Job Discussion Forums

[bluetortilla]

I hope someone can help.

I've been in EFL for over 20 years, all in Japan. When I look at my resume, (at the risk of boring you), I see:

- I've been a teacher trainer for 15 years
- I've owned an English school for 10, where I did everything under the sun, including all of the administrative work
- I was the Director of English Studies at a public elementary school for four years and trained teachers there (NOT an assistant language teacher)
- I assisted a colleague in building her own school. We went from 30 students to 200 in three years.
- I have been head teacher at two English schools.
- I've been to millions of seminars and workshops, and have read arm loads of books
- I'm fluent in spoken and written Japanese and have worked as a translator

But

- I still don't have an MA
- I don't even a little certificate like CELTA (which is a scam as far as I can tell, pardon my saying so)

My dream is to get my MA, then a PhD, and hopefully settle down into a university, none of this happening in Japan but someplace TROPICAL! In any case, I really don't want or deserve an entry level job somewhere that merely requires a BA (even though that's all I have if you strip away my experience). My resume seems to be shouting "Director!"

I have been very independent up to now (I eat bread crumbs, but at least I buy them from the tuition of private students) and really don't where to go for a job. Do you think I stand a chance of getting in -somewhere- in a college from which I can start a distance MA while teaching? How about International schools? I did just apply to the British Council for a job in East Malaysia as Teacher Mentor for public school teachers. That seemed great.

And ideas most welcome!

[Sashadroogie]

Sorry, don't have any suggestions for you. But am curious why you'd regard the CELTA as a scam. Not in argument mode, by the way. Other posters have expressed similar doubts. Am just curious.

[bluetortilla]

I shouldn't be so quick to say that. Lots of other people told me that.

Any reasonable teacher knows that there is little you can learn in a month regards methodology anyway. CELTA requires you to use their (activity based learning) method and that method only. That method (methods are a dime a dozen- I could design several tomorrow out of my hat) like any other patented 'method' is just a fusion from various approaches derived from our general body of theory on language acquisition. Do that, develop parameters, slap an acronym on it, and you got a method.

So why did CELTA (along with Trinity I guess) get to be THE ONE recognized qualification to teach English in so many countries? Some would purport that money is exchanging hands, that whatever powers that be are in cahoots, and at around $1500, CELTA is not cheap. If it were stretched out into an MA equivalent, it would be like paying $30,000.

I don't object at all to schools wanting some sort of qualification, and CELTA is fine for that. But so are lots of other programs too. The thing that bothers me is that I already have 20 years of experience. What the heck do I need with a CELTA? I've already trained teachers in methodology. Why isn't there a CELTA waiver for teachers with over two years experience? The fact that EVERYBODY (without an MA) needs to have it is unfair and suspicious. That's my position, not that CELTA itself is 'bad.'

[spiral78]

A CELTA or equivalent course (there are many which are recognised) are useful entry-level certs. As you note, they are intended to give trainees at least one basic, useful approach to use to language teaching. Those of us who have worked in the field for some time have usually learned and developed a wider (much wider, in some cases) range of tools we can use.

Having worked in the field for nearly 14 years, I can say that CELTA certainly isn't a scam, though it should be viewed as an entry-level cert. A potential candidate with a CELTA or equivalent versus one with nothing is certainly a stronger candidate.

I'd also note that job candidates with experience but no formal training are not always, in fact, teaching well. I've seen a number of experienced teachers struggle and sometimes fail when placed into situations where their performance needs to meet standards and expectations. Having taught for years in a situation where no standards have been applied isn't a guarantee of quality!!

In your case, I think a DELTA might be a reasonable middle step. I haven't got one, so there will be others around here with a better perspective. However, I have worked with a number of MA holders who also went for DELTA qualifications. They indicate that the DELTA is quite challenging even for experienced teachers. It gives credibility to one's CV for DOS positions, for certain, and some universities give it some points towards an MA later on.

[tttompatz]

[KayuJati]

[Sublime]

What happened with the language school?

[choudoufu]

[bluetortilla]

[bluetortilla]

To tttom

So- stick with an entry level job, save money to get into a long distance MA and then move on? On top of that, despite all my hard earned experience and skills, I'll have a harder time getting even that over a youngster because of my wrinkles (I'm 47)? 'Shelf life' as you say.

When I was a 25 year-old teaching ESL in New York I asked a teacher who was about my age now whether he had a master's. He said no, "but I wish I did." He said it with a sort of finality. I thought, "Well, I'm going to get one" and never did! I was too 'busy.' The thing is though, I was naive then. I was just thinking in terms of a wage. Now I understand there's a lot more to it than that.

Well come hell or high water I suppose I need an MA then. I'm not against that at all mind you- heck, I want a Ph.D too- just ain't got the money to start. However, after I do get an MA (or in the middle of it), will ageism ease up? I don't need a whole lot. I just need an occupation whose bosses aren't going to throw me out on the street because I'm 50 or 60. And students need the benefit of my experience.

Would it help right now just to get accepted into an MA program? I can do that though I'd be risking an application fee.

Thanks for all the advice. It is very odd to me that institutions ostensibly dedicated to language learning value credentials but not experience. After all, I can tell right away in an interview a potential instructor's skills and knowledge (giving a ballpark assessment of how they will perform in classes)- mostly because I have that knowledge and experience myself. OK enough bitchin. Just hard as you said to be told that one's many years of experience really don't mean anything.

But I do hear you saying I can revitalize my career with an MA, is that right? Then by all means that's what I'll be shooting for.

Thanks for the Cover Letter tips again. Good to hear it from an employer's perspective. Nostalgic, actually

[bluetortilla]

Oh, one more thing for perusers of this thread:

A bunch of people on this forum have told me that I don't need a CELTA if I had 20 years of teaching experience in Japan. Others have said I did. What's the deal on that?

Could enrolling in an MA program override the CELTA requirement?

[bluetortilla]

[bluetortilla]

[tttompatz]

[bluetortilla]

Sorry, but you know, I really don't like this talk of being a 'cog,' 'an old dog,' and being compared to a loaf of bread on the shelf. I asked you because in previous posts you seemed a helpful and optimistic sort of person. Was I wrong?

Thanks for the info. Take care sir.