Job Discussion Forums

Buck Turgidson · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 96

Hey Everybody, Smile

I have begun course work to earn my state teaching certificate. While applying to take the Praxis II test, I noticed they offer a test in Teaching English as a Foreign language. Has anybody taken this test? How difficult was it?

Buck

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

"STATE TEACHING CERTIFICATE" ? Which state, pray tell. Queensland ? Northern Ireland ? The Transvaal ?

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Sorry Scot. As you summized this is an American thing. I'm sure the first poster did not intend to be ethnocentric.

Mr. Buck, I was not aware that there was a praxis exam in teaching EFL. I'm frankly baffled by it since the praxis exam isn't even excepted everywhere in the US. Obviously I've never taken the test.

Although many university students say the praxis examinations are very hard and stressful, I do not agree. I've seen some of your posts on the teacher forum, and I don't think you should worry to much about the praxis examination.

I didn't take the praxis exams since NY doesn't recognize them. Good luck.

Buck Turgidson · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 96

Scot,

I assumed anybody who knew what the heck a Praxis II exam was would know that I was referring to one of the United States of America.

GoJ,

Seeing as the test isn't even recognized in all fifty of the United States of America, do you suppose it would have any clout in international schools? I only thought of taking it to pad my resume. I don't intend to teach it in the US.

Buck

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2003 4:43 am Post subject: Praxis II

Dear Buck,
I took the Praxis II a ways back - in 1996 for certification in the state of Colorado - but I took only the secondary school, Language Arts ( and Basic Skills ) sections - not the ESL test. I thought the exams were " middling difficult ", though that may have been because I'd been out of school for so long. But I got my certification. Here's a web site that offers some info about the ESL test:

http://www.ets.org/praxis/taags/prx0360.html

and a more general site with a lot of links:

http://www.kysu.edu/prostudies/praxis/PRAXISwebsite.html

I have my doubts as to the value of your taking it to " pad your resume "; I don't think it'd mean much, if anything at all, to most overseas employers.
Regards,
John

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I would like yo point out that this is an international forum and not restricted to the USA. Some posters seem to assume that the world of TEFL/TESL is a solely USAnian business. If they really think that, they are blinkered !

I can now anticipate a few salvos from those who seem me as being a godless anti-American.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

You're both right. Now let's move on.

Yes the praxis test would be valuable for finding employment in an international school. However, this is only if you gain a teaching certication. They are very well known exams in American education.

John, I think you are being humble.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2003 1:23 pm Post subject: And mighty proud of it, too

Dear guest of Japan,
Humble?? I?? Why, thank you. It's not often I'm given credit for my modesty ( a quality which, by the way, I'm quite proud of ). But I am a bit puzzled. Just what am I being humble about, anyway?
Regards,
John
P.S. I agree with you that the teaching certification in that specific field coud well make a difference, but since Buck said:

" I only thought of taking it to pad my resume. I don't intend to teach it in the US. "

I assumed he wasn't going to get certified in the ESL area - just take the exam.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Sorry John, you should read his first post again. He said he was going through the process of getting his state certification. In his second post he asked about the validity of tests in international schools (which I take to mean primary and secondary ed.). Hence my advice.

As for your modesty; I was referring to your description of the Praxis exam as "middling." You are obviously an extremely intelligent fella and a lot of the folk who take and pass those exams cannot be described in the same light.

johnslat · Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2003 1:43 pm Post subject: You need to BS to MA

Dear guest of Japan,
Yup, I'd say you're right - apparently he IS going to try to get certified in the ESL conponent, just not use that certification in the States ( although I suppose it could come in handy down the road sometime - you never know where that long and winding trail is going to lead you ). But another thing to be thought about is that his state certification will, I'm pretty sure, lapse after a certain number of years unless he's actually in the States teaching and taking courses. As for the exams, well, I'm a kind of " test junkie "; I love to take the things, especially the kind with essay questions.
I'm NOT modest about my ability to BS with the best of them. ( and boy, did THAT come in handy in grad school ).
Regards,
John