|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
pjstarbuck
Joined: 05 Mar 2012
|
 Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 7:01 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
| Quote: |
| This is more than a lifer would want to do, but Texas Teachers offers alternative certification with some online classes and 12 weeks of unpaid student teaching. http://www.texasteachers.org/how-it-works/ |
I think that's the key thing for the OP to know - most states will probably want you to do some form of observed teaching/practicum before you can be fully credentialed. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 4:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
| young_clinton wrote: |
| schwa wrote: |
| Something tells me thats way more commitment than the OP had in mind. |
A lot of commitment for an online degree. |
I don't know what you mean by that, yc. Legitimate online degrees require commitment. By legitimate, I mean degree programs provided online by accredited universities. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 6:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| northway wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| Isn't Texas just a hundred hour online course and then you take the test? And practicum can be done online? |
Perhaps, they changed things. However, you used to have to go to teachers college for about a year or so and take certain courses. |
This is more than a lifer would want to do, but Texas Teachers offers alternative certification with some online classes and 12 weeks of unpaid student teaching. http://www.texasteachers.org/how-it-works/ |
The problem with teaching without the certificate is you could possibly be stuck at your school, and, if your school is not heavenly, so to speak, it's going to be a long 12 weeks, the longest of your life. I would recommend being certified before going into a class. Texas is often desperate for teachers. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 6:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Adventurer wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| Isn't Texas just a hundred hour online course and then you take the test? And practicum can be done online? |
Perhaps, they changed things. However, you used to have to go to teachers college for about a year or so and take certain courses. |
This is more than a lifer would want to do, but Texas Teachers offers alternative certification with some online classes and 12 weeks of unpaid student teaching. http://www.texasteachers.org/how-it-works/ |
The problem with teaching without the certificate is you could possibly be stuck at your school, and, if your school is not heavenly, so to speak, it's going to be a long 12 weeks, the longest of your life. I would recommend being certified before going into a class. Texas is often desperate for teachers. |
DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO DO TEXAS TEACHERS!!!! Why? well the wife did one of their crash courses over the summer before she got an job at a charter school in the lower Rio Grande Valley, she lasted 6 weeks they did so little to prepare her for the realities of teaching.
This week I subbed for 2 teachers who are going through the program here in Austin and they were the worst days I've had, they had no classroom management work and it showed as their classes were totally out of control, so bad I had to get asst principals out help me get the classes under control so I could attempt to control them and do the lessons left for me. Wasn't just me, experienced teachers nearby said the two I subbed for had the worst teachers. Think this shows that this program is crap ola |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Died By Bear
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 4:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| This week I subbed for 2 teachers who are going through the program here in Austin |
^^ meanwhile, 45 minutes north of Austin
We know a high school principal, her husband works in the same school's HR dept. This morning at a group breakfast, I overheard another friend talking to him:
Cop: So I hear that you guys are working with KPD to issue jay walking tickets to the kids that regularly run out in front of traffic and cause accidents on the corner of XXX and XXX...
HR guy: Yeah well, IF we have the manpower-because right now we don't have the ability to control all the violence inside the school, let alone worry about what's going on across the street...mumble grumble mumble... |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
|
| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 5:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO DO TEXAS TEACHERS!!!! Why? well the wife did one of their crash courses over the summer before she got an job at a charter school in the lower Rio Grande Valley, she lasted 6 weeks they did so little to prepare her for the realities of teaching.
This week I subbed for 2 teachers who are going through the program here in Austin and they were the worst days I've had, they had no classroom management work and it showed as their classes were totally out of control, so bad I had to get asst principals out help me get the classes under control so I could attempt to control them and do the lessons left for me. Wasn't just me, experienced teachers nearby said the two I subbed for had the worst teachers. Think this shows that this program is crap ola |
Wouldn't this be less of an issue for someone who already has classroom management experience, in this case someone who has taught in Korea? I thought the point of this exercise was to get certification to improve job prospects in Asia, in which case "grin and bear it" is the operative philosophy, no? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
swashbuckler
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hagwonguy, could you please be more specific on why your wife couldn't handle teaching? What exactly was she expecting from 2 or 3 month ""crash course"" online? I've heard charter schools have a huge turnover anyway. Why didn't she try to get a job in a regular public school? I'm just curious because I was considering that program a while back.
