Job Discussion Forums

[allusive123]

Hi. I have zero teaching experience, but am a working journalist with an MA and a liberal arts degree (BA: English Lit). Do you think I need certification? Would I find it helpful?

Also, if i happen to want a job helping more advanced students out with their writing etc., where might i begin looking for this kind of position? Are there any specific agencies you might recommend?

Would really love to hear your thoughts! I haven't officially started my search just yet, but am open to anything in South America/South East Asia/Japan. (I've really narrowed it down, as you can tell..) Thanks!

[spiral78]

Yes, you most definitely need a good certification course, for practical reasons, though you might land jobs in some locations without one, with your quals.

Knowing about the langugage doesn't necessarily make the leap to being able to effectively create a teaching/learning situation. A couple of the LEAST successful teachers I've ever worked with held MAs in English, but had no training as teachers and were absolutely unable to communicate with students.

As for focusing primarily on writing, I've personally found that only in university settings. I can't speak for the destinations you've mentioned, but the general trend is that English positions at universities go to those with advanced degrees in closely related fields (MA TESL/TEFL or Applied Linguistics, primarily). The competition for the relatively few such jobs around is pretty fierce, and there are a growing number of experienced teachers with the above advanced quals to compete with.

[Glenski]

Re: Japan

zero experience and a degree unrelated to teaching EFL

Well, what are your goals long-term? If they include TEFL, then the answer should be obvious: get the certification.

If they don't, then what kind of time period are you predicting for work as a teacher of EFL? Entry level work (which is all you are qualified for here) doesn't require certification of any kind, but the market in Japan is flooded, so perhaps a cert would give you the edge on the next competitor.

Just how confident do you feel in a classroom teaching English? Not much? Then get the cert for yourself.

I wouldn't concern myself with any "more advanced students" in Japan in terms of writing.