff back home.

Anyways, looking for advice from people who certified teachers, or anyone with experience in this matter, regardless of whether you've found yourself in my situation or not, all advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time

[denise]

If you've never taught before but are considering getting a Master's in education, I'd recommend getting some classroom experience first, for a few reasons. First, and possibly most importantly, you will be able to see if you actually like teaching enough to pursue it as a profession. Second, you may find that your courses are more relevant and meaningful to you if you can tie the theories to your own experiences. And your grad school application will likely be enhanced by teaching experience.

I did it this way: TEFL certificate, two years of teaching, MA, and then more teaching (better jobs).

d

[spiral78]

I agree with Denise. The more real experience you have under your belt to tie theory you study to, the better.

[markle]

[rusmeister]

Certification AFTER AFTER AFTER experience!!!

Certification is useless for the most part as far as really learning anything goes anyway, and if you have experience you'll see that and won't be led by the nose by ed professors telling you what you "need". It makes a world of difference.

[illegalme]

I have a BA (English and Sociology). The University I currently attend The University of Melbourne, like Uni's in NSW and QLD, offers certification at Masters level instead of the Dip Ed. It's like a two year long dip ed with a thesis component. It's called a Master of Teaching, its not that same as a Master of Education in Australia because the thesis is only 15,000 words instead of 20,000-30,000, I was just using it as an example because the Americans on here would know what it was.

If you have time I was wondering if you could share your 'story' with me, like, what you did overseas, how you found it, did you always plan on being a certified teacher back home? etc. Only if you have time though, hehe, I'm just really curious about other people's experiences that's all. Also, where are you planning on undertaking certification, and what course?

Thanks again .

[The_Hanged_Man]

I don't see any point teaching English after you get certified. Once you are certified you qualify for international school jobs which are generally significantly better in terms of pay and benefits.

Also, you don't have to get another degree, or even have a bachelors in education, to become certified (although I don't know the situation in Australia). For example, I was an economics and statistics major in school before I decided to try teaching overseas in the Peace Corps and ESL in Japan. While in Japan I decided that my career in McEnglish schools was exactly taking off, so I went back to the States to earn my certification.

I enrolled in an alternative certification program in Texas and started my first job teaching high school math at the same time. Basically, for the alt cert program you take courses during the summer and attend workshops during your first year of teaching. You are also assigned a mentor who does observations and provides advice. After one year you are certified, and you also draw a full salary and benefits for that year which is a major plus.

Now I am teaching at an international school in Kuwait and am happy with how my career is progressing. In January I'll be heading to a recruiting fair in Bangkok in hopes of continuing my scholastic adventures in the far east.

So...I say get certified now and then land a job on the international school circuit.

[Glenski]

If your goal is long-term teaching EFL/ESL, then get the proper degree, and get certification before and after finding a job. A one-time certificate from CELTA is not a be-all, end-all to one's professional development. Never stop trying to improve yourself.

If this really doesn't answer your question, then I would suggest that you need to consider the exact market you are going to enter first. What country(ies) did you have in mind, and what are their requirements for newbies? Take things from there.

Also consider whether you can get certification that is not online after you have started working. Online certification is available, but a practicum really ought to accompany certification.

[illegalme]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Just to give some more general background information. I've taught ESL here at home for over two years (in a voluntary capacity once a week) working with primary, high school, and post-high school students, mostly doing 'normal' coursework in an ESL setting. So for example you have a group of 5 year 1 students who need to do a maths lesson, but they also have ESL needs, so you deliver the Maths lesson with ESL methodology. I did a course for that at the time, it was 6 weeks long, 3 and a half hours a week, unfortunately I didn't do the assessment component because at the time I was doing it to get the job, rather than to get a qualification. It was a certificate in english instruction to small groups or something - anyway, I don't have the certificate, hehe, just the knowledge. I've also had to do PD for the job in things like child safety, intervention, discipline etc. Again none of it certified or anything.

I'm interested in teaching english overseas because I enjoy doing it here, and I enjoy working with young people, and I think it would be a good way to experience full time teaching before I actually go and get certified to teach back at home (which I have full intentions of doing). I wouldn't particularly want to work in an international school because I don't feel I have enough experience or commitment (I'd only be looking at 1-2 years) to be in a formal school environment. I mean who knows I could end up loving ESL overseas and turning it into a career, but as it stands now I am aiming to do it just in the short term, and building my career in Western schooling systems.

Denise, (sorry, I got told off for addressing people in a post before so I hope this isn't against the guidelines) you mentioned doing a TESOL certificate, what sort of one did you do? What did you gain from it? I have been looking into a few of those (I won't mention specific ones here), because the CELTA does not seem worth it to me, mostly because it is comparatively long and pricey for the content contained therein, and also, it is aimed at teaching adults, something I actually don't enjoy doing at all.

Markle, what course are you looking at doing here in Melbourne? What uni? Just curious thats all

/oh gosh I just read how long this is, sorry!!

[tedkarma]

[rusmeister]

[Glenski]

Please realize that teaching ESL in your home country and teaching EFL abroad are not the same thing. The immersion environment in your home country is a world of difference from what your students face in their own country. Many of the teaching techniques are the same or very similar, but immersion is a powerful advantage to work off.

Uni = university

[rusmeister]

[tedkarma]

[rusmeister]