Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i2GG9YI27337; Tue, 16 Mar 2004 11:09:34 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 11:09:34 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <000f01c40b81$7d3c3140$4dba9f3f@6912cck4d337> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "olivia durham" <odurham@integrity.com> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:10063] Re: [adult ed ESL requirements X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1158 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: O Content-Length: 1729 Lines: 38 I think some of the vitriol surrounding the "certification" issue comes from the narrow perameters of the Public School Certification process in the United States. I beg excuse to use myself as an example. MA in Linguistics with a Certificate in ESL (from an English Dept.). I am qualified to 1. Go overseas and teach fulltime, which I did for a while. 2. Teach as an adjunct at the university level -- part time, no benefits, we've been down this road recently in this list so let's not open this up again.(have done this, in native speaking and non-native speaking classes) 3. Teach Adult ESL any level in most states (like this but no current openings in my new state) (ibid on the part time, no benefits, etc.) What bothers me is that because my course work in Methods and Materials in ESL, the teaching of writing, including a full semester teaching practicum, happened within the English rather than the Education department of my university, my transcripts come back as having "no education credentials." i.e. not applicable to the K-12 setting. I will forsake the griping except to say that we all hear from time to time about the terrible shortage of qualified teachers nationwide, continuing to grow. I feel that the NEA's inflexible requirements for certification are the main reason for this. I realize there is no use asking the world to turn to my tune, so I submit this request for practical advice: Is anyone qualified to offer advice, resources, or personal histories about the shortest route to certification within the K-12 system in their state? I would love to teach ESL one of the local school districts. I would be grateful, Olivia Durham Currently teaching music part time (!) in Central VT.
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