Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hubba bubba]

This is my rambling thought for today.

It seems pretty freaking retarted that I can't get a teaching credential while I'm here...teaching...at a public school...for years....

Why isn't there some program to, oh, become a "proper teacher" for people who are already working as teachers? Seems like an obvious plan. No way in Hell am I going to put my life on hold for 15 months, go back home, take out debt etc....

Surely there must be some international standard/licensing for teachers???

{/rant}

[Canuck Teacher]

I think there are two reasons why each country, and often provinces/states within each country, won't accept teaching credentials/licenses from outside their jurisdiction.

The first has to do with the fact that philosophies and systems of learning, accepted pedogical methods, standards and expectations etc., vary greatly from place to place. The second has to do with money of course. The educational regulatory bodies need to make their money honey, and they do this by maintaining a monopoly over licensing and testing etc.

Welcome my friend to the machine.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

What good would it do you outside Korea? No one would recognise it for anything in another country, and inside Korea a foreigner can teach anything with any old degree in any field.

[Saxiif]

Well if I were in charge of hiring people for a public school in America I would certainly try to steer clear of people whose only teaching experience is teaching in Korea, even if it were legal.

Would you?

[VirginIslander]

Best advice: go to the most backward state in America, and thus, the most lenient certification proccess, and get certified there in about one year.

[Golden Lama]

Hey Hubba,

I don't know where you're from and if you'd be eligible for it, but you could get your credential from several places in the U.S. while they paid you to teach. Considering you have experience teaching here - and there's plenty of ESL to be had in the States - I'd imagine that you'd be a prime candidate for one or any of the programs on offer.

To the best of my knowledge, there're programs in Philidelphia, Tennessee (I'm not sure if it's state wide), New Orleans, and Oakland. Now, if it's just a matter of getting the credential with no debt to hold over your head, that might be the way to go. A Google search might get you to the programs that these places offer, but I'm sure I've seen the ads for them right here on Dave's (sorry that I don't have the links available; no personal need to have catalogued them).

If you're from the UK or a Commonwealth citizen, there's a program in England through the DOE to get your PGCE which is paid for AND you get a salary while you're teaching. The kicker? You've got to contract for five years to get it and that's a serious amount of time.

I don't know if the US programs require any post-qualification time comittment, but, with so many different programs on offer, they might have different stipulations about such things.

Go well,

GL

[Gatsby]

I presume hubba bubba knows more about this than me, as I have not explored this recently. But I do know that alternate routes to certification have largely dried up, thanks to No Child Left Behind.

I once signed up for a new 30 credit master's program for certification, but they cancelled it before the semester began, and wanted me to take another 75 credits of education courses and practicum. No thank you!

Obviously, if you can find such a 30 credit master's degree, that would be a great way to go. Good luck.

I looked into New Orleans, and they do let you work while you pursue teacher certification courses. I don't know that they pay for the courses, though, or how much they cost. There was some talk of providing additional funding and benefits for new teachers, but who knows. They do seem desperate, and may still be able to hire. But you would have to take a standardized test before hiring to show you are not illiterate.

If I were a bit younger, I might try this route. There is the potential to make a difference in young people's lives.

[VirginIslander]

A few months ago I read an article about a man with a PHD in physics and several decades of experience. After finishing up his career in the real world, he wanted to teach science in a pblic high school in Hawaii. However, he was not certified and therefore he wasnt eligble for employment. Since he didnt want to go through the cerfitication ordeal, he found employment at a private high school.

Two Points for Public Schools.

[ChuckECheese]

Go teach in Alaska.

[OiGirl]

[Homer]

Well...if you are certified in your home country it gives you access to International School jobs here (those pay better and are sometimes recognized as direct experience by your home country/province/states education board).

Some experience here can also be a good addition to an application to teachers college back home.

It can also help you get a teaching position back home if your experience is references and relevant (say Public High School here for a Public High School job back home).

As for getting certification here it is understandable that they would not give it. Canada does not give certification to foreigners with a teachers permit from other countries. You usually have to file a request and then have to take courses. The number of taxi drivers in Canada with advanced university degrees from other nations attests to this.

As for hiring someone whose only teaching experience is in Korea...well that would be strange unless it is for an ESL position back in Canada. A teacher in Canada needs to be certified so....

For a certified teacher experience in Korea can be an asset however. But you gotta do more than work at ding dong wang Hakwon and play bingo all day.....

[oskinny1]

[Gatsby]

oskinny1

[The Bobster]

[ChuckECheese]