Job Discussion Forums

White249 · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Posts: 24 Location: United States

Okay ,

So as of now I am back home form being abroad for a year and I'm pretty miserable . I was working at an over played third rate international school in Shanghai. I landed this job straight out of college and I had had zero teaching experience , I have a TSL certificate I was given by my program , although I ended up teaching Native English students in 7th grade ...so I was not teaching ESL at all . I was also given two history courses to teach . Over all it was a vary rewarding experience and I want to pursue teaching internationally at least for a few years . However I was thinking the international school route .

I am taking a few classes now and I was preparing to get my MAT in Teaching history . I was considering getting a teaching certification as an alternative ,...really I'm not really sure what schools are looking for . I'm a young guy and I have a years teaching experience , I want to be better qualified ,
Does anyone have any suggestions ?
-Josh

anyway · Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 109

Sounds like you lucked out there. I mean, it's not often one gets to teach at an international school (3rd rate or not) without being certified (as in teaching license from your home country). Even luckier to teach subjects which are outside one's field so to speak (unless you majored in one of those, English lit or history). In a sense, you were doing the real teaching, exploring the subject together without the wet blanket of curriculum and standardized tests hanging over your heads. Well done! But don't expect it to happen again. Your best bet would be to go back to the same type of school in China. Check out a group called Dipont...

As you know, a TESOL cert is the cheapest way to get some qualifications which might help you go abroad again. Some master's programs can give you state certification (K-12) but only in the area of your bachelor's. My BS was in Journalism, so it wouldn't have been very useful. This is expensive if you only want to do it 'a few years'.

If I had it to do again, I would get an MA in 'Instructional Technology', which I believe is the most useful across all educational levels in this day and age. Lots of jobs in that area nowadays. That would be more useful stateside than my MS Ed. (TESOL) and would still serve me well internationally (for ESL) where usually any grad degree will do. Then again, that program would be much more difficult too...

White249 · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Posts: 24 Location: United States

I think I am going to look into getting my MAT next year...hopefully i can find something that only takes two years . I am just worried that if and when I return home I can pick up a teaching job at the native level.

Maybe China was a huge tease for me ,I had friends that taught at international schools , who had dream jobs with houses and good pay .
It's hard to come back too a life less exotic and I'm trying to get over the massive chip on my shoulder ...all I want to do is get in a plan and go .

- The Bitter EX ExPat

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

Everything certification related depends on your native country and the state or region/province you reside. If you seriously want to teach in international schools you definitely need to get a certification. If you're doing a MAT or a variation you'll probably need student teaching.

It sounds like you got lucky in your first experience. History teaching jobs are extremely hard to come by. You were in the right place at the right time. You need to be systematic about what you want to do and choose a path appropriately.