Job Discussion Forums

aahz · Joined: 13 Mar 2010 Posts: 38

Hello, I'm a credentialed math/social studies teacher in California. I completed the program last year but I could not find a job in the current economic times. I'm completely at a loss at what to do.

I'm thinking of going overseas to teach, both to keep myself employed, travel, and to keep doing what I love doing in a time when teachers are being laid off left and right.

But is an ESL certificate more important/less important than actual teaching training? I mean, I did a year long program, taught ESL students, worked as a substitute even before I started the program and have been subbing ever since... but I still wonder at how difficult or competitive it would be without getting an actual TESL certificate.
I'm assuming not, but I wanted to hear your opinions.

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:20 am Post subject:

Hi Aahz! I think your assumption is correct: most countries simply require that one be a graduate in order to work there as an EFL teacher, so the degree rather than any subsequent TEFL cert is what's most important, and your credentialed teacher status would actually make you eligible for some jobs (e.g. in international schools catering to expat and local rich kids) that non-credentialed grads wouldn't be, even if they had a TEFL cert and you didn't. Wink

Here's a recent Newbie forum thread (though there have been others) about the need for, and thus the potential quality of, cert-level training in ELT:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=79538

You might find this interesting also:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=68778

aahz · Joined: 13 Mar 2010 Posts: 38

Thanks!

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:51 am Post subject:

Heh, forgot to mention though that in terms of strictly TEFL, it would be just entry-level work that you'd be eligible for (which in Japan for example would mean just eikaiwa/private language school work, or assisting as an AET in public schools) - you'd need an MA in AL/TEFL/TESOL/ELT (let alone a TEFL cert!) to teach EFL in universities (in Japan, the ME etc), say. But you'd be able to suss all that out from the job ads, and like I say, you are definitely qualified and experienced enough for whatever entry-level ELT work certainly! Smile

aahz · Joined: 13 Mar 2010 Posts: 38

Well, I wasn't planning on teaching at a university. I need some years of experience teaching. It's very difficult to find that experience right now in California.