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What certification do you need to teach ESL in the U.S.?

 
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antgonz



Joined: 30 Nov 2007

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:10 pm    Post subject: What certification do you need to teach ESL in the U.S.? Reply with quote

What exactly do you need?

Years experience?
Certification?
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bassexpander



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

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Are you talking as a tutor, or in a public school?
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Brooks



Joined: 08 Apr 2003

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

for public school only you need to be certified in the state you are teaching in. For private schools, you do not.
In some states you have to take the Praxis exam.

Some states let you work and study for certification at the same time. In Illinois, it is possible. But I think in some states, without certification, you can't teach.
In Texas, I think they push bilingual ed, so without knowing Spanish, you are SOL.

I am looking to get certified in Nevada, and I am trying to find out if I can take the Praxis in Guam or Hawaii, since it is cheaper to fly there.
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antgonz



Joined: 30 Nov 2007

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
for public school only you need to be certified in the state you are teaching in. For private schools, you do not.


Thanks for the help. I think private school would be better. Better behavior too from kids probably.

Quote:
Are you talking as a tutor, or in a public school?


Not a tutor, a full time job. Public or private school. Thanks

Quote:
In some states you have to take the Praxis exam.


Okay I will research that.
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afsjesse



Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What if you have an MA in TESL? I'm going back to school to get mine possibly. I also have my BA in Spanish Language so does this help with Bi-ed???
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Brooks



Joined: 08 Apr 2003

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have a MA in TESOL.
I will have an interview with the Clark County Board of Ed. (Las Vegas).
So I will want to know how many classes I will need in order to get
certified. I assume they would look at my grad school transcript, and
see which classes I took, to determine which classes I will need.
Clark County has the 5th largest school system in the US. However they do have many teachers come and go, which is why they are looking for teachers.

and I want to know how many classes I will have to take to get certified.
I am afraid it may take a year.

In Illinois, getting certified takes a year.
In some states, like Ohio, it is relatively simple to get certified.

I don't know if private schools are better. They may have some spoiled brats.
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jboney



Joined: 14 May 2008
Location: Northern Seoul

PostPosted: Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

afsjesse wrote:
What if you have an MA in TESL? I'm going back to school to get mine possibly. I also have my BA in Spanish Language so does this help with Bi-ed???


A BA in Spanish will help with Bi-Ed. as some of your coursework may be Spanish classes. Otherwise, the majority of your classes will most likely be pedagogical theory, and Bi-Ed. theory classes and field work.

Bilingual Education is a big field now with lots of school districts looking for Bi-Lingual Ed. certified teachers (especially here in NYC).

Honestly, I wouldn't get an MA in TESL and then get the cert. in Bi-Ed.

I was an English major as an undergrad, I went to a school for my M.S.Ed. and my state certification all in one. Go for a program that lets you do your state cert. and your masters all in one!

Because I was an English major, I did not have to take as many English classes. My coursework and field work all went towards both my state certification to teach English (grades 7-12) and my Masters degree.


Hope this was informative.
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Brooks



Joined: 08 Apr 2003

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

yes, I graduated back in 1996, at a school up in Vermont, before my school added the certification part of the course of study. It comes to 52 credits, I think.

I am hoping to work and study at the same time.
Otherwise, I would have to borrow some money and study full-time.
Since I am married now, I have to work and make money.
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Mdvl_lady50



Joined: 22 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

From my experiences in teaching in California, Nevada and Arizona -- all states are different in the qualifications. I took the Praxis in CA that transferred to Nevada. When I came to Arizona after a three year hiatus in England and got back into teaching, I found out that my Praxis would not transfer over. I had to take another exam (very similar to Praxis) but was not a piece of cake either. My biggest struggle was the mathematics portion of both tests since I never retained algebra or geometry in high school, why would it be any different a zillion years later. I also had to retake several graduate level education classes to actually get my Arizona teaching credential. Then I found out that I needed to take an ESL course (which I ended up being reimbursed for from the school district). So here I am teaching ESL kids in the backwaters of Arizona, and the school is inspected by state officials. They go through my credentials, and because I did not have a two year track record of teaching ESL consistently in one school, I was put on a long term sub status -- all benefits taken away. See, you can get shafted in the States too. I gave my notice and sub in my hometown on about a three day a week basis. So, any job in the States can be good or bad -- depends on the school district and the support or lack thereof of the principal.
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runthegauntlet



Joined: 02 Dec 2007
Location: the southlands.

PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Brooks wrote:


I am looking to get certified in Nevada, and I am trying to find out if I can take the Praxis in Guam or Hawaii, since it is cheaper to fly there.


I'm looking at the same thing and discovered you can take the Praxis in Fukuoka, Japan. Definitely the closest thing to Korea, and a mere boat ride away for those near Busan.

Website:
http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/PRAXIS/lists/praxis_tc_intl.html
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Brooks



Joined: 08 Apr 2003

PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wow, thank you.
That is great news.
So, I think it is all done on the computer now.
So it is done on paper too.
Ah, but only one day in March. That may be a problem for me since I have to work most of March.

Strange. For Japan, it is only in Fukuoka.

Yeah, I have an interview for work in Nevada, and I have to take the Praxis before I even apply for certification.
Clark County is looking for teachers. They recruit in different parts of the US, but it makes me wonder about the job. Lots of teachers quit so they have to spend a lot of time on recruiting people.

Nevada has no state income tax so that is a plus
in living there.
it got hit the hardest in the sub-prime fiasco, but that means that housing may not cost that much.
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