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Hobo Stew
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 26
Location: USA
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 Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 3:25 pm Post subject: Intro and Question |
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Hello Everyone!
I've been reading the posts and ads for about a year. I'll pace myself with the questions that couldn't be answered by other forums, but first let me give you an idea of my situation.
I am in an alt program for social studies grades 4-8. We are, depending on who you talk to, suppose to be esl certified. I have a BA that focused on cultural history and eventually may go for a MA in cultural anthro. Prayers said, fingers crossed, and knocking on good wood, I will be fully licensed and esl certified by June. I am more interested in esl teaching, or starting a private tutoring co, if I stay here in the states.** What I really want to do is esl in China or teach in the UK (through Blue Wave Int, most likely). South Korea has recently sounded like a good option too, but I haven't been there yet. I have been to the other areas.
1. With two elementary aged children, what should I expect in relation to job prospects, getting them registered in school, visa issues?
2. With China and Korea, and I will post this in those forums too, where the schools offer housing...will most of them be willing to help with a two bedroom apartment?
3. Will the pay in any location generally be enough to cover all 3 of us? Two of us eat like birds, one bird is picky, the other is easy to please would happily eat skewered bugs...no joke. 
I will be 38 when we start moving and by no means new to traveling, but the kids will be. The oldest, 8, wants the UK for the first move for several reasons (she made a good case for reducing her culture shock). I plan to work here for one year and hope to save at least $10k for the trip.
All advice is appreciated.
**College did not/could not offer an esl class, so we are to take the test on our own. To help me study and increase my esl vol. teaching hours, I am taking a two day course to teach adult esl (more on that later). The church wants to start an esl service project, so there will be several of us volunteer teaching. |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Intro and Question |
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| Hobo Stew wrote: |
Hello Everyone!
I've been reading the posts and ads for about a year. I'll pace myself with the questions that couldn't be answered by other forums, but first let me give you an idea of my situation.
I am in an alt program for social studies grades 4-8. We are, depending on who you talk to, suppose to be esl certified. I have a BA that focused on cultural history and eventually may go for a MA in cultural anthro. Prayers said, fingers crossed, and knocking on good wood, I will be fully licensed and esl certified by June. I am more interested in esl teaching, or starting a private tutoring co, if I stay here in the states.** What I really want to do is esl in China or teach in the UK (through Blue Wave Int, most likely). South Korea has recently sounded like a good option too, but I haven't been there yet. I have been to the other areas.
1. With two elementary aged children, what should I expect in relation to job prospects, getting them registered in school, visa issues?
2. With China and Korea, and I will post this in those forums too, where the schools offer housing...will most of them be willing to help with a two bedroom apartment?
3. Will the pay in any location generally be enough to cover all 3 of us? Two of us eat like birds, one bird is picky, the other is easy to please would happily eat skewered bugs...no joke.
I will be 38 when we start moving and by no means new to traveling, but the kids will be. The oldest, 8, wants the UK for the first move for several reasons (she made a good case for reducing her culture shock). I plan to work here for one year and hope to save at least $10k for the trip.
All advice is appreciated.
**College did not/could not offer an esl class, so we are to take the test on our own. To help me study and increase my esl vol. teaching hours, I am taking a two day course to teach adult esl (more on that later). The church wants to start an esl service project, so there will be several of us volunteer teaching. |
Since you've been reading posts here for a while, I'm sure you're well aware of what is considered the minimum standard for TEFL certification. If you're set on teaching children, that's another qualification (since CELTA, Trinity, SIT, and the generics are geared toward teaching adults; though some of them also provide a separate certificate in teaching English to young learners). As far as getting certified to teach ESL in the government indoctrination centers (public schools) in the US, each state has its own requirements - check with your state Department of Education. Having that particular certification is far superior to anything you can get out of CELTA, Trinity, SIT, etc. and will open doors to schools you would be otherwise unable to be considered for, e.g. international schools (schools using the IBO curriculum or using American, Brit or Aussie curricula). |
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Hobo Stew
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 26
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:48 pm Post subject: Thank You! |
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[/quote]As far as getting certified to teach ESL in the government indoctrination centers (public schools) in the US, each state has its own requirements - check with your state Department of Education. Having that particular certification is far superior to anything you can get out of CELTA, Trinity, SIT, etc. and will open doors to schools you would be otherwise unable to be considered for, e.g. international schools (schools using the IBO curriculum or using American, Brit or Aussie curricula).
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Thank you, the value of a state esl is what I was wondering about. It is wonderful news.
Will taking the national teaching exam also be helpful, or a waste of money and time? One of my profs said state exams are more valuable in the US (odd since you can't transfer all state certs to other states). I didn't even know a national exam existed until this year. Do other countries see a difference between the two? |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject: Re: Thank You! |
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| Hobo Stew wrote: |
| Chancellor wrote: |
| As far as getting certified to teach ESL in the government indoctrination centers (public schools) in the US, each state has its own requirements - check with your state Department of Education. Having that particular certification is far superior to anything you can get out of CELTA, Trinity, SIT, etc. and will open doors to schools you would be otherwise unable to be considered for, e.g. international schools (schools using the IBO curriculum or using American, Brit or Aussie curricula). |
Thank you, the value of a state esl is what I was wondering about. It is wonderful news.
