Job Discussion Forums

[nellychess]

Greetings teachers!

After years on this board, and a job in China that fell through at the last second, I think I finally am on the right path.

I was just accepted into a program in Texas, called Texas Teachers. It's an alternative certification program, and within one year, I will be a fully certified teacher in the state of Texas.

It is still my dream to teach in another country. I was hoping some of you could advise me as far as what jobs I could get internationally after being certified.

I was considering a middle school to high school certification in social studies with some kind of special ed, and esl additional certificate.

I would have loved to just get esl certification, or special ed, but apparently, you need a specific subject, and then the additional tests for special ed, and esl for that subject.

I think my credential would be a teaching certificate in social studies with an esl, special ed add on or something.

Thanks for any advice, or help. If you think I should go for another subject, please let me know about that as well. I just want to teach. Thanks

[nomad soul]

Since your focus is on teaching content rather than ESOL, I suggest you look at sites dedicated to teaching in international schools. (Start with a search on international school forum). For job sites, there's Teach Away, Seek Teachers, Footprints, and The International Educator, which will give you an idea of qualifications.

[spiral78]

I thought the general wisdom on the street was that the greatest need was in maths and sciences.

[currentaffairs]

For most of the good international schools, you will usually need a couple of years of experience teaching in your home country before being taken onboard. However, in places like Colombia, you could probably work your way up from the lower end colegios with the right qualifications.

[rtm]

[currentaffairs]

That would be somewhat case by case, rtm. Yes, usually teacher training colleges will take on majors in their respective fields. However, there are options whereby a Geography major could do a second year and train to teach English Literature, for example.You might also be able to do extra modules to make up for your subject knowledge shortfall.

[nomad soul]

[nellychess]

I don't know anything about teacher certification in Texas, or about the Texas Teachers program, but don't you have to have more of a background in the subject you teach? For example, if you wanted to be licensed as a math teacher, wouldn't you need, in addition to the 1-year teacher training program, a degree in math as well? Surely it can't be that anyone can, with only a 1-year program, become a licensed teacher in the subject of their choice.


This program does not require much. You take the certification exam in any subject you choose, regardless of your degree. You can work as soon as you pass. Within the first year, you complete some online type courses, and at the end of your first year, you are a fully licensed teacher in the state of Texas, just as anyone else is. Teachers from all over the country are moving here to get it. Bachelors degree is the only requirement. My GPA was a 2.0 from college, and I still got in.

[nellychess]

[spiral78]

Sounds like teachers will soon be flooding the domestic market:-) This happened in some parts of Canada over the past couple of decades, and now a growing percentage of all teaching contracts are non-permanent.

[Xie Lin]

[esl_prof]

[santi84]

Sciences, yes, but not necessarily biology!

Bilingual/immersion (French here, Spanish in the US), SPED, and mathematics are in-demand. Do you have SPED experience? I'm doing this now. Exhausting, but rewarding. Much of it draws from ESL, as many students have speech, communication, and literacy delays. Recently, I worked 1:1 with an ESL Deaf student. Loved it!

[BadBeagleBad]

[Mr. Leafy]