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cindymoon
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
Location: San Diego
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 Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:01 pm Post subject: amTEFL for teaching ESL in the states? |
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I'm thinking about taking the amTefl course at my college, but I'm not sure if its right for me because I mostly want to be able to teach ESL or English to foreign students in the United States. I live in San Diego right now. I heard that jobs are available in the private school sector. I know it doesn't pay as much unless you have a master's, but I do have a bachelor's and wouldn't mind getting a little less pay. Just looking for any advice.
Thank you for any help. |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 9:48 pm Post subject: |
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Is your Bachelors in Education? If so, there are many opportunities. If not, you could go through an alternative licensure program while getting your ESL endorsement. Here in Arkansas, teachers can earn their ESL endorsement by taking 12 hours of classes at the graduate level. How this causes them to suddenly become "experts" I don't know. I know a couple of teachers (one teaches Spanish and the other Art) who are having to double as ESL teachers at their schools because the demand exceeds the supply (or maybe the schools haven't reached the critical mass where they have to hire full-time ESL teachers).
I too have only a Bachelors (in Business) and luckily, I fell into my current job of teaching internationl students only because I'm currently going through the MA TESOL program (and maybe my two years of teaching in Asia helped too).
From what I've seen and heard, you may have to work several part-time jobs to make ends meet in order to build up your resume, then you could go after some of the more permanent positions. I don't really know what he market's like in CA, though.
Ever considered going abroad? |
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cindymoon
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:01 am Post subject: esl |
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Hi,
Thanks for your reply. I will have a Bachelor's in English, not Education. I don't know what an alternative licenture program is. The requirement may be different here in California.
What did you take the MA TESOL for? Would that help me if I want to work in the states? I would like to work abroad, but I don't think I want to just yet.
Thanks again,
Cindy |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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cindymoon,
An alternative licensure program allows you to work as a teacher while you take the required courses to become certified. It can take from 1 to 2 years to complete your coursework and exams.
I believe that in order to be admitted into an ALP you must first pass the PRAXIS exam in your field (English) and the PRAXIS III (I think) which is the general knowledge portion (teaching methodology, etc). Do a search and see what you can find. I know many states do offer this, including New York, TN, and NM. (Guys, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong!)
Of course, you'd be limited to teaching English (lit, grammar, etc) until you could get your ESL certification. Then again, some schools in CA might have a program that graduates ESL teachers, don't know much about the west.
I went for the MA TESOL because I want to teach in universities, and for most that's a minimum requirement. Also, it opens a lot more doors if you're going to teach abroad. |
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cindymoon
Joined: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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I'm still a little confused, but I'm piecing things together...Does the MA TESOL just prepare you to teach ESL, or English to foreign speakers, or both, or what? Also, how long does it usually take to complete? Is it a certification, or an actual Master's degree?
I appreciate all your help.
Thanks! |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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| cindymoon wrote: |
| Does the MA TESOL just prepare you to teach ESL, or English to foreign speakers, or both, or what? |
The Master's of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages prepares you to teach both ESL and EFL (stateside or abroad).
| cindymoon wrote: |
| Also, how long does it usually take to complete? Is it a certification, or an actual Master's degree? |
It takes on average two years to complete, if you're not working full-time. It's a *real* Master's degree, so you may be required to take an entrance exam like the GRE or MAT. Also, it doesn't certify you to teach in public schools, but it may enable you to become an ESL coordinator/specialist for a school district. Then again, you could do an alternative licensure once you've earned your MA, in which case you wouldn't have to teach English/Lit, but you could teach ESL. In this case you'd have to take another 15 or more hours to get your teaching cert. At least that's the way it works in Arkansas. It's really a long road to teach ESL in public schools if you didn't do your undergrad in Education or TESOL.
Personally, I'd never be a public school ESL teacher, because the ones I know say they see their students an average of ten minutes per day and their job mostly consists of paperwork. I think universities are the way to go.
Here are the degree requirements for the program I'm in now.
http://lfa.atu.edu/foreign/DegreeReqTESOL.htm |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I went for the MA TESOL because I want to teach in universities, and for most that's a minimum requirement. Also, it opens a lot more doors if you're going to teach abroad. |
Jizzo, is that MA TESOL by distance by any chance? Someone asked me recently about a good distance program...if not, have you come across a good one available online or by distance, preferably US based? |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 668
Location: performing in a classroom near you!
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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Sorry, Guy...
The only online program I know about is Trinity Western University in BC, Canada.
FWIW, here's the website:
http://www.twu.ca/graduate/matesol/
I actually tried to find a good online/distance MA program in the states but was unsuccessful...which is why I'm here now! |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Chido...thanks Jizzo. |
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