Website Feedback
Closed Threads
IRC Chat
irc.quakenet.org #teamliquid
IRC Web ClientTeamSpeak 3 (83 users) | |
|
| Sanctimonius United Kingdom. July 01 2012 12:41. Posts 845 | Profile # |
Bit of a quirky title, I guess, but bear with me.
Little background: I'm from the UK, grew up there and went through the British education system, for all it's faults and good points. More faults than anything else, I went to a crappy school... >.>
Anyways I went to Japan for four years after I graduated university with History and enjoyed it greatly, working as an Assistant English Teacher on the JET programme (anyone looking for info on this programme can pm me if they want, I'll try to answer questions if I can and I know people I can ask if I can't). It was a lot of fun teaching there and while there were downsides I felt that the actual teaching parts outweighed these.
Now I'm living in Michigan and I've been trying to figure out what I will be doing as a career. I've looked at a number of things but I keep swinging back to teaching. Thing is, I have no experience of teaching in the US, either from the point of view of being a student to actually being a teacher. Here's where y'all come in - I'm looking for any information from people who actually have knowledge of what it's like in the education system here. What would my days be like as a teacher? Just how crappy is NCLB? I've heard a lot of horror stories, some from a friend in Cali who is an English teacher, such as having kids who can't read or who speak English as a second language, but because they are sixth grade students they have to learn sixth grade material, and then she's graded on how well they all do... But I'd like to know more about how it affects teachers in daily life, and if it's really as bad as people say. Anyone pro-NCLB?
Anyways I'm coming to the TL community at large looking for any information you would be willing to give. I'm pretty nubbish in this subject, so keep that in mind :D |
| | You live the life you choose. |
|
|
 GDbushido United States. July 01 2012 12:46. Posts 926 | Profile # |
| Honestly, if you're going to tech prep, anything but English. I graduated four years ago and most of the kids I went to school with could hardly read, let alone compose something original, and this was in a pretty affluent town with highly rated public schools. |
| | remember not to think too much and your trip will be numbingly pleasant |
|
|
| Heh_ Singapore. July 01 2012 12:47. Posts 2245 | Profile Blog # |
| If you don't have the passion, it's hard to be a teacher. Explaining material that seems trivial to you, dealing with problem kids etc, it takes a lot of patience. Teaching isn't everyone's cup of tea. |
| |
|
| Entertaining Canada. July 01 2012 12:48. Posts 593 | Profile # |
| There's a bear with you! Run! |
|
|
| Bobanator United States. July 01 2012 12:55. Posts 15 | Profile # |
| Happy to see someone from Michigan! But on topic, depending on where you live the public school teaching in Michigan isnt very good. Not in a bad teaching sense, but a hard to find (and harder to keep) teaching sense and it seems that all the funding for the school is going down and it doesn't really show signs of going up. I don't know about private schools or summer teaching though. And not to offend anyone from Flint, but I wouldn't try to teach there if you are very White/Foreign. |
| | I thought I was indecisive, but now I'm not to sure. |
|
|
| Mordoc United States. July 01 2012 12:57. Posts 162 | Profile # |
Don't become anything but a upper range high school unless you REALLY like working with kids.
I went to a private school in the US all my childhood, and if you can become a private school teacher, do it.
They all seemed to enjoy, and though the pay wasn't great, they all seemed like they didn't have regrets.
Also, about US students: some will be good, some will be bad. Some cheat, some suck-up to you neverendingly, but some have a passion for your class (whatever it is, there's always some), and want to be a nice person to their teachers (i.e. conversing out of class, becoming more friends, etc). |
|
|
| MichaelDonovan United States. July 01 2012 12:58. Posts 1048 | Profile # |
I went to school to be math teacher, but I switched to just studying math because of all the bullshit you have to go through as a new teacher. In washington state, they make you video tape your classes and collect student work as evidence of your competent teaching. I don't mind teaching, but I really hate all the shitty government requirements that i would have to go through to teach public school. So now, I plan to get a masters degree in math so I can just teach at a community college instead. Don't have to go through any bullshit for that, really.
Edit: As far as NCLB goes, I really don't think anyone but the circle-jerking government morons are actually in favor of it. It's pretty shitty for teachers and students alike. Good intentions, but horrible execution.Last edit: 2012-07-01 13:03:48 |
|
|
| BlackJack United States. July 01 2012 13:00. Posts 6651 | Profile Blog # |
| I got nothing to contribute but micronesia would be a pretty good guy to talk to about this |
|
|
| CustomKal Canada. July 01 2012 13:02. Posts 434 | Profile # |
Don't be a teacher if you have don't already enjoy it. Teaching is NOT a profession to go into if you don't have the motivation to do it already. This is where bad teacher comes from, those who don't want to teach and those who don't have a desire to teach in the first place.
If you're not sure then volunteer in a school and see how you enjoy it. There are a million and one schools who would love a volunteer.
