My goal for next year is to move to Hsinchu, Taiwan to live/work near my brother. After a year or two there, I'm open to going most anywhere in the world for International Teaching in the field of LA/English. I have a few questions:
1. Would it help or hurt my chances for an IT position if I go teach ESL for a year or two and leave the public school that I'm teaching at in the United States. The subject that I want to teach Internationally is English/Language Arts(which I taught for two years, but the last three I taught Technology Education: Project Lead the Way at the Middle School level). I have already applied to a few IT schools in Hsinchu and haven't heard back, so I figure I'll have to go the ESL route for now, if I do move there...
2. Will multiple certifications through passing Praxis tests in the US help me at all? Thought I remember reading from PsyGuy that they don't help at all, but don't remember exactly...I would also be open to teaching Psychology Internationally, but don't know if the same requirements hold true internationally that I'd have to pass the High School Social Studies Praxis(which I haven't taken)?
I have a BA in Psychology and Post-Bachelor's Teaching Certificate for Secondary English.
In the US, I'm also qualified to teach 6-12 Technology Education, Project Lead the Way(a new specialized TE class), Middle School Social Studies, Science, and Math because of passing these tests.
3. I know that LA/English is a pretty saturated market, so I figure my initial IT school would probably be a Tier 1 or maybe 2, would that be correct?
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
ESL help or hinder? Praxis?
Response
In your scenario moving into ESOL will most certainly hurt you. ESOL doesnt count for anything in iE, and many recruiters regard it as poison. Thats one thing if you arent doing anything, but you would be giving up actual DE experience that does count to go do something that professionally from a resume POV is worthless.
Literature doesnt decay like technology does, but three years out of a ELA classroom is dating your skills in that aspect.
All of your credentials are at the lower secondary level, and only really large ISs (such as tier 1 ISs) can maintain stable dedicated lower secondary ITs, the rest of IE the expectation is that you can teach all grades or all secondary.
With all your combined credentials you may want to look at primary ISs, particularly as a specialist
Credentials regardless of how they are earned will improve your marketability, the issue become that a certification without experience or an academic background is a very weak candidate. Leadership isnt going to be keen on placing an IT with nothing but a credential in a school leaving course. Again if your ina large enough ISs thats a little less of a problem but if an IS is hiring you to teach secondary maths they are going to want to feel comfortable putting you in a trig or calc class, and a credential by itself doesnt inspire much confidence. However, a credential makes you legal, and demonstrates that you have some level of competency/proficiency.
In regards to Psychology as a dedicated IT in Psych you would only find that at very large ISs, in the rest of IE (ISs with small or moderate sized student populations) it would only be a partial load. In such a situation a credential would certainly be marketable, but if you were a literature IT who taught a single class/section of psyc, with a degree its going to be a little less an issue. The examination and time is minimal however (though your going to need to review history, and a skim a few other fields) to pass the exam.
You will be marketable within third tier ISs.
Literature doesnt decay like technology does, but three years out of a ELA classroom is dating your skills in that aspect.
All of your credentials are at the lower secondary level, and only really large ISs (such as tier 1 ISs) can maintain stable dedicated lower secondary ITs, the rest of IE the expectation is that you can teach all grades or all secondary.
With all your combined credentials you may want to look at primary ISs, particularly as a specialist
Credentials regardless of how they are earned will improve your marketability, the issue become that a certification without experience or an academic background is a very weak candidate. Leadership isnt going to be keen on placing an IT with nothing but a credential in a school leaving course. Again if your ina large enough ISs thats a little less of a problem but if an IS is hiring you to teach secondary maths they are going to want to feel comfortable putting you in a trig or calc class, and a credential by itself doesnt inspire much confidence. However, a credential makes you legal, and demonstrates that you have some level of competency/proficiency.
In regards to Psychology as a dedicated IT in Psych you would only find that at very large ISs, in the rest of IE (ISs with small or moderate sized student populations) it would only be a partial load. In such a situation a credential would certainly be marketable, but if you were a literature IT who taught a single class/section of psyc, with a degree its going to be a little less an issue. The examination and time is minimal however (though your going to need to review history, and a skim a few other fields) to pass the exam.
You will be marketable within third tier ISs.
Re: ESL help or hinder? Praxis?
Thanks for the quick reply. I meant to say tier 3 or maybe tier 2, not tier 1.
Re: Response
PsyGuy wrote:
>
> Literature doesnt decay like technology does, but three years out of a ELA
> classroom is dating your skills in that aspect.
Any chance I could get a High School English job if all I've taught is Middle School English? My certification is in 6-12 LA/English...
> All of your credentials are at the lower secondary level, and only really
> large ISs (such as tier 1 ISs) can maintain stable dedicated lower
> secondary ITs, the rest of IE the expectation is that you can teach all
> grades or all secondary.
> With all your combined credentials you may want to look at primary ISs,
> particularly as a specialist
I can't teach a primary school because my certification and credentials are all either 6-12 or 6-8, but not k-5. Correct?
>
> Literature doesnt decay like technology does, but three years out of a ELA
> classroom is dating your skills in that aspect.
Any chance I could get a High School English job if all I've taught is Middle School English? My certification is in 6-12 LA/English...
> All of your credentials are at the lower secondary level, and only really
> large ISs (such as tier 1 ISs) can maintain stable dedicated lower
> secondary ITs, the rest of IE the expectation is that you can teach all
> grades or all secondary.
