Job Discussion Forums

[Finnegan]

Dear Marblez,

You already staed that you would graduate with your BA in 2006. I'm getting lost here. Whichever route.......it will then be 1-1.5 years for your post-degree BEd. That will give you the min to teach in the public sector in Canada--assuming you find a job, as you compete with all the others in the same boat. So, it is not for the faint of heart. In the meantime, maybe research the profession, meet with teachers, visit classrooms, volunteer in public schools, etc.

[marblez]

Each upper level course is worth 4 credits. 32 credits are required for the major (8 courses), and 16 credits for the minor (4 courses - if I chose to complete a minor). There are 4 semesters left until I graduate (we have the full summer semester), either way, it works out - trust me, I agonize over this daily.

[johanne]

I teach Grade 1 French Immersion for the Vancouver School Board. I graduated with my B.Ed and teaching certificate in 2000, after teaching ESL in Japan for 4 years. I got a job right away because I speak fluent French. A couple of my classmates got jobs right away because they were called in as a TOC and the permament teacher never returned, thus giving them a step up in senority when the new round of posting came out in May. Those who graduated in 2001 have had very little success getting permanent full time jobs in the Lower Mainland, as there was a change in government that year which led to hundreds of layoffs and more senior teachers filling open positions. Hopefully things will start to improve, but in the last 3 years most new graduates were looking at 3-5 of substitute teaching with the occassional temporary contract before getting a permament job. Several of my classmates decided to go to New York or London to teach instead of waiting. This is the reality for B.C. at the moment. Good luck to all those coming into the system. I hope things start to change a bit.

[ohdiesel]

Do you think getting a masters of teaching from an Australian University would be a better bet?

OD

[ohdiesel]

Hi Johanne,

Can you tell me what kind of degree you graduated with?

I am curious because I speak French as well (bilingual) although my vocabulary and grammar are bad. I am sure I could get them up to snuff in no time.

I am wanting to take the Masters of teaching degree in Australia but I am not sure if this would look good or not.

Do you have any ideas?


Dave

[The_Hanged_Man]

You should try looking for a job in the southern US (e.g. Texas, Florida). They are facing a huge shortage of teachers especially in math/science and special ed. It's so bad that they're taken to hiring a decent number of teachers from the Phillipines, China, India, etc. So I don't think coming from Canada would be that much of a stretch. I'm not familar with the immigration/visa issues, but I think it would be worth checking into.

[GoTeacher]