Will taking the national teaching exam also be helpful, or a waste of money and time? One of my profs said state exams are more valuable in the US (odd since you can't transfer all state certs to other states). I didn't even know a national exam existed until this year. Do other countries see a difference between the two? |
That national exam might be good to have but not all school districts are likely to be familiar with it; so, you might have to bring them up to speed. A national exam might also be a good thing to have in those states that require certain teachers (e.g. ESL, special education) to be "highly qualified" (which is beyond the qualifications of general education teachers). |
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Hobo Stew
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 26
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject: Thank you again |
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Thank you again Chancellor. It sounds as though I'm on the right path. Thanks to Dave too, for having such a great website.
Does anyone have experience working overseas as a parent of small children? |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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Hobo Stew
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 26
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject: Clearer than mud |
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Aahhh! That makes a lot more sense. Hey, I'm new to this - so to me, even though I know Praxis is a test, I keep wanting to think of it as some new drug  Anyway, knowing that Praxis is the national test helps me understand some of the older posts better. Not much was mentioned about it in class. Clearer than mud now. Chancellor to the rescue again! |
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ssjup81
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
Posts: 664
Location: Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 2:50 am Post subject: Re: Clearer than mud |
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| Hobo Stew wrote: |
| Aahhh! That makes a lot more sense. Hey, I'm new to this - so to me, even though I know Praxis is a test, I keep wanting to think of it as some new drug Anyway, knowing that Praxis is the national test helps me understand some of the older posts better. Not much was mentioned about it in class. Clearer than mud now. Chancellor to the rescue again! |
I'm working on the Praxis I exam, as it's a requirement here if you want to enter a licensure program. The main thing that seems to vary by state are the actual scores. I passed the reading and writing sections, but failed the math by 11 points and didn't score high enough in the other two sections to make up for the math. >< |
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Hobo Stew
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 26
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 3:30 am Post subject: Your Subject? |
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| What's your subject SS? |
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ssjup81
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
Posts: 664
Location: Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:19 am Post subject: Re: Your Subject? |
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| Hobo Stew wrote: |
| What's your subject SS? |
I'm trying to get my license in Elementary School teaching (Pre-K - 6). I'm not ready to go for a graduate degree yet and just want to focus on that for now, so I want to do a licensure only program as opposed to licensure + Masters. I also need to take some more classes (mostly math and science courses). I need three more laboratory sciences and two more math courses. That's going to take some time. Sucks that I have to, though. Most of the math and science courses I took at my old Community College many years ago. I pretty much slacked back then since I didn't even want to be there, so the grades weren't high enough (C or higher...C- doesn't count lol). My strong points have always been Arts, Humanities, History, and English. Math and Science, not so much. Glad I managed to have one of the math courses count...my Pre-Calc class. I barely made a C in that.
If I get into JET or an eikaiwa, I might just do distance learning courses while in Japan if possible to help speed it along. Ironic if I change my mind down the road and just go on and try to go for my Masters.
As for ESL, that's something else I've been interested in in a general sense and doing the volunteer work has really enhanced that interest. I wouldn't mind getting into that. |
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Hobo Stew
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 26
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:00 am Post subject: similar boat |
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What are "JET" and "eikaiwa?"
We are in a similar boat. I want a masters, but the timing isn't right. That's why I went into this program. I had to take one class to meet my minimums for a middle school license. They wanted me to do ELAR (english, language, and reading), but it may have meant more minimums and I didn't enjoy those as a kid.
While taking your minimums, do your best to get As, so that it will improve your gpa for grad school. Mine barely sits at a 3.0. Not enough for a one-year European masters and barely making, or missing, the entrance requirements for one of the 2-3 year grad programs over here.
After I have finished the alt certification, I may take a few night classes while working to go ahead and meet my grad school minimums and (hopefully) bump up my gpa even more.
Once you have your PPR exam and Content exam passed, try taking the content exams for other subjects you are interested in. I am going to try the general science or biology exam. You don't have to meet any minimums in Texas once you pass the first two tests. Each test costs about $125+. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| 3. Will the pay in any location generally be enough to cover all 3 of us? Two of us eat like birds, one bird is picky, the other is easy to please would happily eat skewered bugs...no joke. Wink |
In many cases not likely. In Korea they usually already have the apartment rented and have paid a big deposit. Usually they rent the same apartment for several years. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:34 am Post subject: |
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What are "JET" and "eikaiwa?" |
JET is a program that places native English speakers in Japanese public schools. The pay is around 300,000 Yuan. |
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Hobo Stew
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 26
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:40 am Post subject: Thanks |
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Thanks JZer. I will definitely need to take extra money then, and maybe buy a futon or something the kids can share.
What countries have you taught in and which do you prefer for newbies? |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 1:52 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Thanks JZer. I will definitely need to take extra money then, and maybe buy a futon or something the kids can share.
What countries have you taught in and which do you prefer for newbies? |
I would recommend that you attend an international job fair and try to get a job at an international school. Your salary would be $3000 to $4000 US a month.
If you teach ESL in a language school you will earn a lot less.
You could also apply to the NET program in Hong Kong. They give you a stipend for your housing. Then you rent your own apartment. |
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