Sue Said:

To those who teach english as a second language. Do you have a EASL certificate?

We Answered:

If you are going to teach English as a second or foreign language you really need a basic qualification such as a CELTA or a Trinity Certificate. It is not fair on you or on the students who are paying for lessons to place someone with no knowledge of the issues involved in the position of a teacher. There are lots of courses on offer apart from the two I mentioned above. If you do one, make sure the following areas are covered:

Grammar / vocabulary / phonology
Listening / speaking / reading / writing
Lesson planning / materials evaluation / classroom management

There should also be provision for supervised teaching practice with real EFL students - which rules out on-line courses.

I don't know about the organisation you mentioned. Do they at least provide some in-service training?

Audrey Said:

how are the teaching jobs in north eastern indiana near ft wayne, is the pay good for the area?

We Answered:

u hv chosen the right place. pay is sufficient for all your needs incl a plasma tv. around 30 to 40Ks. the cost of living is not so high as in the humongous cities. the kids are much more disciplined than city kids. choose the smaller towns and u will enjoy it

Micheal Said:

I am looking for a teaching job in NW Indiana, hows the job market there?

We Answered:

I actually am from Northwest Indiana. Lived there up until recently. I was told by everyone (college professors, elementary teachers, etc) that the job market for teachers in that area is AWFUL! I guess even the biggest school districts have decided to cut back on hiring. That is one of the reasons why I chose to hightail it out of there. I know a few people that have gotten jobs right away out of college- but most had to do subbing for 6 months to a year (or more!) before they found a teaching job.

That being said, I think the teaching job market isn't that great for much of Indiana. Good luck!

Jeffery Said:

Teaching Social Studies in North Carolina graduating from Indiana?

We Answered:

I moved from Florida and became a high school teacher in North Carolina about five years ago. Based on that experience I can tell you a few things:

1. It is much easier to get your license in your state of origin then transfer it to NC, than to get one in NC using your college credits. They accept tranfer licenses from every state, so get your Indiana License first.

2. Each school district has their own hiring, and interviewing practices, and they vary widely. However, that said, don't trust the school district to get you a job. Some districts will tell you you have to go through them to get hired but many principals keep there openings private and do their own hiring before involving the school district (they do this because if they let the district know they have an opening , they have to accept whoever the district transfers in). Therefore, contact the principals and department heads of the schools where you want to teach directly. Send them a resume and introductory letter asking for an interview. When I moved here I researched where I wanted to teach by going to greatschools.com and then visited each school's website to get the contact information. I sent 180 letters out and got 12 interviews within a few weeks. I got 9 job offers from my interviews and was hired before the school district ever contacted me to go through the official channels to seek employment. If you are moving before the end of school, substituting is not a bad option to get your foot in the door.

3. All school districts set up an obstacle course to get hired and cleared to work. Once a principal promises you a job, there are tons of hoops to jump through before you can start working, so keep up with your paperwork and ask a lot of questions.

4. You must take the Praxis exam to teach in NC. You may have already done this in your state, but it was a surprise to me when I moved to NC.

5. While the State of NC pays all teachers the same, each school district has its own supplements to that pay. Look into what the supplement is for the districts you are considering. Where I am (just outside of Charlotte), there is a $4,000 difference between two neighboring districts.

6. Although the pay in NC is not great, the housing market is still very reasonable. I took about a 20% pay cut by moving, but was able to afford a much better house, in a nicer neighborhood than where I was in Florida.

I hope all this helps. If you have any other specific questions, just add them to your post, I'll keep up with it.

Misty Said:

teaching job in Michigan City Indiana?

We Answered:

My husband lived there before we were married and I myself have checked openings there. I didn't mind the area at all, and from the data I've read about them, they're fairly comparable to the other cities/towns in the area.

You can find their school data at http://www.doe.in.gov, and that tells you about the average teacher salary and such. The details about administration, insurance and unions would have to come from someone within the system.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.