Job Discussion Forums

[East Coast Girl]

Hi Everyone,

I taught in Mexico back in 2000-2001. I will most likely be returning in the future. If you have a Masters in Education with an endorsement in ESL (for K-12)would that put you in the running for a teaching job at a university? When I lived there last a BA was fine for a language school job. I am a bit out of touch with current requirements especially if you have an endorsement and not a certificate.

Thanks so much!

[eclectic]

From what I is hearin', you need a visa too. Degrees and certs are just the half of it, girl. Tho many are teaching without a visa. When I was in Puebla last month, my next door neighbor, a young lady from Connecticut, had a sign up in her front window and just taught free-lance without an independent visa or what's-ever's-they-call-it's, and said she's been doing that for 1 year now without any problems.

[East Coast Girl]

Thank you for your response. Actually my question is not regarding a visa, but if an endorsement (which is what one needs to teach ESL in the k-12 US system usually and you have to take 18-24 credits and a practicum) would be considered as an acceptable substitute for a graduate certificate in TEFL or TESOL?

[MikeySaid]

[MELEE]

It totally depends on the schools you apply to.
What age group where you thinking of teaching? Are you set on universities? Some private K-12 schools in Mexico pay as much as most university jobs.
Private primary, middle and high schools would probably love you, they often want people with a teaching license rather than a TEFL certification. Language schools and universities, might not know what to make of it. There is a good chance they don't know what sort of courses it envolved, hour many hours of course work it was, and if you had any observed practicum, so be sure to include that information in your cover letter.

Also some universities might be wary because they might think you only know how to teach kids. I personally think that anyone who can teach kids will have no problem with young adults, but it doesn't go both ways, so often people who have only ever taught young adults, can't imagine how they would go about teaching kids. So those people might not see how a K-12 endorsment would enable you to teach adults.

Why not send out your resume and see what kind of responses you get? Don't forget if you don't hear anything, or hear "no thanks" you can always right a polite letter asking what you can do to make yourself a stronger candidate in the future. That way you will see if they mention the lack of TEFL certificate.

[East Coast Girl]

Thanks everyone for your responses. Navigating different systems can be tricky so all the information I can get helps.