I am strongly considering moving back to the USA in another year or so to pursue my foreign language teaching credential (Spanish) and, eventually, work full-time as a public school teacher (NOT charter school). Does anyone have any advice on the best way to go about this?? I am open to moving to literally anywhere in the 50 states. The florida and texas programs look like expensive crash-grabs and I am also skeptical because it would seem that don't actually place you anywhere after you have completed the programs. Are there any other alternative licensing programs worth recommending? Would it be better to just take the Praxis exams and the then apply to the individual schools myself?? I already hold an MA in education-related field but no teaching license. Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
swashbuckler
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Died By Bear wrote: |
| Quote: |
| This week I subbed for 2 teachers who are going through the program here in Austin |
^^ meanwhile, 45 minutes north of Austin
We know a high school principal, her husband works in the same school's HR dept. This morning at a group breakfast, I overheard another friend talking to him:
Cop: So I hear that you guys are working with KPD to issue jay walking tickets to the kids that regularly run out in front of traffic and cause accidents on the corner of XXX and XXX...
HR guy: Yeah well, IF we have the manpower-because right now we don't have the ability to control all the violence inside the school, let alone worry about what's going on across the street...mumble grumble mumble... |
So would you say that texas is pretty shitty place for teachers to work in general, outside of the few eilite schools? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 8:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| northway wrote: |
| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO DO TEXAS TEACHERS!!!! Why? well the wife did one of their crash courses over the summer before she got an job at a charter school in the lower Rio Grande Valley, she lasted 6 weeks they did so little to prepare her for the realities of teaching.
This week I subbed for 2 teachers who are going through the program here in Austin and they were the worst days I've had, they had no classroom management work and it showed as their classes were totally out of control, so bad I had to get asst principals out help me get the classes under control so I could attempt to control them and do the lessons left for me. Wasn't just me, experienced teachers nearby said the two I subbed for had the worst teachers. Think this shows that this program is crap ola |
Wouldn't this be less of an issue for someone who already has classroom management experience, in this case someone who has taught in Korea? I thought the point of this exercise was to get certification to improve job prospects in Asia, in which case "grin and bear it" is the operative philosophy, no? |
Trust me, classroom management in a Korean and a US public school are 2 different balls of wax as I've discovered over the past few months of subbing. I'd say a large percentage of alt teacher program teachers wind up in mostly Title I schools which tend to be poorer and have students with bad family backgrounds, little motivation to learn etc. You aint going to learn how to control those kids in 2 month mostly online program or by teaching in Korea |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 8:24 am Post subject: |
|
|
| swashbuckler wrote: |
Hagwonguy, could you please be more specific on why your wife couldn't handle teaching? What exactly was she expecting from 2 or 3 month ""crash course"" online? I've heard charter schools have a huge turnover anyway. Why didn't she try to get a job in a regular public school? I'm just curious because I was considering that program a while back.
I am strongly considering moving back to the USA in another year or so to pursue my foreign language teaching credential (Spanish) and, eventually, work full-time as a public school teacher (NOT charter school). Does anyone have any advice on the best way to go about this?? I am open to moving to literally anywhere in the 50 states. The florida and texas programs look like expensive crash-grabs and I am also skeptical because it would seem that don't actually place you anywhere after you have completed the programs. Are there any other alternative licensing programs worth recommending? Would it be better to just take the Praxis exams and the then apply to the individual schools myself?? I already hold an MA in education-related field but no teaching license. Thanks |
Yeah charter schools have a HUGE turnover rate even in year, the school the wife was at has a 50% turnover of new teachers before the Christmas break alone, thats what the principal told me while out having drinks with him. Problem for the wife was (and she had 11 years teaching there and 6 years doing teacher training there) is the curriculum is often too demanding for the level of students which requires major adjustments plus an admin that expects you to teach that curriculum and have the students meet the standards.