Also only go in if you're willing to put in all the extra hours both inside and outside of school. Teacher is not for the faint of heart who don't have the time or dedication for it.Last edit: 2012-07-01 13:06:05 |
|
|
| Probe1 United States. July 01 2012 13:04. Posts 16445 | Profile Blog # |
Yo bro if you have something to say that would benefit everyone in general, post it in the General Forum. If you're asking for motivation in life, open a blog.
Here's some motivation. Become a teacher. Get shitty pay. Have children dislike you. Retire.
But you get summers off. |
| | 우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by | |
|
|
| MichaelDonovan United States. July 01 2012 13:06. Posts 1048 | Profile # |
On July 01 2012 13:04 Probe1 wrote:
Yo bro if you have something to say that would benefit everyone in general, post it in the General Forum. If you're asking for motivation in life, open a blog.
Here's some motivation. Become a teacher. Get shitty pay. Have children dislike you. Retire.
But you get summers off.
Don't really even get summers off. They make us take a certain number of graduate level college credits each year, and there's always some new seminar that we have to attend, teacher's workshops etc. It's true that you get a good break during summer, but it's not all free, unfortunately. |
|
|
| iTzSnypah United States. July 01 2012 13:08. Posts 1216 | Profile Blog # |
2months paid vacation each year, NUFF SAID.
MORE?!?!
Extra 5k a year if you bilingual. |
| | Team Liquid needs more Terrans. |
|
|
| farvacola United States. July 01 2012 13:12. Posts 5458 | Profile Blog # |
I grew up in NW Ohio/SE Michigan and many of the kids I went to college with are now teachers in the area. As has already been stated by posters above, teaching in the United States, no matter the locale, is not something one would want to get into flippantly. State budgets, especially in the Midwest, are being slashed left and right, with public schooling taking the brunt. One might then say, "What about private schools?". Well most of them pay less then public schools and treat their faculty like cattle, due to the usual lack of unionization. We haven't even gotten into the general mentality of children in primary and secondary education here in the United States, and the picture is not a rosy one. In states like Michigan, drop out rates, graduate illiteracy, and an overall dislike and distrust of the educational system run rampant, making the task of teaching the few kids who actually are there to learn even more difficult. In other words, an incredibly strong passion for effecting at least some sort of change in these kids lives is required for any sort of job satisfaction that isn't predicated on living to get off and forget your horrible occupation(weekends and summers).
If knowing all of that doesn't send you running, you may just have what it takes. I'd be happy to answer any questions, as I am rather familiar with the topic :DLast edit: 2012-07-01 13:13:25 |
| | "Hey colaboy, you made the same exact post to me in the 2012 election thread. I am so glad that TL has thread constables!" |
|
|
| NeMeSiS3 Canada. July 01 2012 13:12. Posts 2969 | Profile Blog # |
I would recommend a High School teacher, and just be about the kids (because I know personally, the two teachers that influenced me most were my highschool grd 12 teachers)
|
| |
|
| tyzeos United States. July 01 2012 13:13. Posts 6 | Profile # |
Welcome to the states! I'm actually in progress to get my degree to teach history in the U.S. as well (I'm originally English but moved here at a very young age so I went through basically the whole U.S. education system). Being a teacher, especially in the states I think, really depends on the area and what you're teaching. I would definitely not advise teaching anything below High School unless you really enjoy working with kids, but high school and on is a great experience! The pay isn't amazing but it's not too bad either, especially compared to some other jobs, the main thing that people complain about with pay is all the schooling you have to do so you can wrack up a lot of student debt quickly. However, if you already have a degree in history it shouldn't be bad at all assuming that you want to teach social studies. The pay is decent, and I think that you will really like teaching High School as you don't get nearly as many of the problems with teaching lower grades (annoying parents who think you're the most evil being on the planet, a lot of the gov rules to protect the school from law suits, illiterate kids, etc). I would definitely recommended it, just try and do your homework a bit on where you want to teach before you get your job. Some places like rural areas can be surprisingly backwards and life can be hard for someone new to the area.
tl;dr Teaching in the U.S. can be great and the pay isn't horrible (not good either but easily manageable), especially if you already have a 4 year history degree. You will have to take a couple classes specifically on teaching but they aren't bad and you should breeze through them. This coming from someone who has gone through almost all of the U.S. system and who lives in one of the worst states for education (North Carolina, home of the 3rd worst paid teachers). I would highly recommend teaching High School over anything else, at least at first. |
|
|
| TerranosaurusWrecks Canada. July 01 2012 13:17. Posts 142 | Profile Blog # |
Teaching pretty much varies like crazy as districts alone are very different from each other, so be prepared to do a lot of research on where you want to teach. Try to find a rich neigborhood as salaries might be higher and students might be a bit more educated. I think getting a job should be easy enough if you look in the right areas (fast growing towns). You are also going to have to start at the "bottom" because I'm sure they will have you teach non-advance classes to begin with, then once you earn your stripes you can teach the smarter kids, which is no doubt the place you want to be.
