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Q: Need a TEFL to teach History?!
I'm getting my teaching certification for Social Studies when I return to USA, and out of curiousity I checked the jobs postings for History teachers in China. Most of the jobs that turned up required some form.of a TEFL certification, and few required more than a B.A. in History. What's up with that? It seems to me that a degree in education, with an ACTUAL certification in the academic subject, would hold more weight than a TEFL certificate. And why would soneone need a TEFL if they're nit teaching English, anyway. Maybe I'm missing something.
10 years 10 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
Tefl is required by law. The law does not specify which degree for which teaching job. The major requested is the school's preference. Most schools do not care about the quality of teaching. but that's not to say only history majors should teach history.
Spiderboenz:
That's a stupid law. TEFL OR subject matter teaching credentials would make a lot more sense, I think. Can't really argue with the law though.
It is not a stupid requirement. I used to work a high school in Oregon and the subject teachers got classes on T.E.S.O.L techniques every semester. Many had classes where most of their students did not have good English skills. To present a subject to non-proficient learners is a little bit different than teaching to fluent students.
The teachers were taught techniques like "scaffolding" that could be used to make the subject more understandable. I myself had these classes twice a semester and it did help me teach better.
