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rukspc
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Unhappy Mar 11, 2019 at 03:43 PM
  #1
Lately, I have felt inadequate and regretful for my education and career path. I finished my MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) last May in 2018. My focus was adult ELL, but decided that there were few options than K12 for jobs. Instead, I transitioned to K12 and now work as a reading teacher at a local school. My MA did not have a licensure path, as that was not my initial decision to pursue an ELL career. I also do not have student teaching experience with K12 - only with adult students (which has a slightly different teaching approach). Now that I have been working in K12, I need to get my K12 ELL license to be able to teach in public or charter schools in my state. I could go back to do some additional coursework to fulfill the K12 strand, but I don't want to take any more loans out. Besides, my state has offered a tiered program to make it easier for teachers to obtain licensure. While there are options for me, I feel regretful as I should have pursued a different program at perhaps a different college in another subject. Or I should have just done an initial licensure - and then I would not be in this mess. My only option is to go abroad, teach at university, or pursue a license in K12 to teach in schools in the U.S.

My employer, in order to offer employment in ELL, I must complete licensure requirements by fall of the upcoming school year. This means testing and applying for one of the tiered programs. I recently read online that most schools accept a BA + licensure (content area) for anyone looking for employment. The only downside is the salary scale. With an MA, I have an advantage. I wish I had looked more into other programs and explored more about what I could have done. I could have taught Social Studies or even ELA.

I know when I tell my boyfriend about this, he will disagree with what I am telling you. I worked hard for my MA and nearly quit the program in my last semester because I was so overwhelmed with my thesis. I feel regretful, sad, inadequate, and keep looking back on what I could have done.
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Smile Mar 11, 2019 at 08:54 PM
  #2
Thanks for sharing this. I don't know anything about the specifics. So I can't comment on those. But what I can say, from personal experience, is that it's so difficult to anticipate what one may need in the future in terms of professional credentials. Quite a few years ago now, I found myself having to test for a professional certification I could have been grandfathered into had I had the foresight to sign up at the time. But, at the time, it just didn't seem worth the bother. It's frustrating. However, with your background, I trust you will be able to acquire the licensure you need.

P.S. Hopefully you may find your bf to be more supportive than you anticipate.

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Default Mar 12, 2019 at 03:30 AM
  #3
I'm in Europe so only know the term TESOL.
But... if I was you, I would ask myself whether I truly prefer teaching adults, university students, or schoolchildren. Which age group do you feel most compatible with?

And then I would look for options, ask around etc. For example, is there any way that your employer can help you out with an interest-free loan paying back over time through your salary.

I would also have a good look at what is the cheapest and what is the most beneficial/ satisfying etc training course combined with practical experience.

You sound very thorough in your approach to teaching, much more than me, so I think you will do well in whatever you choose.

I'm in the middle of making major financial long-term decisions and I have spreadsheets set up with all the financial details to remind myself that those consequences are very real. At the same time, I've learned = am in the process of struggling to learn => that the inner me needs comfortable things to hold onto or I'm going to become overstretched. I let my inner me set up some criteria that are not financially spreadsheet-able - such as "we like nature and trees".

Personally, I've been so focused on getting the loans paid off all my life - totally, unbelievably focused on that - and I've paid for training courses to benefit my career, one of which was crucial and several of which were not beneficial to me at all.

It is a tough balancing act for sure.

Would it be at all helpful to let your inner self set up some criteria, as well as all the practical considerations? For me, this keeps me anchored, helps people around me to be supportive and lets strangers know when they are pulling me off-track. In my case "I want a huge tree" might have to be compromised into "perhaps we can plant a small one" - but it makes working through the adult stuff a little easier.

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Default Mar 12, 2019 at 03:48 AM
  #4
P.S. I just re-read your thread and am still unsure whether you are debating K12 vs tiered programme and whether both are for teaching schoolchildren.

This brought up a third comment for me, which that if teaching schoolchildren is your chosen career path, then I would look less at the short-term cost and more at what will make you secure and give you a good status in your workplace ten/ twenty years from now. Because when you become a 45 or 50 year old school teacher you will want to be up there with good grading, good pension prospects and an equal status to your peers re opportunities. I have friends who are coming up to retirement age as teachers (lucky them) and who have survived many education system changes, and the opportunities open to them as a result of their licensure status have been more important than short-term costs.

Just my point of view .

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Default Mar 12, 2019 at 07:26 AM
  #5
Quote:
Originally Posted by rukspc View Post
Lately, I have felt inadequate and regretful for my education and career path. I finished my MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) last May in 2018. My focus was adult ELL, but decided that there were few options than K12 for jobs. Instead, I transitioned to K12 and now work as a reading teacher at a local school. My MA did not have a licensure path, as that was not my initial decision to pursue an ELL career. I also do not have student teaching experience with K12 - only with adult students (which has a slightly different teaching approach). Now that I have been working in K12, I need to get my K12 ELL license to be able to teach in public or charter schools in my state. I could go back to do some additional coursework to fulfill the K12 strand, but I don't want to take any more loans out. Besides, my state has offered a tiered program to make it easier for teachers to obtain licensure. While there are options for me, I feel regretful as I should have pursued a different program at perhaps a different college in another subject. Or I should have just done an initial licensure - and then I would not be in this mess. My only option is to go abroad, teach at university, or pursue a license in K12 to teach in schools in the U.S.

My employer, in order to offer employment in ELL, I must complete licensure requirements by fall of the upcoming school year. This means testing and applying for one of the tiered programs. I recently read online that most schools accept a BA + licensure (content area) for anyone looking for employment. The only downside is the salary scale. With an MA, I have an advantage. I wish I had looked more into other programs and explored more about what I could have done. I could have taught Social Studies or even ELA.

I know when I tell my boyfriend about this, he will disagree with what I am telling you. I worked hard for my MA and nearly quit the program in my last semester because I was so overwhelmed with my thesis. I feel regretful, sad, inadequate, and keep looking back on what I could have done.
I think you should be very proud and write down in a notebook everyday: I am proud I finished my MA. I am proud I can teach and get certified. I am grateful for this opportunity" etc. Not really a gratitude journal but just a self congratulatory and self love list and read it every morning until you believe it. And definitely do not think about the past. We cant control the past or the future- only today. Just focus on doing the next right thing and being kind- to yourself and others. I promise you it will all work out.

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