Job Discussion Forums

jgmodlin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 120 Location: USA

I was wondering if any certified teachers with ESL endorsements have successfully landed international schools abroad? I came back to the USA after teaching Business English and some high school ALT and got my public school teacher's license. I used my ESL experience to gain an ESL endorsement which I currently use to teach public high school.
I have decided to go back abroad and now worry that my ESL endorsement will not do much good at international schools as they all want endorsements in content areas.

Has anyone made this transition back to teaching abroad with an ESL endorsement? Even if this doesn't apply to you, have you seen anyone fitting this bill working at your international schools? I really want to go back overseas (Asia or M.E.) this upcoming school year.

Just an FYI to any of you thinking about returning to teach ESL as a public school teacher, while rewarding it is incredibly tough. At best most of your students will have little previous education; at worst (as is my case) most will be completely illiterate. I am talking completely illiterate with no recognition of letters. Yep, they gotta go somewhere and right into an ESL classroom is where they go. Decent money, but oh so draining...

bdbarnett1

jgmodlin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 120 Location: USA

How willing are international schools to hire a licensed teacher endorsed in ESL and have that teacher teach another subject such as social studies? Are some countries more lenient when it comes to this?

DrVanNostrand · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 70

DrVanNostrand · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 70

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

In Japan, the word on the street is that a license from your home country, plus a couple of years of experience is sufficient to get a job in an international school. If one is young and relatively inexperienced in any job in this world, they shouldn't expect to land a high-paying job in a place with high ranking. Work your way up through the ranks. Too many people think the world owes them a living in EFL/ESL just because they are a native English speaker.

Beware of places that use "international" in the name. It may be a name only, not a real international school.

Scope out the job fairs and ask your questions there.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 11:37 pm Post subject:

natsume · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 409 Location: Chongqing, China

OP, what state are you from? I know in California, once one has their secondary teaching credential, it is fairly easy to earn a second credential in other subject areas. For example, I will most likely get an English secondary credential, but have been advised that after I have that it is simply a matter of taking the relevant state exam (CSET) to earn a credential in a different subject area. (Of course, it is best if you have some background in the subject.) Is this a possibility in your state? What was your undergrad major? Do you have a masters?

Keep in mind that most reputable international schools want two years experience, post-credential, in your home country. I don't know how much they would weigh you having to have done that in a specific content area. I do know some international schools need EFL teachers. Do some research on internationalschoolsreview.com.

jgmodlin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 120 Location: USA

Thanks all for some good posts. Glenski, have you seen or heard of some getting positions at Japanese international schools with backgrounds similar to mine?
I know what you mean about many thinking that they are owed a great job right out of the box. I am mid 40s and taught Business Eng-Eikaiwa- ALT in Japan for 8 years followed by public school here in the U.S. Hopefully I will not be perceived as a complete newbie by schools. That said, I approach the whole process with humility.

jgmodlin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 120 Location: USA

Thanks Natsume! I got my certification here in Virginia, where I currently teach. I do have an additional endorsement in Business Education. I got this based on my major (Business) and by successfully passing the Praxis II exam in Business. I am going to see if it is possible with Virginia to take an additional Praxis II test to get another endorsement. I figure the social studies one would be easy enough for me to pass based on my knowledge of the subject. Unfortunately, I am not blessed with enough natural ability to do the same thing in Math or Science Sad

I haven't seen any int. schools posting openings for ESL/EFL. Based on that I have been concerned at how marketable I am.

DrVanNostrand · Joined: 28 Mar 2008 Posts: 70

You'll find several here: http://www.tieonline.com/job_ads_list.cfm

The site does require that you pay a fee to join, but I've heard of a lot of people using it to locate jobs. It's supposed to be a very good resource for prospective teachers and a viable alternative to joining a recruiting agency.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

www.ibo.org and www.tes.co.uk are good too.

yes, you can do it. More competitve places, maybe not, BUt less competive ones, sure, you can get a job. DO you have two years experience, at least?

A tip, LOTS of places have sudden openings right before the school year starts because teachers leave. So send out your CV a couple months before school starts and then send it again right before it starts.

I've taught in an intl school, taught SS, science, art, English, and Maths. I have a cert of eligibilty in ESL, P3 and Spanish, but not a licesne. Here in Peru, it's pretty easy to get in, and like I said, especially if you're available about two weeks before school starts.

However, I had enough of the schools here adn just do privates now.

Basically, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Go to recruitment fairs, that should help you get your foot in the door.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

jgmodlin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 120 Location: USA

As a follow-up to Natusume's suggestion, I checked with the state of Virginia (where I am licensed to teach) and found out that I can indeed take the Praxis II tests for the content area(s) that I wish to be certified to teach. A passing score will result in the additional endorsement being placed on my teacher's license. I went ahead and registered to take the tests for Social Studies and Earth Science this spring.
I figure with these two endorsements, and my public school background, I should be more marketable to an international school than I would have with just the ESL and Business endorsements.
If anyone is curious about making the transition from TEFL to teacher licensure in the USA please let me know. I can give you the take on it in Virginia anyway...

SandyG20 · Joined: 12 Sep 2007 Posts: 208

Anyone know what states allow simply taking Praxis tests to be endorsed in new subject areas? And do you have to live in those states?

The state I live in requires tons of new coursework and field experience or student teaching in each subject area.

I have an El Ed cert. BS in Education and part of my masters. Have like over 200 credit hours.

I don't mind classes so much - just gets expensive. But it is the constant field experiences and student teaching - you have to spend lots of time at those - and of course it is unpaid.