Job Discussion Forums

[jennifa12]

Hi there,

I'm going to finish a history masters this summer. I have a little tutoring experience and extensive experience living and studying in various foreign countries.

I'm very open in terms of where I am willing to work and who I am willing to teach (I'd love to teach at uni level, though I realize this might be a hard gig to land). Keeping this in mind, I just wonder how beneficial it will be to obtain a teaching certificate? Is it worth the time and money, or will I easily land a job somewhere with the credentials I have?

I just couldn't find much information on how valued a masters degree actually IS, since most positions only ask for a bachelors. Or, for instance, would a masters be an equivalent qualification to bachelors plus teaching certification? Any advice/info appreciated!

[spiral78]

Quite a lot depends where you might like to go. More info, please.

[denise]

Entry-level jobs that ask for BAs often accept degrees in any field. Jobs that ask for MAs typically prefer them to be in the field of TESOL/Applied Linguistics, though, so your MA likely wouldn't help you with those jobs. And a little tutoring experience--again, welcomed by entry-level jobs, but not enough for the better jobs in the field.

Generally, whether it's required or not, yes, it is a good idea to get a certificate. Without one, how prepared would you be for your first day of class, or for your first semester? OK, I admit that I don't have any tutoring experience whatsoever, but unless it includes things like lesson planning and sequencing, finding and adapting suitable materials, promoting student interaction, classroom management, etc., then it really won't prepare you for your first job. And teaching content (I'm guessing you were tutoring in history--please correct me if I'm wrong) is very different from teaching language.

d

[AjarnIam]

[Sashadroogie]

Heh heh! Say what? Was this the class of fifty one-eyed learners? I think I have an ESP lesson for that somewhere

[AjarnIam]

[denise]

First day nerves? When I start a new job and/or move to a new country, I still feel a bit jittery. But otherwise, after 10 years, I am finally able to approach that first class calmly! I think the trick is not to let on that you've been thrown to the wolves. And then just wait until the nerves die down.

d

[AjarnIam]

turn on a utube rock video for 5 minutes...they'll think your a star...

[naturegirl321]

CHina is always an option for uni gigs. Housing, visas, flights, and only about 15 hours of teaching a week. Often less.

As far as MAs, depends on where you go. Places like China, for instance, they aren-t valued too much. I mean, you won-t get a much bigger raise. For other places, it-ll open doors, like the Middle East.

TEFL certs aren't all alike Make sure it-s got 120 hours and 6 teaching students. If you can-t afford it, there are other options. Hit your local library to start. Look online for info, observe teachers, talk to teachers etc. It-s ideal to get a cert, but let-s face it, with the economy like it is, not everyone can afford it.

[Sashadroogie]

[caffe]

It's cliche, but it really depends.
You may be in a location where someone right before or after you has no degree, no ESL cert., but is more localized or has a clicking persona, or a certain look or who knows what else and they may get taken on while you could be overlooked regardless of the degree.
Or, on the other hand, be in a location where the locals have fascinations with degrees and that could be their first requirements. It really depends.