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PhilOffice
Joined: 21 May 2013
Posts: 23
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 Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 9:19 pm Post subject: Exactly how helpful is a 4 year bachelors in ESL teaching? |
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Greetings fellow ESL teachers,
I am an undergraduate student at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, on the verge of finishing my bachelors degree in second language English teaching (1 out of 4 years left).
Unlike most of my classmates who chose settle with a job within Quebec upon graduation, I would like to live the experience of teaching abroad for at least a year after I graduate.
I will have done over 1000 hours of practicums teaching English in both high-schools and elementary schools here in Quebec (French being the first language of my students), as well as some substitute teaching.
Now, it is still unclear to me whether or not I need extra certification like CELTA/TESOL/TEFL in order to teach abroad. I am getting mixed information from different people and I don't want to spend time/money on something I might not need in the end.
So my question is: is a bachelors in ESL teaching from Canada a valid certification when looking for work abroad? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: Exactly how helpful is a 4 year bachelors in ESL teachin |
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| PhilOffice wrote: |
I will have done over 1000 hours of practicums teaching English in both high-schools and elementary schools here in Quebec (French being the first language of my students), as well as some substitute teaching.
Now, it is still unclear to me whether or not I need extra certification like CELTA/TESOL/TEFL in order to teach abroad. I am getting mixed information from different people and I don't want to spend time/money on something I might not need in the end.
So my question is: is a bachelors in ESL teaching from Canada a valid certification when looking for work abroad? |
If your degree program includes a supervised practical component, then no, you don't need a TEFL cert. (By the way, a university degree is not the same as certification.) However, depending on where you expect to teach, you may need a teaching license from your home country if your goal is to teach in a k-12 situation. |
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PhilOffice
Joined: 21 May 2013
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 9:54 pm Post subject: Re: Exactly how helpful is a 4 year bachelors in ESL teachin |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| PhilOffice wrote: |
I will have done over 1000 hours of practicums teaching English in both high-schools and elementary schools here in Quebec (French being the first language of my students), as well as some substitute teaching.
Now, it is still unclear to me whether or not I need extra certification like CELTA/TESOL/TEFL in order to teach abroad. I am getting mixed information from different people and I don't want to spend time/money on something I might not need in the end.
So my question is: is a bachelors in ESL teaching from Canada a valid certification when looking for work abroad? |
If your degree program includes a supervised practical component, then no, you don't need a TEFL cert. (By the way, a university degree is not the same as certification.) However, depending on where you expect to teach, you may need a teaching license from your home country if your goal is to teach in a k-12 situation. |
There is a supervised practicum program, I have completed 3 out 4 practicums. I will aslo be getting a teaching license upon graduating.
-edit- Is a teaching license that allows me to teach in a k-12 situation in Canada valid abroad? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Then figure out where you want to go and once you graduate, start applying. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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A Bachelor's degree
A valid Canadian passport
A valid teacher's license issued by a Canadian provincial authority
means you are good to go for ALL countries in Asia (east, central or west), Mexico, Central and South America with no further need for certification.
No real experience after graduation means that the better "international" schools may not want you (they usually want 2 or more years of real classroom experience after graduation) but there will be lots of 2nd tier international schools, bilingual schools and mainstream local schools who would love to have you.
Consider programs like NET in Hong Kong, public schools in Taiwan or Korea, JET in Japan and look in places like TIEONLINE or Search Associates for employment (after you graduate).
If you are feeling a little wild and wooly and money is less of an issue then perhaps China or Thailand might be an interesting fit and adventure.
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PhilOffice
Joined: 21 May 2013
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
A Bachelor's degree
A valid Canadian passport
A valid teacher's license issued by a Canadian provincial authority
means you are good to go for ALL countries in Asia (east, central or west), Mexico, Central and South America with no further need for certification.
No real experience after graduation means that the better "international" schools may not want you (they usually want 2 or more years of real classroom experience after graduation) but there will be lots of 2nd tier international schools, bilingual schools and mainstream local schools who would love to have you.
Consider programs like NET in Hong Kong, public schools in Taiwan or Korea, JET in Japan and look in places like TIEONLINE or Search Associates for employment (after you graduate).
If you are feeling a little wild and wooly and money is less of an issue then perhaps China or Thailand might be an interesting fit and adventure.
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Thanks a lot for the information! Just what I was looking for.
I understand this is probably a frequently asked question but I have been having a hard time getting a clear answer.
I will be back for more questions next year before I graduate  |
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santi84
Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea
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| Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 10:23 pm Post subject: |
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| If your degree is similar to the ones offered at McGill and Concordia (and I think it is) then you are more than qualified. Don't bother with additional certification. International schools will want some experience before hiring but I assume you are also fully bilingual? I'm sure some Canadian international schools would be interested in speaking with you. |
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