Jobs for non-native English speaking teachers?

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andybaxley86
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:25 am
Location: Seoul

Jobs for non-native English speaking teachers?

Post by andybaxley86 »

My spouse is Korean, speaks English fluently, and is planning to become certified to teach music. She already has a masters from an elite US conservatory and an extensive background as a professional musician, as well as many hundreds of hours as a one-on-one music teacher. Our goal is to land couple teaching positions once she is certified. I'm a bit nervous about her marketability as a non-native English speaker.

In your experience, will schools consider hiring someone in my spouse's position?

Also, she is currently considering various avenues to certification. The first option would be to get certified as a music teacher here in Korea (we live in Seoul). The second would be to get a US certification via TeacherReady or a similar program and do her student teaching at an IS here. I'm assuming the latter would be preferable in the eyes of an IS, but how big of a difference would it make? It would be much simpler for her to get the Korean certification, but obviously we shouldn't move forward with that option if it will render her unmarketable.

On a side note, I just want to express my gratitude to everyone on this forum. I've had so many important questions answered here over the past couple years. It really is awesome that so many of you are willing to go out of your way to guide those of us who are new on the scene.
National
Posts: 128
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 3:00 am

Re: Jobs for non-native English speaking teachers?

Post by National »

I think the US certification would be more useful in landing jobs.

As for getting hired as a non-native English speaker, it depends on the school. My experience is that the better, truly international schools don't mind and sometimes even seek out international teachers. At my current school, we have non-native speakers teaching music, science, math, as our DP coordinator, and of course the languages. At my last school which was not as high quality, the only non-native English speakers were local hires (read: cheap for the school to employ) or language teachers.

Some schools definitely want native speakers, but some schools want to show that their teachers are as international as their student body. I think your wife may limit you in your search, but would not put you out of the running for many schools. It will be harder for you to get jobs as a teaching couple, but I wouldn't say it will be impossible.

My suggestion would be to go for the US certification and to highlight the US conservatory.
shadowjack
Posts: 2138
Joined: Sat Oct 06, 2012 9:49 am

Re: Jobs for non-native English speaking teachers?

Post by shadowjack »

It might be that schools would also be more than happy to take her on as a music teacher given her pedigree in education and experience, without the teaching certification, provided you have certification.

The only way to find out is to ask. You can do that without applying for a job - simply email schools, explain your situation, and ask how employable they feel your wife is. Be sure to include her credentials and experience.

Hope that helps!

shad
vandsmith
Posts: 348
Joined: Sat Oct 25, 2014 12:16 am

Re: Jobs for non-native English speaking teachers?

Post by vandsmith »

awesome! while maybe teaching couple could be out, or difficult, there are other avenues.

if your wife can get an artist visa, she should have no problem finding work giving music lessons, getting on with an orchestra, or holding concerts/workshops in the area. i would say find the school you really like and ask about the cultural arts scene. do lots of research (and your wife should too) about possibility of finding "gigs" (what do they call them in classical music?) The more affluent parts of the society would likely be falling over themselves to pay for her services. her certification would be icing on the cake in terms of finding employment - at least at the start, that's not why a school would hire her in my opinion. have you/or has she, sought out universities in the area? music programmes would likely be interested, and you don't really need teaching licenses to work in a university setting.

where are you searching, btw? that could have huge ramnifications for her (and your) abilities to gain employment.

best of luck, keep us updated!

v.
Quijanotango
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Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2015 2:08 pm

Re: Jobs for non-native English speaking teachers?

Post by Quijanotango »

I totally agree with previous posts, It depends on the school. The truly international schools would not look at your wife's nationality, but her qualifications and teaching experience.
I am a non-native English speaker (I do not teach languages) and I have received offers from several reputable international schools, many of them with the term 'British' in their names. But I think that it ultimately depends on which subject you teach and which country you want to teach in. For example,well qualified physics teachers can be picky and in my experience, China is an easy country to get a job in regardless of your nationality.
PsyGuy
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Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Northern Europe

Response

Post by PsyGuy »

@andybaxley86

Unless your wife in Hyuna its not likely. The primary issue is accreditation or policy, either the IS can only employ qualified educators, because of regional regulations or their accrediting agency requires it (or only allows very small exceptions), or the board ownership policy prohibits it.
Educators without formal instructional credentials are referred to as specialists, and ISs do make exemptions in some cases for highly skilled specialists mainly in native/foreign languages, the performing and fine arts, or for those who are recognized experts/authorities in their field. Your wife may qualify, but unless the admin/management is a fan or she is internationally known and recognized (Ie. Hyuna) then its not likely. There are a lot of professionals in their field who may be very accomplished at their craft, but cant teach, and have no experience managing a classroom or developing student learning. Tutoring is not the same as teaching (many ESOL teacher/instructors mistakenly believe it is), its not just creating and delivering a lesson its managing and organizing 20 children and the document production that goes with it. Can she produce a recital, and can she direct the music portion of the drama/theater departments productions, does she have experience doing that.
There are ISs that will consider her, but these ISs are typically going to be lower tier ISs that dont have as stringent accrediting requirements, or have more flexible ownership.