> With all your combined credentials you may want to look at primary ISs,
> particularly as a specialist
I can't teach a primary school because my certification and credentials are all either 6-12 or 6-8, but not k-5. Correct?
Reply
@wilcoman
Sure theres a chance, theres a scenario where a moderate sized IS or an IS that doesnt have a school leaving program, or an IS is desperate or combination of them where an IT with a credential appropriate to upper secondary but has extractable experience. In JP JHS (middle school) is years 7-9, your middle school (6-8) experience is probably not an issue for assignment to a year 9 class. An IS thats new, growing, desperate and needs someone may not have an applicant pool with candidates that dont have any experience or only a years worth, etc. In which case an IT who can adapt and manage a classroom is likely a better candidate than one who is still making their bones.
Your main problem is you want to move to Hsinchu, TW which is a very restricted job target. Could there be an upper secondary ELA/Lit vacancy there that none else wants, sure, you can also draw the ace of spades to complete a royal flush. Whats more likely is your going to have to take what you can get, and whats going to have reasonable availability is ESOL.
As far as primary kind of, many education systems recognize primary as years 1-6, so you are credentialed in year 6 the last year of primary, more importantly your credentialed in the core subjects found in a self contained classroom such as primary. Your credentialed in maths, science, social studies and literature, you wont hear a lot of argument that you lack subject matter expertise in those subjects for younger students. which as a specialist is what you do. You would be surprised how many primary teachers cant teach year 6th maths in an Asian primary curriculum IS/DS because they cant do algebra.
Its a minor issue with your middle years credentials you could easily pass the PRAXIS Elementary exam and add a primary certification. The PRAXIS primary exam will require no study or prep time.
Sure theres a chance, theres a scenario where a moderate sized IS or an IS that doesnt have a school leaving program, or an IS is desperate or combination of them where an IT with a credential appropriate to upper secondary but has extractable experience. In JP JHS (middle school) is years 7-9, your middle school (6-8) experience is probably not an issue for assignment to a year 9 class. An IS thats new, growing, desperate and needs someone may not have an applicant pool with candidates that dont have any experience or only a years worth, etc. In which case an IT who can adapt and manage a classroom is likely a better candidate than one who is still making their bones.
Your main problem is you want to move to Hsinchu, TW which is a very restricted job target. Could there be an upper secondary ELA/Lit vacancy there that none else wants, sure, you can also draw the ace of spades to complete a royal flush. Whats more likely is your going to have to take what you can get, and whats going to have reasonable availability is ESOL.
As far as primary kind of, many education systems recognize primary as years 1-6, so you are credentialed in year 6 the last year of primary, more importantly your credentialed in the core subjects found in a self contained classroom such as primary. Your credentialed in maths, science, social studies and literature, you wont hear a lot of argument that you lack subject matter expertise in those subjects for younger students. which as a specialist is what you do. You would be surprised how many primary teachers cant teach year 6th maths in an Asian primary curriculum IS/DS because they cant do algebra.
Its a minor issue with your middle years credentials you could easily pass the PRAXIS Elementary exam and add a primary certification. The PRAXIS primary exam will require no study or prep time.
Re: ESL help or hinder? Praxis?
It seems a lot of HS teachers would prefer to teach the upper grades so taking on the 9th grade or a 9/10 grade load might allow you to make the jump from middle school. That's how my husband made the move initially from middle to high school.
Discussion
I wouldnt disagree with @mamava, in IB year 9 and 10 is considered middle years. You need an IS large enough with a significantly high enough population to warrant a sizable literature department, such that they can mitigate any risk of performance if you arent successful.
Re: ESL help or hinder? Praxis?
Thanks for the info/opinions. I'm probably going to teach ESOL for a year in Hsinchu, unless I draw the "Ace of Spades" and land an IT job there. I'll attend the Hong Kong or Bangkok Search Job Fair in January and hopefully get something for the following year somewhere in the world to start. Hong Kong might be better since I'm just starting and don't have the resume for the elite Bangkok schools, right?
Re: Reply
PsyGuy wrote:
> @wilcoman
>
> Your not competitive for the elite tier ISs in Thailand, but HK is one of
> the little tigers, its like JP and highly competitive.
Which fair would have more tier 3 schools? What's JP?
Thanks, I'm new to all this, obviously...
> @wilcoman
>
> Your not competitive for the elite tier ISs in Thailand, but HK is one of
> the little tigers, its like JP and highly competitive.
Which fair would have more tier 3 schools? What's JP?
Thanks, I'm new to all this, obviously...
Reply
@wilcoman
JP is Japan, just as HK is Hong Kong, SG is Singapore, TW is Taiwan.
Well the winter BKK is the super fair for top tier ITs and ISs, third tier ISs for the most part dont even bother showing up. HK would have 3rd tier ISs and being local to TW would be easier for travel, but HK is essentially a regional swap meet for ITs in that location, its HK ITs shuffling amongst other HK ITs. Usually an IT gets into HK through ESF for example and then moves on.
JP is Japan, just as HK is Hong Kong, SG is Singapore, TW is Taiwan.
Well the winter BKK is the super fair for top tier ITs and ISs, third tier ISs for the most part dont even bother showing up. HK would have 3rd tier ISs and being local to TW would be easier for travel, but HK is essentially a regional swap meet for ITs in that location, its HK ITs shuffling amongst other HK ITs. Usually an IT gets into HK through ESF for example and then moves on.