leipanga wrote:
> Hey! First, thanks to everyone who posted more recently with
> advice/encouragement. I still obsessively check this forum so it's
> appreciated. :)
>
> Second, I know it sucks that PMs don't work. I have a spam/throwaway e-mail
> at preservingmachine@gmail.com that you're welcome to contact me at,
> though!

Just sent you an email. Thanks!

wrldtrvlr123 wrote:
> PM's have been (permanently?) disabled for everyone. The stated reason by
> the site administrators was that they had received many complaints from
> forum members who had received unwanted or harassing private messages.
Jesus. I'm sure it's happened before, but I've never heard of a message board disabling private messages. Craigslist refuses to get rid of their sex ads but ISR removes PMs. OK.

Is there some way to talk privately with someone besides posting email addresses in threads?

This isn't on topic, but I've been a registered member of this site for months and yet I can't seem to send private messages anymore. What's that about? I'm logged in now and can't even find any option to check my old messages. Do the admins disable your PM privileges if you don't log in often enough or something??? I even tried to use a link in an old ISR notification email telling me I've received a PM, but the link just gives me an error message.

The reason I'm posting this here is because I wanted to PM leipanga. I'm in a similar situation in some ways and thought we might compare notes. leipanga, can you try PMing me? Thanks!

@munybse

I've already signed my renewal paperwork to work at a public school again next year. I read somewhere that the Teacher Ready program takes about 9 months...when exactly does the observations and practicum come into play? My grandparents live in Florida, so what I'm wondering is whether I could start with the online component of TR toward the end of my contract, then move to Florida for a few months to do the observations, practicum, and state tests.

I'm not opposed to hagwons, and Korea isn't a bad place to live overall, so I could potentially stay a 3rd year and switch to hagwons then. I was hoping I'd be able to do something productive during my free time next year, but maybe that just isn't in the cards.

Also, am I correct in my understanding that the state exams for Florida have to be taken in the U.S.? Did you fly home to do that? I read somewhere that it was possible to take them on military bases overseas, but then someone else posted and said you had to be active military personnel, so I wasn't sure.

Thanks for your information about TR. I haven't spoken to anyone personally who has gone through it, so this is helpful.

Hello all,

I wondered if you could help me understand the international school market a little better and, more specifically, the most economical way for me to break into it. First, my background:

--30 year old American male
--Bachelor's degree in English
--CELTA certification
--1 year of teaching ESL in South Korea, and will be renewing for a second year in 2015

I don't necessarily want to teach ESL at an international school, although I know those jobs exist and wouldn't be out of the question. But ideally I'd like to give myself more opportunities. I don't think I'd be good at teaching math or science, unfortunately, but English (as a subject) or history are definite possibilities.

I realize I'm missing a few important things: a master's degree, teaching certification, and teaching experience in a non-ESL environment.

I have a lot of "desk warming" time at work right now, so ideally I'd like to use it toward progressing my career. I've found a program called TeacherReady that I could do online that would certify me to be a teacher in Florida, but (as I understand it) you have to observe a classroom in person and do some practical teaching by the end of it, which wouldn't work for me because I live too far from the international schools here.

How would international schools feel about an online master's degree in TESOL? I don't want to get a master's degree back in the US because of the insane cost of higher education and the 2 years I'd spend being a student again. I have some friends who are currently getting their MA TESOL online through a respected university in England. It isn't cheap but it's a fraction of what I'd pay in the US. Should I spend the money to get the MA, or do international schools not care about it that much and thus it would be better to just save the money?

Assuming I get my teaching certification later and potentially get the MA in my spare time, what would be my chances of finding a job without 2 years of teaching experience in the US? I don't want to put my "overseas life" on hold for 2 years while I go back home and teach for 2 years simply so that I can get the experience to leave the country again. I'd rather just stay overseas and transition from teaching ESL to teaching a specific subject to international students.

Thanks very much in advance for your advice and information!

marieh wrote:
> 1. No, you're not missing anything. It will give you a Florida State
> teaching license, and you can do the student teaching portion of the
> program while still in Korea.
>
> 2. From my research, TeacherReady was the least expensive option. Keep in
> mind, however, that that figure doesn't include the cost of exams (which
> you must return to the US to take) and the state processing fees. Also, 9
> months is how long the program itself takes. From the time you start to the
> time you receive your license is more like 12 months.
>
> 3. You may have to decide between a good school or a good location, but you
> will be able to find a job. If you are getting an endorsement in math or
> science, you will likely have more options.
>
> This is precisely the approach I and several of my friends have taken, and
> we are now all gainfully employed in international schools. Good luck!

Great reply! Thanks so much for the info, especially coming from someone who has "been there." I'm curious about one more thing: who did you use for references? It seems like a lot of international schools are big on them. I could get my Korean coteacher to write a good reference, but it'd be regarding teaching English the language rather than English the subject. Did you have a similar situation after completing TeacherReady?

Hi everyone! Currently I'm working as an EFL teacher in an elementary school overseas, but I'd like to get certified as a teacher in the US so that I can make the leap to international schools in the future.

However, the logistics of moving back to the US after my contract is finished in order to begin the certification process would be problematic--I don't have a car anymore, I'd have to scrounge around and find some kind of job in the meantime, etc.

That's when I remembered that a friend had told me about TeacherReady. From what I understand, this course would prepare me to take the state exams in FL, which I would have to travel back to FL to do once I'm done.

Here are my questions:

1. I'm not missing anything, am I? I could use TeacherReady--or a similar online certification program--to get certified to teach in the US, which is one of the things international schools look for, correct?

2. Are there any other courses similar to TeacherReady that maybe...cost less? TR runs $5000 USD and takes 9 months to complete.

3. How likely is it that an international school would hire me once I'm certified? I wouldn't have worked as an elementary/middle/high school teacher at that point, but my bachelor's degree is in English for what it's worth. I realize the best international schools wouldn't hire me, but would I be able to find a job somewhere to start getting experience?

So, to summarize I suppose, I'm trying to make the jump to international schools without moving back to the US and with as little pain/money as possible.

Thanks in advance for any information or advice!