Job Discussion Forums

cj100 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 9

Hello--
Can anyone out there provide info about getting K-12 cert for public schools in the Chicago area?

Here's my thumbnail bio:
MA in TESOL, BA in English and about seven years teaching ESL and doing CTESOL teacher training in the USA, Mexico, and Hong Kong--I'm ready for a big-girl job with insurance, benefits, and job security. I want to wake up from the insane adjunct instructor nightmare...I LOVE what I do, but can't survive any longer in these circumstances (re-inventing my work schedule every semester, working 12-hour days, working nights and weekends, no full-time job in sight--we all know how it goes).

I want to teach ESL in the Chicagoland schools, probably at the elementary level. I'll teach regular elementary if I have to, but I would love to put my MA credits toward the new cert and career because of the time and expense of returning to school. I fear my Spanish isn't strong enough for bilingual education.

Any info on good certification programs? Golden Apple? Do I have to take that #@$% GRE again? How long will certification take? How much is this likely to cost? Can you tell me anything about how the ESL stuff works in the Chgo public or even private schools?

Thanks for any information you can provide. I appreciate it.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Go here and find the answers to all your questions.

http://eslgradschool.htmlplanet.com/grad_programs.html

Twisting in the Wind · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 571 Location: Purgatory

I had the same questions in the Los Angeles area. So I imagine the answers I got will work for you.

Call around to schools in Chigagoland you might want to work at. Ask them their requirements (the publc schools will be the same) They will tell you. Probably a BA and enrollment or completion of a teacher certification course. Some LA area districts allow you to be a teacher with just a BA and passing of a state test, but not sure about Chicago. And the suburbs may be different--so call Cicero, etc...

I was lucky enough to get one of these jobs in LA for a year. It's worth calling around for!

Good luck.