Job Discussion Forums

[Threnody]

Hello! After perusing quite a few of the threads around here (which have proven very helpful), I thought I'd post asking for some advice about my situation.

My background
* 24, female, U.S. citizen, native speaker of English
* B.A. in East Asian Studies (Linguistics minor) - decent but not outstanding GPA
* Taught English at an eikaiwa in Japan for a year and volunteered senior year at my university's ESL center. Other than that, just some for-profit private lessons in basic/intermediate Japanese.
* Studied five foreign languages for at least four years apiece, though this is not of primary relevance.
* Currently working bilingual tech support at my local ISP.

Why ESL?
After a great deal of reflection, I think TESOL is the career for me. It's marketable, challenging, fun, and involves areas of study I've enjoyed all my life (foreign language acquisition, English language, and linguistics). It also matches near-perfectly with the peripatetic, internationally-minded lifestyle I prefer.

What I want to do with myself
I obviously need further education before I can expect to progress as an instructor of English. Right now I want to do -something- toward that goal, then find a job. Eventually I'd like to get an M.A. (if I don't now) and find a position enabling me to modestly support a small family, wherever I end up.

What I am not sure about
At this point my choice is between a general certification (probably CELTA), a pregraduate university-based certification (e.g. Pittsburgh, Columbia, etc.), or a master's degree.
I think it might be wisest to get a "lesser" cert, spend a few more years earning money/experience/references, and do my master's later. True?

From my research here and elsewhere, it seems the CELTA has professional cachet equal to or greater than than the university-based cert programs, even if it isn't always as involved. Would there be much of a gap in the quality of jobs available to a CELTA holder and those open to holders of university certs?

Another thing: I'm not sure whether I prefer teaching adults or children. How necessary is it to choose one way or the other? I really enjoy both equally, though for different reasons, and many programs ask one to express a preference.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Glenski]

Many answers depend on where you want to go.

[Threnody]

[denise]

CELTA & other certificates are good entry-level qualifications, for people with little to no experience who aren't really sure how long they want do teach. It sounds like you're fairly sure of yourself--at least of your wish to teach--so I'd say you're already a good candidate for MA programs. I wouldn't recommend an MA to someone who wasn't if sure he/she would be interested in making a career of it--in such a case, I'd go with your suggested plan of a certificate/a few years of experience/an MA.

I'm not sure what you meant when you said that most programs ask you to state an age preference. What programs? Certification programs? I don't remember that at all...

As far as jobs in the US, you'd need either an MA or a K-12 teaching credential to get anything decent--and even then it can be hard to piece together a full-time schedule and make a living. CELTAs and other four-week certificates aren't worth much in the US.

d

[Threnody]

Thanks a lot for your response, Denise.

[Glenski]

[denise]

When I went back for my MA, I had two years of experience. That seemed to be a good average--there were some people with a bit more, and some with none (coming either straight out of undergrad or from different careers). I think your application would look fine with a year-ish of experience.

The job assistance services that are offered by certificate courses can range from giving you contacts and phone numbers to bringing in language schools to set up interviews to offering you employment (not enough for a full-time load) in their own program after the course. Yes, it can be helpful, but if you're in-country you can also fairly easily set up interviews on your own.

d

[Chris_Crossley]

[Threnody]

Thanks for the responses!

denise

[fluffyhamster]

To teach any languages other than English with Berlitz in Japan (or indeed with any other language-teaching school, anywhere), it's highly likely that you'd need to be a native speaker of those languages (it's what customers prefer), and there is likely no shortage of such native speakers.

[Chris_Crossley]