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Brace me on the realities of looking for a teaching job
noir_blood
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So I have about a year left or so(depending on how many classes I can squeeze in between my full time job) till I finally finish my teaching degree.
My focus is English, with my goal being teaching High School, more lit and less grammar. Now I know that this already is going to make it harder on me, as I heard that English teachers are a dime a dozen.
The other knock against me is that due to my job and just kinda me being myself, I haven't really stood out in the education classes I taken. Now, I'm aiming to change that, and make more of an impression when I start to do more student teaching, so hopefully I'll change that.
I'm not tied down in anyway, so I'm willing to pretty much move anywhere if it helps me get my career started. I used to hear about different cities/states that provided stipends etc. for teachers willing to go there, so I'm looking for anyone that has has experienced there, or just overall long term and short term tips that can come in handy.
My focus is English, with my goal being teaching High School, more lit and less grammar. Now I know that this already is going to make it harder on me, as I heard that English teachers are a dime a dozen.
The other knock against me is that due to my job and just kinda me being myself, I haven't really stood out in the education classes I taken. Now, I'm aiming to change that, and make more of an impression when I start to do more student teaching, so hopefully I'll change that.
I'm not tied down in anyway, so I'm willing to pretty much move anywhere if it helps me get my career started. I used to hear about different cities/states that provided stipends etc. for teachers willing to go there, so I'm looking for anyone that has has experienced there, or just overall long term and short term tips that can come in handy.
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English, history, and elementary school teachers all seem to be in that category. The other hurdle you have is that many school systems are already struggling with funding which precludes a lot of new hires and it has nothing to do with how much a school may want you.
This is what can work in your favor. In this area, both DC and Baltimore have programs going where they'll help pay for a masters or a certification or something in exchange for working for them a set amount of time. Most people still wouldn't take them up on that kind of offer cause we're talking really crummy school systems you'd have to deal with, but it's a way to get your foot in the door if you can stomach it.
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The best time to start networking was the first day of classes, but since that's no longer possible, start now. Start looking into what you can do outside of your regular classes/assignments that will make you stand out. There has to be a volunteer opportunity (or a few) that you could undertake.
Also, look into what else you're going to learn after you get your BeD (or whatever you call it there). Additional qualifications can mean all the difference in the world. If you're able to apply to a Catholic board, look into what is required to teach Religion. Here, there are three courses you take in succession. Look into special education classes and the like. Your school should have all the information you need.
Europe is very difficult to teach in without a masters or experience.
On the other hand, Asia is full of oppurtunities.
Is this still true? They were cutting back the JET program in several areas when I left in 2007, but I have no idea if that's turned around or if school systems have filled that gap with direct hires.
I began last year as a sub. Enough teachers requested me specifically to get noticed. From there, I was offered a position as an in-school tutor for 7th, 8th, and 11th graders in danger of failing the Language Arts part of the state test. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I worked with the middle school kids, teaching 8 classes each day of 8-10 kids who needed to learn how to write essays. I did the same on Fridays at the high school. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I subbed, which is essentially glorified babysitting, since the teachers usually give BS assignments that the kids know are BS.
I did well with this and was offered a position taking over for a teacher while she went on maternity leave.
Again, I did well. My supervisor told me she would have been able to offer me a job if it weren't for the budget crisis.
This year, I'm subbing/tutoring again. The pay for tutoring is pretty bad considering the work that goes into it (I'm paid as much as a substitute even though I do a hell of a lot more work).
I'm strongly considering looking into teaching English over in Japan or South Korea, hoping that the market will be better in a year or so. For a while, special ed, science, and math teachers were thought to be the safe zone, since it was thought that they were in demand. At my school, we lost a significant number of each of them.
I have buddies in other states that are in similar boats. It sucks that the state of education is so bad right now.
JET program is still being cut everyone in Japan. But direct hires and dispatch companies are on the major rise (I'm part of a dispatch company).
Mainly because companies like mine have higher standards than the JET program and hold real job interviews. And we actually work hard (that's seriously the number one thing).
Can you give an estimate of what your salary is?
Cost of living is a little higher in Japan than America though; but in general I'm living well and paying off my student loans easily.
Depending on your grades, there's Teach For America.
I have an English degree, but I'm not certified to teach. With that being said, you shouldn't have any problem finding work.
They pay is great, the hours small, and the costs of living are tiny compared to other countries.
The Chinese are obsessed with learning English and the market for it is steadily growing. However, the actual skill level required is low because the Chinese generally have no idea what quality is. If you are a common teacher you can make good cash and if you have skills there are plenty of ritzy schools to pay you top dollar.
My sister in law is Japanese and when they were there for a few months recently she said the market for English doesn't look so hot due to the recession hitting hard and Japanese people just not caring so much about English.
The standard of living is just as high as any metropolis in the world as long as you stick to a major city. Gets dirtier if you go farther inland like ChongQing or Xian.
There is a bit of a stigma that people go off and teach overseas as a form of vacationing and getting paid.
I looked pretty carefully at JET about 5 years ago, so tehmarken can correct me if I'm wrong here, but one of my profs was actually on a selection panel for JET. He said that people don't really realize just how competitive it's become. You actually need something to set you apart here, too. There are other programs for teaching there, but JET is your safest bet when looking at Japan.
Then I started looking at Korea. At the time, Korea had a government system for helping place teachers, but the setup is not the same and they don't really take an active role other than putting you in touch with schools. I actually had a very hard time finding people who had really positive experiences with teaching there who didn't just get incredibly lucky. If you think about Korea, make sure you do your homework, and listen to your gut when picking a school. Don't go anywhere that seems even a little bit shady; they probably are.
I have a friend who worked for NGOs in Africa for eight years who can attest to this as well. It's very well respected. Peace Corp is also pretty competitive nowadays. Speaking another language or two is a plus. I'll be fluent in French and know about a years worth of college Swahili when I go in. I'm shooting for Africa at first and then Europe when I get out. Unless I fall in love with humanitarian work or something. Who knows?
The going off to Asia or what not for part of a year? No one cares about it in terms of getting a job elsewhere after because anyone can do it and it doesn't require a degree even.
I actually know someone who taught in Thailand and LOVED it, but he got very lucky as well and I'm not sure how much of his experience was luck-based. Also I hope you don't need air conditioning.
Yeah, I was talking more about the 99% of other places in Asia.
That's the one thing I'm terrified of. I hate the heat and most developing countries are hot for some reason. It's going to be a sweaty two years. Maybe I can get placed somewhere in coastal Africa.
Any part of Africa is still going to be much more equatorial than Portland.
South Africa is about equivalent to San Diego in terms of distance from the equator. You'll get used to it though dude.