Job Discussion Forums

[guest of Japan]

Naturegirl, if you already have a masters degree then a certificate will not be necessary at all. Some employers look upon a teaching credential favorably, but a masters degree will open the same doors. This is not the case in elementary education. Elementary education jobs often advertise for a teaching certificate.

As a foreigner you will probably be relegated to an assistant teacher position. I can't speak directly for China.

The big advantage I see in getting certified is that you will actually have the knowledge of psychology and educational theory to help you be a better teacher. This forum is full of professional hard working teachers, whom I'm sure do a wonderful job in the classroom. But, not once have I read a discussion concerning brain based learning, Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, heirarchy of needs, moral development, or cognitive development. You will not often hear these things spoken of by professional teachers in you home country either, but I garuantee that the good teachers are well versed in these ideas and theories.

Strangely this thread is making me homesick.