introduction – katie cardenas, ma tesl esl instructor, wake tech community college 6 th grade...

Teaching

Introduction – Katie Cardenas, MA TESLESL Instructor, Wake Tech Community College

• 6th grade teacher• Missionary• English Coordinator for bilingual pre-K through technical

school • College professor• Private tutor• Substitute teacher• Spanish teacher

Common myths or misperceptions about your profession

Typical travel for your profession

How you prepared for your profession (education, training, licensure, etc.)

College degree Volunteering with youth Travel Independent practice Accepting opportunities Pursuing master’s degree Speaking at conferences

Opportunity Positive Negative

6th grade teacher Fun, energetic, challenging

Attitudes, testing limits

Missionary Opportunity to travel, variety

No pay or little pay, far from family/friends

English Coordinator for bilingual pre-K through technical school

Variety, new cultures Working with different ways of doing things

College professor Serious learners, experience in action

More challenging need to know Spanish

Private tutor Flexible schedule, personal instruction, being helpful, good pay

Not a career, no benefits

Substitute teacher Flexible schedule, no paperwork, fits family schedule

Low pay

Spanish teacher Share excitement of experiences

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Helpful talents, skills, aptitudes, experiences, or interests

Friendly… not judgmentalLearning…not a “know it all”Respectful… not belittlingAccepting… not picky

Preparation

Take steps…education -> experience->education->experience Become a professional (master’s degree)

Take risks…aim high. Live your dreams. Always be a learner. Google TESOL or TEFL. Talk to teachers and people

from other countries. You can try teaching for a summer or a year before you commit.

Study English and study other languages. How are they different? What is easy? What is hard? How are cultures different? Make friends with people from different parts of the world. Look into summer jobs or volunteering with people who do not speak English. How does that make you feel?

Typical tools or equipment

The Coolest thing about teaching example…

Time requirements for your profession – flexibility, overtime, night or weekend shifts, etc.

Your level within your profession (apprentice, journey, master, expert, etc.)

How people move between levels in your profession, and requirements for such moves

Earning levels in the profession, from beginner to expert levels

Outlook for your profession – growing, stable, declining –

Questions