Job Discussion Forums

[ocha]

Hello everyone,

I just finished teaching english overseas and have now returned to the US to start on the next phase of my life. I really want to go to grad school and go into an education related field. I absolutely loved my TEFL job, of course there were some negatives, but overall the teaching and most of my job duties were very enjoyable.
I am considering a few different routes as far as further education goes.

1- an MA in International Education. This seems like the best fit. I am very interested in pursuing a career in university study abroad, international student advising, etc. I can combine my interests in education and international studies. The coursework seems interesting, and I have read the profiles of students in the degree program I am interested in, and they have similar backgrounds to me.

2- a teaching credential/MAT. I think I could also be happy with a teaching credential. I enjoy teaching, I could do it anywhere, and there is a university close by that has a combined credential and masters degree option.

3- I have also considered an MA TESOL. I could get a credential at the same time to increase my job prospects in the US.

Just wondering if anyone else out there has gone any of these routes. I just don't want to end up in an office job the rest of my life, and want to do something enjoyable and hopefully have some mobility. Teaching seems like an excellent option since there are international schools everywhere. I would love to teach abroad again...

[comenius]

A MA TESOL combined with a state ESL teaching credential can open up a lot of doors overseas in the K-12/international school market. If you're more interested in adult learners, than the MA TESOL may be all you need to take the "next step," although a CELTA is another less expensive/less time consuming alternative if you don't want to make the financial/time committment to a MA program.

I went the MA TESOL path some years back, and while I'm not actively teaching anymore, it did enable me to get considerably better jobs at the time than without it. It's also a degree you keep with you for life once you've earned it, so if you ever want to take some time off you could do so and return to teaching with it. It's been about 8 years since I last taught English full time, yet I've put out a few resumes to schools just recently and have gotten a favorable response.

As with all things, at the end of the day whatever you choose will end up being the "right" decision, as you'll undoubtably make it that way. Getting further education in a field that interests you is a great investment in yourself, as well as the side benefits of qualifying you for work opportunities that might be closed without it.

Just my thoughts!

[denise]

I did an MATESOL, but neglected to get that K-12 certification... I�ve had two great jobs in universities since I finished grad school, but both overseas. Make sure to get that credential if you want to work in the US! An MA will help you with university jobs, but in the US an MA is in many cases the basic, entry-level requirement, so having that credential will just give you that many more options (public schools, with salaries, benefits, and job security, compared to part-time, hourly work with no benefits).

d