Search found 2 matches
- Mon Oct 29, 2012 1:46 pm
- Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
- Topic: Questions about experience and qualifications. Advice?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 21911
Thanks everyone for the input. I think through the discussion I have been able to see both sides of the story and have thus been able to realize that I am on the right track. As of now, I'll just learn as much as I can and try to develop my skills to be the teacher that I strive to be and when the time comes for me to start applying to International schools my experience and teaching capabilities will speak for itself. Thanks again.
- Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:21 am
- Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
- Topic: Questions about experience and qualifications. Advice?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 21911
Questions about experience and qualifications. Advice?
My ultimate goal is to become a life long international school teacher. I would greatly appreciate any advice that the veteran teachers on the forum could give me. Let me provide a quick overview of my experiences and qualifications.
After having spent few years teaching abroad pre qualification (including Peace Corps and at an international school that follows the IGCSE curriculum as well as various TEFL jobs in Europe), I have decided that it is time for me to get the qualifications I need in order to achieve my goal. I am currently at Columbia Teachers College pursuing my masters in English education while teaching full time in a high needs school in the Bronx. When I am finished I be certified in ELA and ESL, have a masters and three years of post qualification experience in the NYC public school system.
The question I have is in regards to the school I'm currently teaching at. The student population is 100% ELLs. All of the students have been in the country for less then a year and about 30% come with interrupted formal education. Within one class, the students range from zero english and barely literate in their native language to those who are only slightly performing below grade level. The school follows an English immersion model and all content areas are taught in English only. I am teaching 9th grade ELA. It is incredibly challenging but I believe that I am learning a lot. I am going to be a master at differentiation, that's for sure.
What concerns me is that this type of experience is not what top tier international schools are looking for. From what I have read, IB and AP experience is what schools are looking for. I am learning so much everyday here and from my perspective if I can excel in this situation I'll be able to do it anywhere. How likely are international schools going to take this same perspective? Any advice would be incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance.
After having spent few years teaching abroad pre qualification (including Peace Corps and at an international school that follows the IGCSE curriculum as well as various TEFL jobs in Europe), I have decided that it is time for me to get the qualifications I need in order to achieve my goal. I am currently at Columbia Teachers College pursuing my masters in English education while teaching full time in a high needs school in the Bronx. When I am finished I be certified in ELA and ESL, have a masters and three years of post qualification experience in the NYC public school system.
The question I have is in regards to the school I'm currently teaching at. The student population is 100% ELLs. All of the students have been in the country for less then a year and about 30% come with interrupted formal education. Within one class, the students range from zero english and barely literate in their native language to those who are only slightly performing below grade level. The school follows an English immersion model and all content areas are taught in English only. I am teaching 9th grade ELA. It is incredibly challenging but I believe that I am learning a lot. I am going to be a master at differentiation, that's for sure.
What concerns me is that this type of experience is not what top tier international schools are looking for. From what I have read, IB and AP experience is what schools are looking for. I am learning so much everyday here and from my perspective if I can excel in this situation I'll be able to do it anywhere. How likely are international schools going to take this same perspective? Any advice would be incredibly helpful. Thanks in advance.