Job Discussion Forums

tillymd · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 114

Hey All,

It all started a month ago when I checked Daves's ESL job board, something I do about ten times a year since leaving Japan, and there it was, the teachaway ad offering an attractive package to teach in the ME. Already having taught in the other two lucrative countries, Korea and Japan, I innocently posted some questions about the requirements, albeit with a slightly sarcastic tone, and was immediately told NO! NO! NO!

Not without a Masters degree, Masters degree, Masters degree, echo, echo, echo. Since then, I've followed others asking the same question, with the same answer. Experience and "being the right kind of person" are pretty much out the window. That sucks, but in the end what can you do.

I haven't given up completely, I'm still learning. Most recently I've been watching free internet videos like PBS frontline: House of Saud, which was very educational. Not sure what to do from here. Maybe I should take a poll.

Thanks, Tillymd

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Apparently you misread the threads. Teachaway is not looking for MAs. What they are looking for is people with experience in K-12 with a teaching certificate from their home countries.

If you want a good university job outside of Saudi, you really need an MA.

VS

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:32 am Post subject:

Echo dat! It's good that it's getting through to "professionals" that, "If you're for real, you'll do the Masters". The BA is O.K., the the MA or M. Ed. is for people who are serious about education...not the hangers-ons... Oh, and when I say "MA or M. Ed.s", I'm speaking to the relevant ones...

NCTBA

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

Yeah, I saw that ad $70,000 for a BA and Teaching Certificate, not bad.
Depending on what you want one good option if you already have a BA and you are living your home country would be to get a job as a teachers assistant and work on getting certified in your free time. In the states it's possible to get certified through a 2 month intensive summer course,
This might be a faster way to the big bucks, then after a couple years teaching $70,000 you can afford to stay home and get an on campus Masters Degree.

Noor · Joined: 06 May 2009 Posts: 152

ESL Hobo · Joined: 23 Oct 2008 Posts: 262

From what I have read, lots of them offer a summer course in getting certified, it might be 2 or 3 months but still it's very intense, you would not able to work while doing it, not even part time. I have seen these offered over and over again here on Dave's ESL Cafe. Let's see Texas, Vermont, Tennessee, New York, etc. Many states are desperate for Certified teachers. Perhaps I am missing something, Maybe those are just to get you started and accepted into a school then continue working on it while teaching. I'll have to check that out again.

tillymd · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 114

Hello again,

You people and your stinking *@&@#* degrees, oops, did I say that out loud! I am under the influence of three cups of coffee. Shocked

The conundrum is; you need $ to get a MA of Ed, cannot save money in home country to pay for it. Evil or Very Mad

There is no question of whether at some point a MA of Ed is in my future, the problem is, it will be a Ma of Education in BIOLOGY. My educational background is all science, plus, I need to be able to teach in my home country after I have had enough camel milk. Cool

Conclusion, getting a MA of Ed Biology, and a state certification will not help my prospects of teaching ESL in the ME at this time.

And remember "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker"- Willy Wonka

Thanks, Tillymd

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I'm thinking that it might depend on what you majored in. I will admit to not researching it at all, but I *heard* from a friend that you needed to have a BA in primary or secondary education... or... a math or science major since that seems a major shortage area. (I forget which state she was looking into)

There are many women here who majored in education, but never worked in it. The offices of Washington DC were full of education majors working as secretaries, bookkeepers, etc. They had never bothered with certification. This program would work for them. Many school districts like NYC and LA import teachers from overseas who have the education credentials from their home country, but this gives them state requirements for the certificate.

VS

(PS... Hi Tilly... you beat me to the posting. Are you a certified science teacher? Why can't you get certified? Why would you need an MA? You don't need it for the Teachaway jobs or for the also very good jobs at the highest level of international schools around the world - the ones where the embassy kids attend.)

tillymd · Joined: 07 Apr 2009 Posts: 114

Hi VS,

Unfortunately, I'm not a certified science teacher, just a lowly BA, with six years esl experience, trying to find a way to sneak into the ME ESL job market without the MA . Crying or Very sad

I know, I know, the only jobs available for people like me are in the undesirable schools. The funny thing is, all those years in Japan, I thought my Berlitz job was considered a good job.

Tillymd

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Ah Tilly... a good job has always been in the eye of the beholder. And ofttimes it require a lack of knowledge of the possibilities. Laughing

If I were you, I would do some research on the programs that ESL hobo was referring to. It would be great if you could get yourself certified in science education - in a summer semester. It would make you very employable at home and abroad. (a friend of mine who had taught in ESL for years and years had to do a course like this to be certified to teach ESL in the schools in the US) Check into the idea in the state where you got your BA. A relatively small investment in time and money (compared to getting an MA) could possibly open some doors for you. I hear that there is a great need for science teachers around the country.

VS