Hey All,

So I'm at a bit of a fork in the road currently and could use your help.

I recently began a Masters Program at a fairly reputable teachers college in NY (Manhattanville). So far I've only taken a few basic courses, such as Foundations of Education.

By the Fall, I have to decide what my focus is going to be..either TESOL or Social Studies+ Special Ed. Both courses would have me finish with NY Certification and a masters. Both would be fantastic for job prospects in the states-Spec. Ed and TESOL are hot areas right now.

However, I want to teach abroad, preferably in a (well paying) International School.

Which degree would serve me better? Are there enough non-native English speakers at International Schools that they hire TESOL holders? Are there enough Special Ed kids that I'd have more of a leg up with that? Are they both relatively useless in my international job hunt?

Any help/advice is appreciated!!

Thanks

Knappstar

Unless you wanna teach Social Studdies, I'd go for the TESOL, but thats my opinion. TESOL would help you get a job overseas in any country, well any masters degree would but the TESOL major would be favoured in non english speaking countries. The social studdies major would give you a better chance of specialising in teaching that subject, but unless that's all you want to teach, I'd get the TESOL because you could do more with that major. After I finish my BA, I will go onto a MEd in TESOL because I think it more usefull to have to teach in other countries.

Hey All,

So I'm at a bit of a fork in the road currently and could use your help.

I recently began a Masters Program at a fairly reputable teachers college in NY (Manhattanville). So far I've only taken a few basic courses, such as Foundations of Education.

By the Fall, I have to decide what my focus is going to be..either TESOL or Social Studies+ Special Ed. Both courses would have me finish with NY Certification and a masters. Both would be fantastic for job prospects in the states-Spec. Ed and TESOL are hot areas right now.

However, I want to teach abroad, preferably in a (well paying) International School.

Which degree would serve me better? Are there enough non-native English speakers at International Schools that they hire TESOL holders? Are there enough Special Ed kids that I'd have more of a leg up with that? Are they both relatively useless in my international job hunt?

Any help/advice is appreciated!!

Thanks

Knappstar

Are there enough NON-NATIVE English speakers at International Schools that they hire TESOL holders?

Um i dont know about that on buddy but as far as I know they would only prefer Native speakers.

Edited July 5, 200719 yr by DragonQuest

^I think he was referring to the *students*- many of whom are native speakers who are the children of expats. In Thailand, most trueblue international schools limit the percentage of Thais who attend (because otherwise it would be defeating the point of having an "international" school).

Therefore, Knappstar, many of them do have a limited need for TEFL/TESOL instructors.

"Steven"

International schools in Thailand have native speaking students of Japan, Korea, Holland, France, Thailand, and ten other countries, who are supposed to take as many as three years of ESL, much as they might as immigrants to the USA. As for special ed, you might find a few top-tier schools interested in that, but only a few.

DragonQuest..

I was referring to the students, not myself/other teachers.

Of course international schools prefer native speakers of English for teachers.

You must think I'm pretty dense, huh?

Everyone else, thanks for the input!

Knappstar

Why would one be taking "basic" courses in a Masters program? Aren't those taken in the first year of a Bachelors program? Shouldn't you be taking advanced education related curriculum?

my bad knapp XD staying up later burning my eyes out on the laptop.

This topic continues on the pinned topic at the top of the teaching forum front page, qualifications and questions.