I would love to be an English teacher one day. I am just about to finish up an associates degree in Liberal Arts and then I hope to transfer to a 4 year university. i particularly want to be a highschool english teacher. do i transfer to a university and major in english and then get a teaching certificate after that? how does it work?
2006-10-20 10:22:29 · 5 answers · asked by cheekybrit 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
I don't know how your state education handles this, but in Oklahoma, there are a couple of ways to go about this. 1. You can major in English, minor in something else (History is usually a great minor for an English major because the two go hand in hand.) and get your teaching certificate. Or, you can major in English Education. You will take all the required courses for an English major as well as education courses. Most schools don't require you to have a minor if you do English Education, because technically English is the major and Education is the minor. Talk to your advisor, or any English professor, and ask them a question or two about the subject. But generally speaking, English major or English Ed. major is the path to take.
I chose to major in English and minor in History because I found the education classes to be relatively dull and in some cases useless. I decided that I wanted to spend my time focusing on WHAT I wanted to teach and not HOW to teach it. I believe we learn to be great teachers from the great teachers we have, not from classes about it. You, of course, will have to decide which is best for you. Either way, you'll be able to teach what you love.
Good luck! There are not nearly enough English majors out there. I am one of only 14 at my university.
2006-10-20 19:22:33 · answer #1 · answered by imhalf_the_sourgirl_iused_tobe 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you need to get a BA in English in a 4-year college/univ. (If you can minor in Education, good. Or maybe an "education-track," a group of classes connected to the Education program.) Take the CBEST (state test) as soon as possible. Apply for the teaching credential program. (Try to stay in the same college, because you lose credits in a transfer.) While in the credential program, you'll have classes full of lesson plans and theories about education. You will need to take a "Subject Matter Competency Test," or the CSET, which is a test on your particular subject (English). Then, if you're in CA, you will need to take the RICA, which is a test on how to teach reading. After all this, then you go for your student teaching. 10 weeks of no pay in a classroom under a mentor teacher. Good Luck.
2006-10-21 21:11:16 · answer #2 · answered by tklines 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to apply to universities that offer education degrees. Go online or contact the university directly.
Once you are in the program the school basically leads you through the entire process.
I went to U of Missouri and I got a degree in Secondary Education (that means high school) with a minor in English. Part of your studies (and testing that is required) will get your certificate to teach.
Right now, you just need to focus on getting your AA degree and finding and applying to a college that offers BA in Education. Once your in the program, the school will lead you through everything else.
2006-10-20 10:32:51 · answer #3 · answered by kmcdonald 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Major in English and minor in Secondary Education.
2006-10-20 10:24:56 · answer #4 · answered by FlrBeachGirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well it all happens........ well i don't want to ruin the suprise
2006-10-20 10:31:01 · answer #5 · answered by cutiepieangel 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