Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buckeye101]

That is, how many of you hold bachelor degrees in Education?

[VanIslander]

[ontheway]

[Jeonmunka]

[VanIslander]

[Mr. Pink]

[Sadebugo1]

I don't think a B.ED is necessarily the best qualification for teaching EFL, is it? Spot on, is an MATESL/TEFL if I'm not mistaken. So, a teacher is only a real teacher if they have the appropriate field of study regardless of certification. Am I wrong?

Sadebugo
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/

[sigmundsmith]

If you are talking about a real teacher as someone who has an education degree and teachers various subjects, well many would answer yes.

If you are talking about someone who has many years teaching efl across different levels, approaches their work professionally, has desired and sought academic advancement such as a graduate diploma of masters degree. Then yes many here would see themselves as professional teachers.

But someone with an education degree does not necessarily make the best efl teacher.

I look at it this way, someone who has focused on a particular area of education and progressed academically, then yes, I see them as professionals in their field. The same as someone who is a music teacher or a phys ed teacher.

[Changwon Charlie]

Yes, i am a supposed "real" teacher.

In saying that some of the worst teachers I have seen have been holders of degrees in education. The very worst (which you can see in the freaky foreigner thread) was a masters of TESOL education.
Some of the best teachers were people that held a degree in no way related to education.

Teaching is all how well you can relate to people and their strengths and weaknesses. A degree is helpful for strategies and techniques but once you get in the classroom I have found it to be not too useful.

Just because you have a piece of paper doesn't make youy a good teacher.

[ReeseDog]

The OP considers only those with education degrees to be "real" teachers? I imagine that that idea is offensive to many here. I submit that those who teach are real teachers. Someone look up the definition.

Yes, I have a B.S.Ed., and I consider anyone who teaches to be a colleague and a real teacher.



Dang. Am I feeding the troll?

[outkast_3000]

What about the B.Ed holder who doesn't teach?

Anyways, the more appropriate question would have been "How many of you have B.Ed's?"

I'll say this, I'll go toe-to-toe with anyone teaching English lit. and Social Studies - but EFL? Nope.

When I started here in '07, I had no clue what I was doing. I knew how to do a proper lesson plan, I knew how to structure and organize different kinds of activities that fit developmental stages of learning, the class was always under control - but...the kids weren't learning anything.

It wasn't until I took my TESOL cert. after a few months of frustration and guilt that things turned around.

In any case, a B.Ed doesn't make you a "real" teacher in a one degree fits all kind of way. All B.Ed holders are specialized into certain areas, so by qualifications I'm a "real" teacher of English Lit. and Social Studies, but not in EFL.

[Ramen]

I have masters of eduation in "not caring."

[jhuntingtonus]

I can do it all, have taught everyone from kindergarteners to post-college adults, have the complete set of degrees, but no teaching certifications. It's great I don't need those also.

[creeper1]

[Captain Obvious]

What a ridiculous question. Anyone who needs to ask that about ESL in Korea obviously isn't a real teacher here.

OP, here's a better one. "Who here is a real professor?" Think about it. Asking who's a real teacher is just as stupid.