Job Discussion Forums

[sara_daoud05]

I've been teaching in South Korea for the past two years and would really like to take the next step and become qualified to teach internationally.

I've been counting on the Teacher Ready course as I've met so many people out here who've successfully completed it and was hoping to start it in Feb 2015. I know that it's available to non-US citizens and I've recently contacted them regarding taking the course as a UK citizen and my chances of finding a job anywhere in an international school, or in the Middle East upon completion. This is the reply:

We have such a small number of Non-US citizens that have taken or are taking our program, so we don’t really have the data or statistics you are asking for. Without a social security number you will only get the certificate of completion and would have to check with the school’s you are interested in to see if they would accept only that document. Some non-US citizens have social security numbers and those receive a Status of Eligibility along with their certificate of completion. Our director has heard of some schools accept this certificate along with the Status of Eligibilty and some do not. Again, you would have to check with the school’s you are interested in to know for sure.
You will receive a Status of Eligibility. However, without a social security number it will continue to say not eligible because without a social security number your test scores can’t be connected to you. The state department will send you a separate document with your test scores. So, in summary, if you do not have a social security number you would want to check with the schools in which you are interested and ask if a certificate of completion from TeacherReady®, your test scores, and a Status of Eligibility stating you are not eligible due to no social security number is acceptable.

I'm feeling a bit deflated and have searched for other legit online courses available for Brits, without much success. I was wondering if any British person here had taken the course, and if so had any problems finding a job? I want to continue to live abroad for atleast the nest 3-5 years. Obviously a PGCE would be ideal but Im unable to afford to move back to the UK for the 2 years (1 to take it, and another to do the NQT year) Additonally, my fiance is American and I don't think he could stay and teach in the UK for 2 years while I did this.

ANY help or advice greatly appreciated as Im at a brick wall!! Thanks in advance

[veiledsentiments]

Personally I have never heard of this and wonder why you are posting it to the Saudi Arabia branch?

Did you post here by accident?

VS

[nomad soul]

I assume you posted on this forum because you're thinking about teaching in an international school in the Kingdom sometime in the future. You got an answer from Teacher Ready about your ineligibility, so it's unclear what you think posters on this forum could offer, especially since the majority of us don't teach k-12. Perhaps you should check out the forum on International Schools Review (http://www.internationalschoolsreview.com/); it's relevant to your teaching interests.

[SirAristede]

I agree with Nomad Soul. I'm a certified K-9 educator and also a member of International Schools Review. If you post your question on the forum there, it would receive responses more directly related to your future teaching interests. This forum is dedicated to ESL/TESOL and is germane to that specialty (I post on/follow both forums since I currently teach K-9 within the context of ESL).

[plumpy nut]

This description really is foreign to U.S. education. Post secondary school is regulated by independent accrediting agencies, and also the state that the school is in. Although you have to show a school proof of state residency (to be kept from being charged the hefty non-resident price) and that you are who you say you are, I doubt if there is any accredited schools that require or use a social security number unless its more convenient for you.