Job Discussion Forums

[biffinbridge]

Hey newbies, don't listen to any of the old codgers on this site as they'll put you off forever.Do your time, learn the jargon of TBL and NL, guided discovery,TTT,PPP,learner autonomy, action research and so on... then decide for yourselves how relevant it is to teaching Headway, Reward,Cutting Edge or any of the other major league coursebooks that you'll invariably end up being given to teach.A lot of the so called development that goes on in this game is nonesense.Unless you are lecturing at a uni you'll never have to go into the analysis of complex sentences etc etc. Bottom line, don't worry about lacking experience as we all start that way.Some on this forum need reminding of their own humble beginnings,(in the teaching game that is).

[leeroy]

Agreed.

Most of the entry level teaching positions that happily take teachers with no relevant degrees are fully aware of their teacher's capabilities. Krashen won't help you with a class of 15 Chinese teenagers more concerned with looking at a westerner than "language aquisition". And being armed with Chomsky and the Lexical Approach won't help covering a 3 hour class last minute because wots-his-face had to get his visa sorted. Being, young, enthusiastic, and willing to take sh.it seem to be the most important personality traits for accepting an entry-level position.

Often, 'schools' amount to little more than "westerner zoos" - the exhibits are fed beer and a "fantastic local salary", provided that they entertain the spectators, aka students. In such situations, a CELTA is all that's necessary. This is just as well, because salaries for such positions amount to FA anyway. I imagine anyone with a Masters who worked in such a place would be horrified.

Advanced teaching methodology (or is it ideology?) undoubtedly has its place - and although there is nothing wrong with a teacher who's clued up about such things, to say it is a pre-requisite to be University educated in TEFL for EVERY teaching position seems a little over-kill.

Schools that value their teachers' professional ability will state that they require a higher level of qualifications and/or experience. Such places, usually, pay accordingly. The CELTA only newbies pose no threat to the professionals more dedicated to their field. They are, in fact, doing a different job for a completely different market.

I could, in theory, have a DELTA and 5 years experience. But as I have no first degree, the guy with no experience and who has just graduated with a 2:1 in Genetics would get the job in Japan over me. This, I think, is what newbies complain about. Some would argue that a degree in something unrelated is no better than not having one at all - although I understand the basic principle that employers "want their teachers to be educated".

I see no reason to unleash a barrage of hate in the direction of anyone asking "Where can I go where there's money, by the way I'm not qualified?" Surely a smile, and a "Sorry, but nowhere" is enough.

I would imagine that most people who react so negatively to such requests on this board feel that the newbies are trivialising their profession. I can understand that! If I had studied for 5 years for how to be a teacher, took pride in what I do, then encountered some guy who thought he could do the same job as me without putting in the same amount of work - then I'd be pissed.

But babysitting Korean teenagers isn't the same as lecturing at university! A newbie asking about entry level teaching positions isn't saying "I can do your job!", they are asking "what can I do?"