Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cheolsu]

For the medium-term, my goal is to work in Korea, preferably at a university or a high school. For the long-term, my goal is to teach at a public school in Canada. I've been looking into either doing a master's in TESOL or in education. I imagine that Korean universities prefer an MA TESOL to one in education, but I also know that many schools just care about you having an MA, or even just a related MA (TESOL, education, English).

For those who are certified to teach in Canada or America, will an M.Ed reduce the certification process back home? Many online MAs from American universities make you qualified to take the exam for certification in that state. I couldn't find any online M.Ed programs from comparably reputable Canadian universities (Michigan State is one I'm looking at in the US), so there's less information about how the M.Ed relates to certification in Canada, but the Ontario College of Teachers seems to indicate that online teacher training could lead to certification with some additional coursework, though I'm not sure.

So, my questions are:

1) Which master's degree is better to get given my career goals? I'm leaning toward the M.Ed because it seems like it would be useful in both Korea and Canada; I've been finding it hard to research job prospects for an MA TESOL in Canada.

2) Does completing teacher training online make the certification process in Canada shorter? If nothing else, I imagine that it would be better than beginning with just a BA or an MA TESOL.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

[jrwhite82]

I have no idea about Canada but I'd imagine it is similar.

In the US, A MAEd will get you the degree requirement for your teaching license. Then you can take the Praxis required by your state. Most states have somewhat similar requirements about which Praxis to take and what score you need. Although there are some differences. Their website will tell you all the state's requirements.

If you go MA TESOL, you will only be certified to teach ESL. You could not be a homeroom teacher in most districts.

Is your goal Elementary or Secondary? These both have their own requirements with how many university credits you have for certain subjects. You need a certain number of credits to be considered qualified.

For example, if you want to teach elementary, you need a certain number of math, science, history and english credits from undergrad. Plus all the education courses you would get in your masters. So you might need to pick up a math class or something at a community college or distance learning if you didn't take enough in undergrad.

[ttompatz]

[BananaBan]

are you familiar with the market in Ontario?

i hear from many (in toronto), that the market is over-saturated with want-to-be teachers in a time where there are not enough openings to absorb all of them

of course, this is specific to the toronto, if not southern ontario region

just a heads up

[cheolsu]

[jrwhite82]

You could also take some exams, and if you score high enough, you can use your test score to satisfy the requirement for those credits. I forget what the name of that test series is called though. I think it is by the same people who make the Praxis.