On July 01 2012 13:04 Probe1 wrote:
Here's some motivation. Become a teacher. Get shitty pay. Have children dislike you. Retire.
This is sort of the bitter truth lol. Some of my teachers do really enjoy their job, so you never know. |
| | ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ "Like you can train a n00b, but they will just be a trained n00b." |
|
|
| Probe1 United States. July 01 2012 13:17. Posts 16445 | Profile Blog # |
On July 01 2012 13:06 MichaelDonovan wrote:
Show nested quote +On July 01 2012 13:04 Probe1 wrote:
Yo bro if you have something to say that would benefit everyone in general, post it in the General Forum. If you're asking for motivation in life, open a blog.
Here's some motivation. Become a teacher. Get shitty pay. Have children dislike you. Retire.
But you get summers off.
Don't really even get summers off. They make us take a certain number of graduate level college credits each year, and there's always some new seminar that we have to attend, teacher's workshops etc. It's true that you get a good break during summer, but it's not all free, unfortunately.
I know, fair few in my family have become teachers. It was a bit of a joke saying that. Miserable->Miserable->Miserable->But you get summers off! Queue laugh track, curtain fall. |
| | 우정호 KT_VIOLET 1988 - 2012 While we are postponing, life speeds by | |
|
|
| CuSToM United States. July 01 2012 13:19. Posts 1222 | Profile # |
I'm an education major and I am really looking forward to graduating and starting my career. It's something you have to have a passion for and if you don't you wouldn't be being fair to yourself and more importantly your students. I had a chemistry teacher my sophomore year of high school who had an alternate teaching certification and it was an absolute mess. He had no clue how to manage our class, couldn't teach well and you could tell he couldn't care less. It sounds corny but there are a lot of students who will make it in spite of the teacher and there are others who will make it because of the teacher. You don't want to let down those second group of students because teaching isn't something you can fully commit yourself to.
As for NCLB it's a joke. My mom is a teacher and once I made up my mind on what I wanted to study we started talking a lot about teacher stuff and she is always complaining about how incredibly stressed out she gets from NCLB. The schools who score well get money but the schools who score poorly don't get money. That actually makes no sense at all. Yes you want to reward the schools that do well but you need to help the schools that aren't doing well. Some schools don't have enough computers or textbooks etc. and without the test scores they can't get the money to give the students the resources they need to do well on the tests... Plus standardized testing is an absolute joke in itself. Like somebody above me mentioned NCLB has good intentions but the way it works doesn't make any sense at all. |
| |
|
| julianto July 01 2012 13:24. Posts 1862 | Profile # |
| In my opinion, with the way us Americans treat teachers, it seems like we expect teachers to live off of passion rather than off of money. Do you have to teach in the U.S., or could you teach somewhere else? |
| |
|
| Sanctimonius United Kingdom. July 01 2012 14:27. Posts 845 | Profile # |
Thank you all for the answers, even the ones including bears and starting a blog. I was wanting to start at least some discussion about teaching in different areas, but apparently that's beyond your post...
I can teach elsewhere, but here I have in-laws who can support me, and my spouse has a job and a home. Should I move on the off chance I can get to learn teaching, then a job, in another country? And sadly enough, despite being in Michigan where my family lives in the UK the job rates are even worse.
I'm seeing a lot of people mentioning the motivation factor, and I guess I should go into more detail in what I loved about teaching in Japan. I really loved teaching in the classroom. Watching the students get things, watching my explanation help them to understand what the book was trying to teach them, seeing their eyes light up once they understood things, even little tips which helped them get a few more points on an exam? Awesome. Seeing kids who had little interest in English actually enjoy something you created? There are few things in life better than that. Helping every single kid who took an extracurricular exam and watching them pass, for the first time in the school's history? Pretty fucking awesome. I loved being able to have that little bit of freedom to create something that helped bring the lesson to life. Sometimes it fell flat on its face and the kids gave me that 'wtf' expression, but it was all part of the learning process.
So I guess I have the motivation to teach. What Im not sure if I can do is the jumping through hoops I've heard about - most of the complaints I've found online and from friends isn't about teaching, it's about dealing with their superiors, both those directly above and those who seem to have little idea about working in a classroom. Not to mention it seems like a lot of teachers spend more time dealing with the paperwork of the job rather than actually doing the job (and I'm not talking about marking homework or tests here...). How do teachers here find all that jazz?
Not sure why this is now a blog? I'm asking questions that will hopefully provoke discussion, not asking for motivation in life.Last edit: 2012-07-01 14:31:15 |
| | You live the life you choose. |
|
|
| 1 2 Next All | |
|
|
|
| |
|
Sidebar Settings...
|
Store
