Job Discussion Forums

[thebettypie]

I'm in the process choosing graduate programs to apply to, and I could use some advice about which type of program I should go for. These are the relevant details:

My background: I'm 26, from the US. I have a BA in Social Science, 1 year experience teaching English in Korea (public school), and 6 years of experience in early childhood education. I've been back from Korea for just under a year.

My goals: I came home from Korea to go to graduate school. I'd like to earn a teaching Master's, probably a MA TESOL since I want to return abroad after grad school and make teaching ESL my career. I like teaching adults but much prefer young children. I'm interested in good TEFL jobs- ones with decent pay at schools that are actual places of learning, not just business. International schools are not a must, but I wouldn't mind eventually having them as an option. Ideally, I would be able to teach ESL whenever I decide to come home later down the road.

My dilemma: I could use some advice about what kind of MA I should get, specifically whether it should be a program that leads to teacher certification? I want to do a MA TESOL but have not come across many that actually lead to certification. Should I just do a MAT that gets me certified for k-12 instead? Would that get me any respectable ESL jobs? or MAT + CELTA/DELTA? or stick with the MA TESOL and worry about certification later?

I'd appreciate your feedback and advice. Thanks!

[tttompatz]

[Matt_22]

[MotherF]

I also disagree with getting a B.Ed. You already have a BA, sure it's unrelated but in the US system only about 1/3 of your credits are related to your major. Due an MAT or MEd that gives you K-12 certification in at the very least ESL if not ESL and another subject like Social Studies perhaps. That also opens up all the jobs tttompatz described in his post. But please do keep in mind that not all MAs are created equal, yes some are very theoretical and research focused, others are not. One that gives you K-12 certification will probably require a semester long practicum, which is a very good thing.

But more than anything, one should go back to school, because one has fallen in love with the program they are entering, so do what calls you--not what we say.

[fladude]

Bachelor of Ed makes no sense to me at all. There isn't a state in the Union which requires you to have one, as long as other certification requirements are met. Getting the Masters in TESOL or a Masters in Education with TESOL and English endorsements is the way to go. If you want to teach kids in schools, the Masters in Ed would probably be a wiser move than TESOL. If you want to teach adults the Masters in TESOL is the way to go. As for international schools, I am not aware of any which require you to have a B'ED. If any did, I'm sure the same school would accept an M'ED.

The M'ED with TESOL cert makes the most sense to me. And while I do know teachers with a Masters in TESOL who are working at good paying International Schools in primary, I still believe that the Masters in ED would be a better move, since it would be more useful back in the states, especially if you ever decide to move into admin. A Bachelors in ED, on the other hand would do zero to improve your pay, even at an International School, whereas a Masters often adds 5-10k to your pay (although the Masters in TESOL should get you that as well).

[thebettypie]

[tttompatz]