Hi, I’m from the UK, living in Japan. I teach in an ekaiwa but I want get a teaching license and pursue a career in teaching properly. I’m just not sure how I should go about it. Which do people think would be better?- going back to the UK for a year to get a PGCE and QTS or Moreland teach now?
Obviously Moreland is a lot cheaper and I wouldn’t have to move but it seems like I’ve seen people say it’s not really a proper teaching license. Has anyone gone back for a year to get a PGCE? How was it I think I could just about get the money to do it.
I’m 35, so not that young and I’m married to someone with PR although I don’t have it myself.
Any advice would be appreciated.
6 comments
Where exactly do you want to pursue a teaching career – Japan or elsewhere? What subject?
If here I assume you want to teach at an international school but one thing schools look for is as well as the qualification is experience. Sadly ekaiwa and ALT don’t count. You’ll also need a good command of Japanese. International baccalaureate experience is also sought after for some international schools
If you are going to re-train why not look at other career options such as IT or hospitality?
Moreland is fine and has worked for a lot of people, it’s a good way to get your foot on the ladder. Obviously, don’t expect to get the best job in a capital city right off the bat, expect to pay your dues and work up. There are a lot of dismissive gatekeepers regarding Moreland, almost all from the UK, who feel slighted because they chose to do the PGCE/NQT route which they felt was more ‘rigorous’ and took longer to complete. Ignore them and do what is best for you in your situation.
Moreland gives you part of what you need to get a DC or Arizona or I forgot the other state license….the other parts are easily achievable and the licensing authority grants you (granted me) the license. So in terms of it being “real” or “not real”, the license is real……your license doesn’t say anything about Moreland on it either.
Would doing student teaching at home be better? Maybe, yeah. Depends on what you want or need or can do.
I’ve heard that even if you can get a license through the Moreland programme, it’s difficult to actually make the move to an international school over here due to also requiring experience. This sounds plausible and logical, but it’s also just what I’ve read here on Reddit, and obviously you can’t trust everything that’s written here! I only received my license DC license in February this year after completing the Moreland programme, which was after the main hiring season, so I’ve not yet had the chance to see for myself.
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One thing I’ll mention is that as of earlier this year, Moreland graduates are no longer able to get QTS in the UK via reciprocity. This is something to consider if you ever want to teach in the UK in the future.
I look for qualified elementary school teachers every year, and can struggle to find them.
As part of that i wouldn’t really consider someone who had an online qualification while working as an alt/eikaiwa teacher.
I’d recommend getting a pgce/qts qualification. The nqt year after is probably a good idea, but in the current economic situation I’d look at people without it. Getting a foot in the door is most important, and that nqt year is less important after you can get 1-2 years on the job.
Most schools that need a qualified teacher status (at least ones you’d like to work at) will have a foreigner who will be looking at cv’s.
Obviously people who have done those online courses will disagree, but that is just my opinion as someone who hires every year.
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Moreland is a scam. It will only work for the lowest level international schools and low tier privates. Most importantly it’s very difficult to do some of the requirements (recording classes) and impossible to get the experience the good jobs want.
Two ways foreword:
1. go home and get the qualifications you need, then apply for positions.
2. Grind it out until you get PR, learn Japanese and get a job in a different field.