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LeeInEngland Posted 22 years ago
Teaching

A degree proves nothing. What does a degree mean to you?

A provocative title?

Why do many schools insist on potential teachers having a degree?

Would a degree in 'Basket Weaving' really make me a better teacher?

I see the degree as a record of a person’s ability to learn. At no point does it prove the persons ability to teach.

I am in progress with a TEFL course. I don't have a degree, but I scored the same as a person with a 'Masters Degree' in a test.

The TEFL alone should hold more value than a degree as it shows that the ability to teach English has been achieved.

I work as a packaging designer; I often come by work that has been designed by Graduates. I find myself altering their drawings to make the packaging function correctly. They have no real experience.

I have gathered so much information over the years, funding my own further education in many subjects. I have worked hard after finishing school and gained knowledge in all manner of different things.

I believe, that what I have in my mind is just as if not more practical than what a graduate has.


All the best,

Lee.
  

Top answer

I agree with you, well, yes and no... I have a degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and I have been teaching here in Canada for over 10 years. I taught primary, secondary and now, I teach adults.

  • I agree with you, well, yes and no...
  • I have a degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and I have been teaching here in Canada for over 10 years.
  • I taught primary, secondary and now, I teach adults.
  • I have seen just about everything!
  • Anyway...
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9 Answers
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I agree with you, well, yes and no...

I have a degree in Teaching English as a Second Language and I have been teaching here in Canada for over 10 years. I taught primary, secondary and now, I teach adults. I have seen just about everything!
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Sophie,

In your case the degree in TESOL is very important as it shows that you have leart the ability to teach the English language.
Someone with a BA in Physics would never be able to say that. Therefore my argument is that a degree in Physics is useless for someone wanting to teach English.

Educational institutions should restrict the requirement for a degree to a deg
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I really hated studying and I only managed to finish my degree because my folks threatened to kick me out of the house (no kidding) if I didn't. I never intended to be a teacher. I just became one by chance. But since I became a teacher, I realized the value of having a good college education. Looking back, I'm really thankful my parents didn't give up on me. My only regret is that I didn't study
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Lee in England :When one has a B. Ed in English which is a three or four year course obviously one is going to be better qualified to teach English especially if one also has a CELTA.The fact that you thought yourself better has nothing to do with the degree.Some people however much qualified never make good teachers. Not all degrees qualify one to teach English. What nonsense to suggest that a
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I agree with you. I hated being at school and when i was at college and did fine art, i wasn't happy. In high school i never really tried hard enough, i regret it now (b a little). But i am now teachiong english in China after i did a TEFL. I think You need experience in what you want to do and knowledge of what you are teaching. I know it varies with diffrent people. My friends are in uni and so
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I know what you mean Lee. Fair enough, some degrees qualify you to do certain jobs, however, often the requirement for recruitment is 'a' degree in any subject.
I do not have a degree and work in an industry where one is pretty much standard. I have got here by experience and a lot of luck, and feel that I am very good at my job.

I am now frustrated by wanting to move on to wo
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Dropping in late in this thread ... I would very much like to teach English to Health Personnel in a couple of years time, and to that end am planning on doing the CELTA soon. I have a medical qualification which - back in the mists of time when I did it, some 35 years ago - was not a degree. However, were I to study for the same qualification today, it would be a degree. Hence my qualification i
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Nona,

First of all, good luck with your studies.

We're now in a "credentialization" era, and yes, we're seeing degree inflatoin.

Back in the old days, if you wanted to work in a profession, you became an apprentice-- you learned on the job. But the only way to know how good you were was by word of mouth (ah, yes, and your portfolio, if you could keep one. ).
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Dear all,

I've recently completing my Trinity teaching course. I have a degree in law and possess postgraduate legal qualifications and a string of law-related continued professional development courses. What does this prove? It sure doesn't prove I can do the law job (although I can).

With regard to Lee's post titled "A degree proves nothing. What does a degree mean to you?" (

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