Hi Everyone,

I am working in Japan right now as an English Teacher. I didn`t need need to work here to know that I want to persue an career in Education, but now I am wondering if a CELTA or certification to teach English as a second language is considered credible with state(s)curriculums?

Sometime next year I hope to return to the US and begin working on teaching certification and a MA in Special Education. Though I imagine I`ll be working with students with learning disabilities, I am definately considering working in ESL as well.

I speak Spanish at almost the same level as I do English and if if I do work on the CELTA I would like to do it in a Spanish speaking country...any suggestions, I am thinking perhaps Ecuador, Venezuela or Argentina.

Thank you,

Samantha

A few universities might give you a credit or two - but generally speaking no university is really going to value a CELTA or other four-week certificate.

Getting your MA, you will be awakened to a much wider scope of instructional methods anyway and you would/will fairly clearly see the limitations of the methodology of CELTA or any other four week programs.

If you weren't going for an MA, I would say go do a certification course. But, as you are, it's really not needed and a bit of a waste of money.

Just my opinion - others will disagree I am sure!

I agree with Ted. Since you're already are working towards certification that will trump any CELTA. They're like two different breeds of horses, as they tend to run on two different tracks.
If you get a MA in special education the world will be your oyster. I work in Special Ed myself with just a BA. I had more offers in varying places than many of my peers who had more experience. Some markets, especially languages, are heavily saturated in the teaching market. In the end I ended up taking a literature position.

Believe me you won't regret an MA in Spec. Ed. One of the things I love abotu international teaching the Spec Ed kids are hardly ever severe. They are the most fun to teach!


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