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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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 Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Valaki,
But have you lived in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia?
Regards,
John |
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sauditeacher
Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 12:20 am Post subject: |
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| Valaki wrote: |
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have heard of some urban schools that are so desperate to get teachers that they have brought in foreigners. They are in neighborhoods where Americans are afraid to teach... for good reason.
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In the land of the second amendment? Sign me up.... |
Valaki,
If you wish to teach public school in the US, and have at least a 1st degree but do not have the req'd US State (or your nation's) certification to teach public school, there is the ACP (Alternative Certification Program) option. Details of one ACP (of many nationwide) here: http://www.texasteachers.org/
And as per the above, some of the more-desperate school districts will hire and sponsor foreigners (for US visa purposes) but only for some teaching areas/specialties. eg. check out http://www.aliefisd.net
One option, post certification (& NB: the above ACP leads to certification after only 1 year; others may take 2 years) is to head overseas to teach with international schools, that often (usually?) offer significantly better packages than ESL employers. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:18 am Post subject: |
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Mr Valaki and I have been discussing this option by PM. Most of the large urban area have these programs to try to get teachers in the more dangerous school districts.
Since he isn't certified to teach in his home country, he wouldn't be eligible for the higher paying International Schools. Again he would only be able to get the lower pay/conditions schools.
VS |
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sauditeacher
Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 44
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
...Since he isn't certified to teach in his home country, he wouldn't be eligible for the higher paying International Schools. Again he would only be able to get the lower pay/conditions schools. VS |
Ms VS, I am a tad confused by the above. Please tell me if the following differs from your understanding.
Once Mr Valaki obtains certification (Texas or other US state) he would be eligible to teach for the higher paying Int'l Schools overseas, true? i.e. he would not need to be certified to teach in his (European) home country to be eligible to teach for the higher paying Int'l Schools.
And incidentally, I have seen ads encouraging US-certified public school teachers to teach in the UK. So it would appear that he could, once US certified, also teach in the UK; and perhaps also in his homeland?
NB: Caveat emptor: some jurisdictions - eg. Canada's Yukon, next door to Alaska - will accept foreign certification, but only if it meets stated minimum standards. I suspect that some of the easier ACP programs may not satisfy such requirements. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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We're just mixing up two options.  Right now he isn't eligible for the best International Schools because he has no certification in any country.
Of course, if he joined one of the rush programs in the US, he would then have a US cert/license. I suspect that one must teach a few years to fulfill program requirements. (they would be foolish to make it a revolving door program where teachers just use it to get licensed in a year and pop off)
After that time, of course he would be eligible for the better overseas jobs because they also want to see a few years of experience... not just one or two years in most cases.
VS |
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Valaki
Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:26 am Post subject: |
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Dear Valaki,
But have you lived in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia?
Regards,
John
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No I haven't, I see your point. |
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Valaki
Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 11:34 am Post subject: |
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@VS and sauditeacher
Thanks guys, will look into these options.
| Quote: |
And as per the above, some of the more-desperate school districts will hire and sponsor foreigners (for US visa purposes) but only for some teaching areas/specialties. eg. check out http://www.aliefisd.net
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Actually, just so you know, my paperwork situation is that I still have an old but valid green card but my reentry permit has expired.
If I wanted to explore US opportunities, I would have to apply to get back in at the embassy here, which could result in simply getting rejected and loosing the card.
Maybe I would have a good chance to succeed if I was already accepted onto one of these ACP programs. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Valaki wrote: |
| Maybe I would have a good chance to succeed if I was already accepted onto one of these ACP programs. |
My knowledge of the US green card rules is very limited, but that idea makes sense. I suspect that this is a question that one of these agencies would probably know the answer to...
I have seen many ads for these jobs on the jobs page. There is one up now for DC Teaching Fellows (some really scary neighborhoods in DC). But the website says US Citizens or Legal Residents. So, you would need to have your visa situation settled first and have moved there already it seems.
VS |
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Valaki
Joined: 17 Aug 2010
Posts: 85
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Just something else I thought of right now. What would my subject area be in a US public school? I mean, I could teach ESL but teaching English literature as a non-native speaker... is that conceivable at all?! |
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TeresaLopez
Joined: 18 Apr 2010
Posts: 601
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| It depends on what grade you want to teach. in the elementary grades you teach everything thing. Also, to add to the information VS provided, in many states you are initially issued a liscense to teacher for a certain number of years. To renew that certification you must teach during that period, or you must take additional coursework to renew. Another school district that recruits teachers from outside the US is Milwaukee, WI. I taught there for 5 years, and while there are some scary schools, they aren't as scary as Chicago, or Washington DC. In order to apply to their program you must be fluent in English and have a 4 year degree from your home country. The date to apply for this year has already passed, though. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Valaki wrote: |
| Just something else I thought of right now. What would my subject area be in a US public school? I mean, I could teach ESL but teaching English literature as a non-native speaker... is that conceivable at all?! |
That same question occurred to me since I posted. And, I don't know the answer. I do know that there are a superfluous number of both English majors and ESL teachers in this country. Most school districts have their greatest need in science and/or math.
You may want to check out the Milwaukee idea...
VS |
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EnglishDoYouSpeakIt
Joined: 19 May 2009
Posts: 151
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| cmp45 wrote: |
I wouldn't recommend Saudi Arabia to any 20 something person with or without ESL experience. However, if said person is gung -ho on going then by all means go...most institutes base one's salary on the number of previous years experience. Add that to the fact KSA is not an ideal place for a young teacher....you would know what I am tallking about, if you had spent anytime there. |
I'm a twenty something guy whose first abroad teaching job was in Saudi Arabia and I had a wonderful time. Without an iqama. For a new teacher if you can get a job here I'd say take it. Even without an iqama, it's a great place to accrue experience. You can rent a car AND send money home to your bank without an iqama. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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Dear EnglishDoYouSpeakIt,
"I'm a twenty something guy whose first abroad teaching job was in Saudi Arabia and I had a wonderful time. Without an iqama. For a new teacher if you can get a job here I'd say take it. Even without an iqama, it's a great place to accrue experience. You can rent a car AND send money home to your bank without an iqama."
Since you're apparently no longer there, it might help other (unusual) "twenty-somethings" if you could post where you worked (and for how long,) and how you managed to rent a car and send money home without an iqama.
I'm sure such info would be much appreciated.
Regards,
John |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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What?!? And give up the fantasy???
NCTBA |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2010 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| johnslat wrote: |
Dear EnglishDoYouSpeakIt,
"I'm a twenty something guy whose first abroad teaching job was in Saudi Arabia and I had a wonderful time. Without an iqama. For a new teacher if you can get a job here I'd say take it. Even without an iqama, it's a great place to accrue experience. You can rent a car AND send money home to your bank without an iqama."
Since you're apparently no longer there, it might help other (unusual) "twenty-somethings" if you could post where you worked (and for how long,) and how you managed to rent a car and send money home without an iqama.
I'm sure such info would be much appreciated.
Regards,
John |
Generally speaking...however am glad you had a positive time during your first experience in KSA while in your 20s...like John suggested...it would be beneficial to others in a similar situation, if you could cough up some details on how you managed your work/ personal life without an iqama. |
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