Help getting started~

[JohnnyHeck]

I am not sure why no one has not already directed your attention to Western Governors University (WGU). It is the only entirely online (internship arranged at your local school district) school which grants you an education degree and qualifies you for k-12 licensure. You can use CBEs and ACE credits probably for about half or more of the program. It has a 30 hour residency requirement which mean at least 30 hrs. of credits must be taken at WGU. But this is not so strict as it sounds because I believe there are at least 30 hr. worth of credits that you will need for your degree that you could not find any other place online. It's learning model is competency based which means you can earn the credit for a course just as soon as you demonstrate you have the knowledge, like a guided study course with an exam the end as the basis for credit. Its tuition model is not per credit, but by time. So to keep the cost within your budget you would want to schedule your work in such a way that you could devote the maximum time to your studies. However since you have not indicated that your degree plan has to be super cheap, the final expense of WGU could be your time commitment choices. You will find quite a few posts in this forum on WGU, but I have to admit that I don't recall any off hand directly related to the education degree. But search around. Maybe some other forum members can weigh in here. Good luck.

[Lindagerr]

Are you Talking New York City when you say NY. What age are you planning on teaching ESL? Make sure you are getting the correct info. I live in NY state and I can not teach at all because schools (even Charter schools) will not hire without a full teaching certificate. I have a provisional certificate in NJ and NY wants no part of me. I have a friend who speaks 5 languages, she was teaching ESL in California but can not get a job doing that here. The WGU program would be a good alternative. Just be sure of the ESL teaching requirements before you commit to any program. I spent several years preparing to teach in NJ and each time I thought I had it down a new requirement would pop up. Don't just speak to someone who has done it before, make sure you read the fine print on the current requirements.

[strawberryxfuzz]

Thank you so much!!! This was super helpful. I think I should have mentioned beforehand that I was seeking to teach English abroad, not in New York or the US. But for my own personal preference, I wanted a BA in that field. But this guideline for a BA plan is just what I needed to get me started. Thank you so much.

[SuzanneD]

My son teaches English in Xiamen China. They do not care what your degree is in.
Good luck

[ZsaZsa]

Obviously you have computer access...start with some of the completely free computer classes that you can get credit through ACE for...the TEEX computer security classes (3 that are worth 2 credits each) or the NFA classes (there are 3 that are worth one credit each). These cost nothing but your time- no textbooks etc. When you can look at that as see that you have 9 credits toward the 60 for an associates degree or 120 for a bachelors...that is a HUGE ego boost. You can find info on all of these either through the WIKI or the search field. Then keep following this site...its bailed me out s-o-o-o many times! Even major universities like IU will accept up to 30 credits acquired through testing.

[strawberryxfuzz]

Obviously you have computer access...start with some of the completely free computer classes that you can get credit through ACE for...the TEEX computer security classes (3 that are worth 2 credits each) or the NFA classes (there are 3 that are worth one credit each). These cost nothing but your time- no textbooks etc. When you can look at that as see that you have 9 credits toward the 60 for an associates degree or 120 for a bachelors...that is a HUGE ego boost. You can find info on all of these either through the WIKI or the search field. Then keep following this site...its bailed me out s-o-o-o many times! Even major universities like IU will accept up to 30 credits acquired through testing.

^^ Thank you so much! I think that'll definitely be a good start for me to get it going. The most confusing part of all of this for me is creating a Degree Plan and knowing which classes count for what degree, and which tests are available for them and how go about acquiring the credits needed that can't be tested out of since there is a limit (can you take them through online classes from that school?). I think I'm going to go through TESC (which at this point seems like the best option for me personally). When I try to look into that, my brain feels kind of like mush because I really don't know how to peace it together.

There are so many options, and so much I still don't really know. I've been reading through a lot of threads in this forum and also the info people have given me here is very helpful. I really appreciate it.

Specifically, I'm looking into teaching in South Korea, where a BA is strictly required. Also I know the a TEFL/CELTA certification is required as well, but I'm trying to tackle the BA alone first of all.

