Search found 7 matches

by josh2588
Tue Feb 16, 2016 2:22 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teach Now vs PGCEi vs IB Cert
Replies: 12
Views: 29802

Re: Teach Now vs PGCEi vs IB Cert

@overseaslifer

Indeed. I know of other teachers who have transitioned from being language academy/EFL teachers into subject/homeroom teachers at accredited international schools, despite not having a teacher's qualification (save for TEFL certs). The director then encouraged them to get certified the alternative route. I personally know of two who ended up getting certified through Teacher Ready. I certainly consider myself lucky to be working as a teacher at an international school - relating to what you said, I'm not sure if I would have qualified for a work visa under Chinese laws as I only have a couple years of ESL teaching experience and a Bachelor's degree. However, as I'm a Chinese (Hong Kong) citizen, I'm basically visa-exempt and that's what probably landed me this job.
Just curious as to your personal situation. Are you planning to stay in teaching? Will you eventually be looking to get certified?

@tinopener

Thanks for the info. I've also heard similar comments about the iPGCE. I've ultimately decided not to go for the iPGCE from Nottingham as since it lacks a teaching practicum, it will not allow me to register as a teacher in Hong Kong. The iPGCE from Sunderland, however, does include such a practicum and I've heard of some teachers using that to apply for "Registered Teacher" status in HK. I'm still looking into that.
So just out of curiosity, what did you end up doing? Did you end up signing up for any type of qualification?

@PsyGuy

Thanks a lot for your detailed post. I've learned a ton from reading your posts. I'm going to look into the NJ certification scheme that you mentioned. I wonder whether or not the fact that I majored in French Language Studies would exempt me from this. When you mention using the CE (or another other USA state certification for that matter) to apply for QTS, does this mean that would essentially become a certified teacher in that particular state AND the UK?

I've definitely thought about the PGDE in Hong Kong, However, I'm currently on contract at my IS in China until 2017, so I don't think it would work out. My current line of thinking with regards to eventually earning "Registered Teacher Status" in HK is that I could do either Teach-Now (if they accept my current IS for their field experience requirements) or the PGCEi from Sunderland that, opposed to the PGCEi from Nottingham, carries an assessed teaching practicum module, which is what the MOE seems to require. I've decided not to pursue the Nottingham PGCEi due to the very fact that it is stated on their website that the HK MOE won't recognize it.

Thanks for the info regarding Canada. It certainly does seem a little strict and complicated. I have a Canadian teaching colleague who will be moving back to BC next year and pursuing his teaching qualification full time. He originally wanted to stay on as a salaried teacher and go the alternative route, but I gathered that to him, the route was too difficult/complex/unclear.

As for the IB cert route, I will be scrapping that option too. You are right in that it is expensive, and I also gather that you need IB experience and teacher certification to even be eligible to register for the IB T&L cert, of which I have neither.
by josh2588
Tue Feb 16, 2016 1:36 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: The leap into admin/leadership
Replies: 11
Views: 13477

Re: The leap into admin/leadership

That was really insightful and helped me understand the scene a lot better. Thank you.
by josh2588
Tue Feb 16, 2016 1:17 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: American or Brit Certification/Credential for non-citizens.
Replies: 36
Views: 74520

Re: American or Brit Certification/Credential for non-citize

@PsyGuy

This is certainly an interesting yet intriguing pathway to certification. To put it bluntly, this pretty much means any graduate who manages to get a teaching position at an accredited school (including international schools) could find themselves being a certified teacher after 2 years working full-time, provided they pass the tests, right?
by josh2588
Thu Feb 11, 2016 12:01 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: feeling like giving up
Replies: 22
Views: 27498

Re: feeling like giving up

Definitely not. I feel like being persistent is a huge factor here. You can follow up with schools, or continue compiling a list of IS's in the region(s) you're looking at and applying directly to them. For my current job, I got hired in the middle of August (a week into the school year) due to a sudden increase in student enrolment.
by josh2588
Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:34 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teach Now vs PGCEi vs IB Cert
Replies: 12
Views: 29802

Re: Teach Now vs PGCEi vs IB Cert

Thanks for your advice, Shadowjack.

From reading around on the forums, I gather that the Teach Now certification would be more valuable than the iPGCE. So I'm going to be applying for that course, hoping that they'll accept my school for the 12-week field work requirement.

It would definitely be ideal if the Teach Now teacher certification could be transferred to Canada or Hong Kong, as I am a citizen of both countries and would perhaps end up teaching there one day. I guess I would have to make an inquiry with their respective educational authorities.
by josh2588
Wed Feb 10, 2016 2:29 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: The leap into admin/leadership
Replies: 11
Views: 13477

The leap into admin/leadership

Would anybody be able to advise what the switch into admin/leadership typically looks like on the international teaching scene? How many years of teaching experience is typically accumulated before this happens? Is it typical or required to have a Masters in Educational Leadership/Management to be accepted into admin? I noticed that many such Masters programs do not have listed requirements on teaching experience. Therefore, if a teacher has a career goal of getting into admin, would it be fair to say that they should complete the M.Ed in Educational Leadership ASAP, regardless of experience?

Thanks in advance for everybody’s advice.
by josh2588
Sun Feb 07, 2016 11:15 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teach Now vs PGCEi vs IB Cert
Replies: 12
Views: 29802

Teach Now vs PGCEi vs IB Cert

Hi everyone,

Been browsing this forum for a while now and am really appreciative of all the guidance and knowledge that is on here. Thanks!

I would like to get some advice regarding my current situation. It’s currently my first year teaching at an IS in China. To be honest, I’m very appreciative of my current job. I got it through a stroke of luck – I was hired a week into the school year due to a sudden increase in student enrollment, and the fact that I am a dual Hong Kong Chinese citizen (the other being Canadian) allowed the school to hire me quickly and skip the paperwork as I don't require a visa. Although I’m not sure how to verify it, I’m guessing my school is 2nd to 3rd tier. Before that, I had been teaching English at language schools for several years.

My long-term career goal is to be work in an educational leadership/administration position, preferably at an IB school. Short-term, I’d like to become a PYP teacher at an IB IS school or at least a reputable IS.

I currently don’t have any postgrad certs nor teacher certification, so I’m trying to work out what my next academic step should be to get me as close as possible to my professional goals. So far the potential options I’ve worked out are:

A) Do the Teach Now program (either the 9-month teacher certification or 12-month M.Ed, any advice on which is more recommended?) so that I can get teacher-certified in DC despite not being an American citizen, which will help as a basic requirement for future IS school applications. Hopefully me being a HRT in an IS right now will get me accepted for their field work requirement.

B) Do the PGCEi from the Uni of Nottingham. I actually have an offer from them to start the course this March but am hesitant as to whether or not I should take it. I heard the course is pretty straightforward but I am a bit turned off by the fact that it doesn’t contain any practical elements and that it doesn’t seem to be a very well-respected qualification with higher-tier IS’s.

C) Apply for an online M.Ed or postgrad course at an IB-affiliated university that contains the IB Certificate in Teaching and Learning (PYP concentration). I’m assuming such a course would not lead to teacher certification, but I think the plus side is that it would help me get my foot in the door as an IB teacher in 2017 when my contract at my current school ends?
So I’m currently at a fork-road and would love to hear from you guys what you think would be the best option for me, or whether there would even be other options. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and I look forward to hearing from you!

So I’m currently at a fork-road and would love to hear from you guys what you think would be the best option for me, or whether there would even be other options. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this and I look forward to hearing from you!