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jgmodlin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006
Posts: 120
Location: USA
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 Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject: U.S. public school ESL teacher - international school job? |
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I was wondering if any certified teachers with ESL endorsements have successfully landed international schools abroad? I came back to the USA after teaching Business English and some high school ALT and got my public school teacher's license. I used my ESL experience to gain an ESL endorsement which I currently use to teach public high school.
I have decided to go back abroad and now worry that my ESL endorsement will not do much good at international schools as they all want endorsements in content areas.
Has anyone made this transition back to teaching abroad with an ESL endorsement? Even if this doesn't apply to you, have you seen anyone fitting this bill working at your international schools? I really want to go back overseas (Asia or M.E.) this upcoming school year.
Just an FYI to any of you thinking about returning to teach ESL as a public school teacher, while rewarding it is incredibly tough. At best most of your students will have little previous education; at worst (as is my case) most will be completely illiterate. I am talking completely illiterate with no recognition of letters. Yep, they gotta go somewhere and right into an ESL classroom is where they go. Decent money, but oh so draining... |
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bdbarnett1
Joined: 27 Apr 2003
Posts: 178
Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:36 pm Post subject: Re: U.S. public school ESL teacher - international school jo |
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| jgmodlin wrote: |
I was wondering if any certified teachers with ESL endorsements have successfully landed international schools abroad? I came back to the USA after teaching Business English and some high school ALT and got my public school teacher's license. I used my ESL experience to gain an ESL endorsement which I currently use to teach public high school.
I have decided to go back abroad and now worry that my ESL endorsement will not do much good at international schools as they all want endorsements in content areas.
Has anyone made this transition back to teaching abroad with an ESL endorsement? Even if this doesn't apply to you, have you seen anyone fitting this bill working at your international schools? I really want to go back overseas (Asia or M.E.) this upcoming school year.
Just an FYI to any of you thinking about returning to teach ESL as a public school teacher, while rewarding it is incredibly tough. At best most of your students will have little previous education; at worst (as is my case) most will be completely illiterate. I am talking completely illiterate with no recognition of letters. Yep, they gotta go somewhere and right into an ESL classroom is where they go. Decent money, but oh so draining... |
There are openings for ESL teachers at various international schools, but they're not as common as content area positions, of course. |
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jgmodlin
Joined: 01 Mar 2006
Posts: 120
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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| How willing are international schools to hire a licensed teacher endorsed in ESL and have that teacher teach another subject such as social studies? Are some countries more lenient when it comes to this? |
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DrVanNostrand
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 70
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:41 pm Post subject: Re: U.S. public school ESL teacher - international school jo |
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| jgmodlin wrote: |
I was wondering if any certified teachers with ESL endorsements have successfully landed international schools abroad? I came back to the USA after teaching Business English and some high school ALT and got my public school teacher's license. I used my ESL experience to gain an ESL endorsement which I currently use to teach public high school.
I have decided to go back abroad and now worry that my ESL endorsement will not do much good at international schools as they all want endorsements in content areas.
Has anyone made this transition back to teaching abroad with an ESL endorsement? Even if this doesn't apply to you, have you seen anyone fitting this bill working at your international schools? I really want to go back overseas (Asia or M.E.) this upcoming school year.
Just an FYI to any of you thinking about returning to teach ESL as a public school teacher, while rewarding it is incredibly tough. At best most of your students will have little previous education; at worst (as is my case) most will be completely illiterate. I am talking completely illiterate with no recognition of letters. Yep, they gotta go somewhere and right into an ESL classroom is where they go. Decent money, but oh so draining... |
If you're a certified teacher, you should qualify to teach ESL/ESOL at an international school. |
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DrVanNostrand
Joined: 28 Mar 2008
Posts: 70
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| jgmodlin wrote: |
| How willing are international schools to hire a licensed teacher endorsed in ESL and have that teacher teach another subject such as social studies? Are some countries more lenient when it comes to this? |
Based my very limited experience with the international school teaching market, I'd say most schools, especially the reputable ones, are unwilling to hire teachers for content areas that they aren't endorsed in -- especially Social Studies, which is competitive enough as it is.
You'd have a much better shot with science or math, but even in those content areas the better schools would require considerable teaching experience. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 10:02 pm Post subject: |
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In Japan, the word on the street is that a license from your home country, plus a couple of years of experience is sufficient to get a job in an international school. If one is young and relatively inexperienced in any job in this world, they shouldn't expect to land a high-paying job in a place with high ranking. Work your way up through the ranks. Too many people think the world owes them a living in EFL/ESL just because they are a native English speaker.
Beware of places that use "international" in the name. It may be a name only, not a real international school.
Scope out the job fairs and ask your questions there. |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
ased my very limited experience with the international school teaching market, I'd say most schools, especially the reputable ones, are unwilling to hire teachers for content areas that they aren't endorsed in -- especially Social Studies, which is competitive enough as it is.
You'd have a much better shot with science or math, but even in those content areas the better schools would require considerable teaching experience. |
I've heard this to be the case in the high$$$ international school markets. Here in Latin America, where even international schools pay less than other places (though still way above what local EFL teachers get), a state teaching certificate from your home country, two years experience, and you're in like Flynn.
best,
Justin |
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natsume
Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 409
Location: Chongqing, China
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| Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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OP, what state are you from? I know in California, once one has their secondary teaching credential, it is fairly easy to earn a second credential in other subject areas. For example, I will most likely get an English secondary credential, but have been advised that after I have that it is simply a matter of taking the relevant state exam (CSET) to earn a credential in a different subject area. (Of course, it is best if you have some background in the subject.) Is this a possibility in your state? What was your undergrad major? Do you have a masters?
Keep in mind that most reputable international schools want two years experience, post-credential, in your home country. I don't know how much they would weigh you having to have done that in a specific content area. I do know some international schools need EFL teachers. Do some research on internationalschoolsreview.com. |
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