Korean Job Discussion Forums

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

I've been teaching in Korea for awhile now and I want to explore the idea of returning home to become certified. IOW I'd like to think about becoming a Secondary School teacher as a second career. I'm in my 30s now and I am not interested in returning to the career I left behind when I came to Korea.

I have the teachables, but here is my problem. I only have a 3 year degree and I aquired it over 10 years at two different universities. My marks are HORRID. I have multiple incompletes, MANY outright fails, and then A+s and Bs - it is all over the place. But that is 10+ years ago.

Any advice / ideas on how to approach getting certified in Canada? I know that technically, I need my 9 month Bachelor of Ed. degree via a consecutive education program at any Canadian University. After that, getting accreditted in the Province of my choice is a hassle, but doable.

The big problem is actually getting admittance to ANY B. Ed program. Even universities that I thought were crappy, are getting 1000 applications and only accepting 200. My friend, who is a teacher, is willing to bet that the only way I'll ever get into ANY B. Ed. program is by first taking a year and taking more undergraduate courses and then blowing them out with A+ on all of them to raise my average.

Obviously, I'll be contacting universities directly to get guidance, but if anyone has any knowledge, some initial guidance here would be helpful too. I'm also looking for alternative ideas like trying to get one of those 3-year work permits under NAFTA and becoming an Emergency Teacher in the states, getting certified there over 2-3 years, and then transferring it back to Canada etc...

The Hierophant · Joined: 13 Sep 2005

One alternative would be to gain your secondary teaching qualifications overseas. I'm currently studying for my Graduate Diploma of Secondary Education in Wellington, New Zealand.

From what you have said about gaining admission to courses in Canada, competition for a place in the course in NZ schools is a lot less, but the qualification is still recognized internationally.

Some websites for teacher training colleges at various cities in New Zealand:

Auckland (University of Auckland): http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/
Wellington (Victoria University): http://www.vuw.ac.nz/education/
Christchurch (Canterbury University): http://www.education.canterbury.ac.nz/
Dunedin (Otago University): http://www.otago.ac.nz/education/

International students' fees may be quite steep (I'm a domestic student). But I do know that NZ is the 'cheap option' for international students.

Anyway, best of luck with your search.

Typhoon · Joined: 29 May 2007 Location: Daejeon

Go across the border to the USA. There are several programs in the Buffalo/Niagra region that cater to Canadians. The teaching degree recieved there is accepted by the Ontario College of Teachers and also will count as a BEd/MEd so you will start in the 4 cat on the pay scale (the highest you can get). It is pretty expensive, but if you really want to teach and don't have the marks to get into a program in Ontario it is a good way to go. Also, a lot of the programs run on the weekend so you can work during the week and study on the weekend. You should look into it.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

My friend went to a teachers college in Canada. I don't think he had good marks at his university. I think he finished in a year or so (could be wrong), and he said he was a certified teacher.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Also some of the community colleges / university-colleges offer post grad studies to gain teacher's certification and the entry requirements are easier than those at the big universities. These are 3-4 semester post grad programs and award a B.Ed based on 60 credits of work + your previous bachelors degree.

Typically the entry requirements are a C+ average + meeting required program pre-reqs + evaluation for suitability as a teacher.

Your time spent as an ESL teacher with real world classroom experience would go a long way toward a positive evaluation and would trump your previous academic history as long as you meet the course pre-reqs.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

I wouldn't worry too much about the marks, it appears to affect fresh grads more than mature students.

I've been looking into it in the UK and a few places have outright no-ed me - Oxford and Cambridge, most places though have said no problem, apply through the correct website and they will arrange an interview when I go back.

My degree is crepe, but my experience and 'maturity' are what they are looking for. I'm sure my bitter cynical views as well will be appreciated.

Typhoon · Joined: 29 May 2007 Location: Daejeon

In Ontario Univeristy BEd programs marks matter regardless of age. Each school has a split of experience vs grades. You need some of both to get accepted. Good experience can't make up for bad grades and good grades can't make up for lack of exprience. You need both.

bosintang · Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject:

Jordaning · Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Location: KOREA

Actually there are many Universities in Canada that offer Concurrent B.Ed. Degree. You can enroll and work on the B.Ed and the undergrad at the same time. If you take extra course load 6+ you can still do it in 2 years.
I also believe the being a mature student with experience teaching works in your favor. When I was completing my B.Ed I thought I would be old at 26. I thought many of the other students would be just finishing their undergrad. I was actually one of the youngest of more than 50 people.

Never hurts to apply anyway.