Job Discussion Forums

Gingerlemon · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

I'm sorry if my questions have been answered before, I've tried searching the forums but can't find the info I'm looking for.

I'd like to teach overseas, right now I'm thinking Shanghai or Beijing but I'm open to other parts of China and Asia as well. I'm from the US, have a BA and a MA in elementary ed and certification with 2 years of classroom experience. I have absolutley no ESL background. Am I qualified to teach at an International or American school, or do I have to start at a 'language factory'. What other options are there? I'm not necessarily opposed to a language factory, it just seems like there is more opportunity to be scammed somehow.

Also, if I want to get some sort of ESL type certificate what is the best way to go about that? Do I need one? Should I get one in the US before I start applying? Should I go to one of those month long Prague programs? Can I get one in China once I get there? What is the difference between CELTA, TOEFL, TESL etc?? Will any of these be beneficial to me if I decide to come back to the US and teach in a few years? I'll stop asking questions now, though I have a million more!!

Thank you!!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I would look into working in an int'l school, if I were you. Search for ISS, they are an int'l school recruiter. Usually they ask for 3 years of teaching experience, but I'm sure you will find something.

Cdaniels

Not only should you be fine without a certificate, I would definitely recommend against it, particularly the CELTA. The CELTA is designed for teaching adult students and you may find what they propose contradicts your classroom experience, and probably past training. You might want to try an "immersive" language class (Mandarin or Cantonese?) if you've never taken one before, to get a feeling for it.
I'm pretty sure none of the certificates will be of much help in the US. If you are really determined to try a cert, you can always do it later, after earning a few paychecks.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Gingerlemon · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Cdaniels · Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 3:27 am Post subject: Re: What am I qualified to do?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

More good reading.
http://www.eltnews.com/features/special/015a.shtml
"A look at professionalism in private language schools in Japan."

Jizzo T. Clown · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 8:59 pm Post subject:

Hmm...It seems like if one has a Master's Degree in TESOL then Intl. Schools would be an option. Confused

After all, if an MA can work in a university (at home or abroad), why not an International School? Are there any exceptions to the teaching licensure requirement?

And what about the DOD?

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

You're probably good to go at an International school or an American school. There you go.

Those jobs are a little hard to get, though. If you want to work in a Language Mill, then a TEFL certificate might not be a bad idea. Teaching ESL is a LOT different from what you are used to. It's fun and kind of cool, but it's different.
For one, do NOT go with the JET program, unless you don't care what you do for your paycheck. You will not be the teacher. You will be the token foreign face for the students. You will be there to demonstrate proper pronunciation for the students and so on.
I'll admit that I haven't done the JET, but I have a bunch of friends who have, and that is what they report. I mention it just as a heads-up. If anyone on the JET program wants to contradict me here, I will back down immediately. But that is what I've heard from a LOT of sources. It's good fun if you're not a teacher and don't know what to expect out of BEING a teacher. But if you DO know how to manage a classroom, the JET program can be a VERY frustrating job.
Language mills, on the other hand, can be fun, if you get into the right one. Your qualifications would EASILY get you a job in China as you are now. But a TEFL certificate might make it a lot easier. I have one teacher on staff (I'm a director of studies at a popular language mill in China) who is a 60-year-old PGCE holder (that's a teaching certificate for British schools). He did a CELTA course and was just charmed no end. He said it was tough, but a lot of fun.
It says a lot t me that a CELTA course would be tough for a veteran teacher like this guy.
It's a different type of teaching. Mind you, I have another teacher who is an experienced businessman with some corporate training and no TEFL certification, and it didn't take him too long to get the hang of it, but he's still not brilliant at it. The TEFL certificate course helps you to have realistic goals and expectations for the students. It's easy to lose sight of the fact that they are not STUPID just because they don't know English. That seems obvious, but for a new teacher, that's something that takes some reminding. Because in America or Britain or any other English-speaking country, a person's use of English actually IS used as a yardstick for how intelligent they are. You can't do that in ESL. This is why I think a TEFL certificate course is important. It's training for a very specific type of teaching, but it's cultural understanding training as well.
If you want to go to China, here is a TEFL certificate course that's good world-wide, but it's geared specifically for China, and I can vouch for the quality of their training (I haven't seen their site, but I've worked with their graduates):
http://www.boland-china.com/main.html
There's one near Dalian and another near Shanghai. So there you go. God luck.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home