Is she can accomplish a SK teaching or instructional credential fairly easily that would be a very strong beginning. Its easier when approaching outside authorities with a credential than without. A number of states may accept her credential, D.C. and HI are the preferred pathways, but there are others that would be options though they would require more complex application processes. If she has an accepted SK teaching credential, completing a US EPP program is unnecessary.
Another option, is seeking certification as a Korean Language Teacher (far fewer requirements) and then applying for a music endorsement to be added to the language certification. This option is viable in the states that do not have a formal credentialing program for a number of esoteric languages.

There would be no difference between the marketability of a US ACP program and a reciprocity issued credential. They are indistinguishable on your resume, though you will be able to earn 12 credits towards a masters that would show on a transcript. The only difference would be if she pursued a traditional EPP program at a Uni, in which case she would be able to detail it on her resume and have a transcript or possible degree as well.

Another option is to pursue a foreign credential such as a PGCE(i) and ultimately QTS from the UK or a license from Canada or Australia, which would become viable options if she obtained a SK teaching credential.

Most ISs will list clearly their application requirements and will often clearly state that foreign applicants must be from western speaking countries which they define as UK, US, AUS, CAN. They want native speakers, and to some extent they want westerners that meet their definition of what a westerner should look like.

Artist visas are not a substitute for a work visa, they are intended for short stays to conduct a performance, etc, but do not include the authorization to work. It will get you in the country, maybe even as long as a year, but it wont allow an IS to employ you, and it wont legally permit you to earn income. That doesnt mean she couldnt illegally earn income on the side. Its very likely she could do as well if not better then you as a private instructor (which would be tax free).
andybaxley86
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:25 am
Location: Seoul

Re: Jobs for non-native English speaking teachers?

Post by andybaxley86 »

@ National
It's great to hear that the good schools do not count people out based strictly on their nationality. I'm used to the Korean hagwon world, where people have trouble getting hired for every little reason imaginable. What a relief to know that ISs, at least some of them, operate differently.

@ Shadowjack
You've inspired me to email a handful of schools to see if she might be marketable without a certification. If so, that would save us a whole lot of trouble. Thanks for your input!

@ vandsmith
Lots of good ideas here. Thank you! The life you describe- lots of gigs with private 1-1 teaching on the side- is exactly what she does now. Recreating that in another country, preferably legally, would be optimal. We hadn't thought about contacting universities, but that's a really good idea. She has a bit of university teaching experience, so she might be able to get her foot in the door.

@ Quijanotango
It's great to know that others out there are being offered contracts as non-native English speakers. Good going!

@ psyguy
Thanks, as always, for your thorough response. You've given me a lot to think about. It seems to me that having her get certified to teach here in Korea might be the best. We can then look into transferring her certification to the States or the UK if need be. If she were to transfer her credentials to, say, DC, could she then transfer her DC license to other states? In other words, would she be stuck with a DC license, or could she take tests to become qualified to teach in other states as well? I only ask because we are considering an eventual move back to my home state of Colorado.
PsyGuy
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Joined: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Northern Europe

Reply

Post by PsyGuy »

@andybaxley86

Yes and no, yes she would be able to transfer the DC, level II certification to Colorado. No, CO is an approved program state. Meaning regardless of what her certification states, she would be initially licensed in whatever her EPP/ITT program certified her in. Since the DC certification doesnt include an EPP/ITT, the pathway by which she earned her certification is what CO would accept towards a CO certification. She would need some kind of teacher training/education program in music from somewhere in addition to a teaching certification. Some states for example, will issue a teaching certification if you hold a doctorate in a field, this wouldnt be accepted by CO, since there was no EPP/ITT program.

CO accepts foreign teaching credentials and if she documents 3 years of applicable teaching experience they would grant a professional certification and waive the CO testing (PLACE) requirements. This experience does not need to be "verified" just self documented on the application. The DC route would provide her an effective and efficient route to certification, but if her SK certification would be accepted by CO, than the DC pathway is just a lot of extra work and expense. The advantage of the DC pathway is expediency, transcript -, and reciprocity assurance.

I would still strongly recommend pursuing certification even SK certification, lack of certification is always going to hurt her marketability compared to having it.
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