Same is also becoming true in the public schools which is also resulting in a high turnover especially at the lower achieving schools. Amazing what I've seen so far whats going on
No way you'll be able to do what you want to do. No state that I know of will let you just sit for their certification exams with just an MA in some education related field. You'll likely be able to get into an alternative program and into a classroom on a provisional permit on the condition you take the courses and pass the exams |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
hogwonguy1979
Joined: 22 Dec 2003
Location: the racoon den
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 8:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| swashbuckler wrote: |
| Died By Bear wrote: |
| Quote: |
| This week I subbed for 2 teachers who are going through the program here in Austin |
^^ meanwhile, 45 minutes north of Austin
We know a high school principal, her husband works in the same school's HR dept. This morning at a group breakfast, I overheard another friend talking to him:
Cop: So I hear that you guys are working with KPD to issue jay walking tickets to the kids that regularly run out in front of traffic and cause accidents on the corner of XXX and XXX...
HR guy: Yeah well, IF we have the manpower-because right now we don't have the ability to control all the violence inside the school, let alone worry about what's going on across the street...mumble grumble mumble... |
So would you say that texas is pretty shitty place for teachers to work in general, outside of the few eilite schools? |
All depends, most first year teachers who do an alternative program are not going to be able to get into what I would call the elite districts such as Eanes in Austin, Highland Park in Dallas, amongst others even in a high demand area such as math, they simply wont hire people in one. That leaves you with the lesser districts unless you have connections (i.e. know a principal) some can be great if you get a good admin etc. Just like Korea, a good principal or asst principal means all the difference between a great experience and a hell experience
I could go on but wont already did 3 responses in a row here |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2015 4:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| hogwonguy1979 wrote: |
| Trust me, classroom management in a Korean and a US public school are 2 different balls of wax as I've discovered over the past few months of subbing. I'd say a large percentage of alt teacher program teachers wind up in mostly Title I schools which tend to be poorer and have students with bad family backgrounds, little motivation to learn etc. You aint going to learn how to control those kids in 2 month mostly online program or by teaching in Korea |
That's all well and good, but again, who cares? As long as you come out for a few months and get the piece of paper, you can go back to Asia with a pretty big leg up. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pjstarbuck
Joined: 05 Mar 2012
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
Or, as I was able to do, network yourself into a practicum placement at an international school here. If you know anyone who works at an international school, ask them to help you set up a meeting with their principal and see if he/she is open to having you do your student-teaching at that school.
If your goal is to teach internationally, talk to whatever program you're looking at applying for about how much help they will offer in placing you at an international school for your practicum.
As long as it is a true international school (regionally accredited by an organization from North America such as WASC) this will count just the same as working at a public school in the U.S. Could even turn into a job offer, or at the very least, a positive reference from both your mentor teacher and the principal/VP of the school at which you do your practicum. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
almosthome
Joined: 16 Nov 2012
|
| Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2015 6:26 pm Post subject: Web Centric |
|
|
After many years of emergency permit teaching plus two graduate programs (one in education) I finally decided to obtain certification through Web Centric. My total program cost was around $3200, and I was required to do 62 days of student teaching in Texas. The whole program takes about 4 months, but you aren't earning money during this time (difficult to accept as a teacher who earned nearly $22/hr just for subbing). My student teaching experience was great (they found me a placement in Eanes ISD), and I left as a much better teacher with more professional connections.
However, as many have mentioned, their brief online course would be totally insufficient preparation for someone without previous classroom experience or education coursework. Many of the program's curricular materials and activities were out-of-date, impractical, and/or broken links. Also, once all my fees were paid it was nearly impossible to reach the program coordinator, and it was often unclear what needed to be done when. Everything fell into place for certification, but I was constantly worried about the details. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
swashbuckler
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 3:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hagwonguy,
May I ask specifically why you said teaching in Korea, even for 11 years, didn't prepare you in anyway whatsoever for teaching in the US? Are American students in general just a lot more disrespectful, ignore you if you ask them to be quiet, etc? Just curious because I also experienced that in Korea on several occasions. Did you wife attempt any classroom management techniques like establishing rules from the get-go, having a punishment/reward system in place, etc? I agree with you about charter schools, though. One of MANY reasons the whole charter school "movement"is bad news.
Also, one more question - I did my MA at an Ivy League school of Education. Do you think, to some degree, that would help me to deal with the lack of a network?
Almosthome,
After finishing your program, were you able to get in a job in a decent school district or did you end up in a poor (Title I) school with mostly unruly or unmotivated students like what hagwonguy was talking about?
Last edited by swashbuckler on Sat Apr 04, 2015 3:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