[KayV]

The Kaplan PLA class is free as well, so that would make 12 credits already done. Once you've finished those, try doing the ALEKS math class(es). There are lots of threads here about how ALEKS works. Intermediate Algebra for 3 hours would take care of your math credit and then you would have 15 hours complete. That's a whole semester! You could also do College Algebra, Trig or PreCalculus, and Statistics for 9 more very low-cost hours if you so wish.

[laughter]

The most confusing part of all of this for me is creating a Degree Plan and knowing which classes count for what degree, and which tests are available for them and how go about acquiring the credits needed that can't be tested out of since there is a limit (can you take them through online classes from that school?). I think I'm going to go through TESC (which at this point seems like the best option for me personally).

If you're going through TESC, most of the credits can be tested out of and the rest can be substituted via online courses. Below is a sample degree plan for a BA in English from TESC. Take note that the suggested courses/exams are not hard and fast and you may choose alternatives that you prefer.

I. General Education Requirements 60

A. Intellectual and Practical Skills 15
English Composition I (ENC-101) (3)
CLEP English Composition - 3*
English Composition II (ENC-102) (3)
CLEP English Composition - 3*
College-Level Math Course (3)
ALEKS Precalculus - 3
Electives in Intellectual and Practical Skills (6)
ALEKS Intermediate Algebra - 3
ALEKS College Algebra - 3

B. Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World 18
Humanities (3)
CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature - 3*
Social Sciences (3)
CLEP Educational Psychology - 3
Natural Sciences (3)
TECEP Science of Nutrition - 3
Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences or Interdisciplinary (9)
CLEP English Literature - 6
TECEP Technical Writing - 3

C. Personal and Social Responsibility 9
Diversity/Global Literacy (3)
TECEP Psychology of Women - 3
Responsible Ethical Leadership (3)
TECEP Environmental Ethics - 3
Other Ethics or Diversity Course (3)
CLEP Introduction to Sociology - 3

D. General Education Electives 18
Any General Education exams/courses. Total of 18 credits.


II. Area of Study: English 33

A. Required Courses 12
Survey of Literature I & II (6)
CLEP American Literature - 6
Analysis and Interpretation of Literature (3)
CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature - 3*
Nonwestern Literature (3)
APU Russian Literature - 3

B. Capstone 3
LIB-495 Liberal Arts Capstone (3)
TESC Online Course - 3

C. English Electives* 18 (I'm copying this section from another forum user's degree plan as an example; you can take alternative courses if you wish to)
1. CSUP ENG 370: Rediscovering the Fairy Tale (3)
2. CSUP ENG 354: Women Writers of Science Fiction (3)
3. BYU ELANG 322: Modern American Usage (3)
4. BYU ENG 395: Studies in Literature - Christian Fantasy (3)
5. BYU ENG 320R: Writing for Children and Adolescents (3)
6. BYU ENG 420: Literature for Adolescents (3)

III. Free Electives 27

Any exams/courses you'd like to take. Must total a minimum of 27 credits.


Total 120

For options on General Education exams, check Sanantone's General Education Options - Degree Forum Wiki

For English credits, you may use courses from CSU Pueblo (roughly $500 for a 3-credit course), American Public University (about $800 for a 3-credit course), Brigham Young University (about $520 for a 3-credit course), and/or TESC.

Keep checking back on the forums. After a while, you'll get the hang of how this whole thing works. Make a degree plan, post it here and get feedback from other users. Best wishes!

[UptonSinclair]

Here is a page that will start to give you a feel for the types of courses that fit the various degree requirements at TESC.

General Education Courses

It shouldn't take long to get an idea of which courses are Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, etc. If you feel like you want to get started, start studying for one of the CLEP exams and find a testing center at one of the Community Colleges in your area. It feels great to start knocking out credits. The Analyzing and Interpreting literature exam is a good starting point for most people. Much of the exam involves reading passages of literature and interpreting the meaning. It is worth 6 credits and is a great way to get a feel for testing.

You don't have to worry about enrolling in TESC until you are just about finished with your degree.