I
want to teach English in Israel. How can I do that? The Israeli Government has its own certification process. In order to teach in a public school in Israel, you go to an Israeli college or university to study for your "teudat horaa" (teaching certificate). Then you do a "staj" (internship). Then you can begin teaching and get a "rishayon horaa" (teaching license). It is possible to get a job teaching English without completing this process. This is especially true when a school really needs another teacher. You may find this to be especially true during the two weeks before September first, when almost all schools here start the school year. If you begin teaching without completing the licensing process you will earn less and will not get full benefits. The Israeli public school has different "sectors": the non-religious, national religious, haredi (ultra-orthodox), and the Arab-and-Bedouin sectors. Which "sector" you teach in will, of course, affect your experience. Note that not all schools in Israel are under "full" Ministry of Education supervision. Schools which are semi-private are more free to be flexible about who they consider qualified to teach. Regarding TESOL certification: I don't know how TESOL certification can benefit you in Israel other than, maybe, by increasing your own personal knowledge. There are private companies in Israel teaching English, some are fly-by-night operations, some are established international chains (that's chain, like McDonald's). Although I have worked in more than one of these schools, I can't say that I recommend it. However, they are a natural stopping place for English speakers who don't yet have many other options. If your teaching experience is from Japan, South Korea, etc. teaching in Israel will probably be a big shock. Teaching here does have its rewards, but the kids have a lot of chutzpah. Japanese students probably don't address their teachers with sentences that begin, "What's it matter to you that I ...." I'm an experienced English teacher from (country X): As an experienced English teacher you would have the advantage of the self-confidence that comes with experience and the disadvantage of the culture shock of moving to a new system. Although it shouldn't matter, it would be very difficult to function as an English teacher in Israel if you are unable to speak Hebrew (reading and maybe even writing Hebrew would be helpful too). How much will I earn? To be blunt, not much. According to an August 2007 Haaretz article, "[the] collective-bargaining agreement signed with the union representing elementary-school teachers calls for raising starting salaries to about NIS 5,300 a month, raising other teachers' salaries by about 26 percent and increasing the length of the official workweek for elementary and junior-high teachers to 36 weeks ...Negotiations with the Association of Secondary School Teachers, however, are still bogged down." A January 2007 magazine put out by the union representing secondary school teachers wrote that a first-year teacher with a teaching certificate who teaches 24 frontal teaching hours will earn 2,485.51NIS, a fifth year teacher with a BA in Education will earn 3,468.34NIS, and a tenth year teacher with an MA in Education will earn 4,347.80NIS. Nearly everyone realizes that this pay is grossly inadequate. There has been a lot of talk about increasing salaries, but only a little action. According to an August 2007 article in Haaraetz, a "principal in Migdal Ha'emek described ... how ashamed he was when one of the young teachers in his school showed him his pay slip. 'NIS 2,800 net,' said the principal, raising his voice. 'Do you understand? NIS 2,800 for a teacher I put in charge of students in one of the more important subjects. That's an amount below minimum wage and below unemployment payments or any other [welfare] payments. So, I ask you, how can I get new and good teachers? And how can I hold on to those who are already in the system?'" Some of the links below may lead you to more up-to-date
salary information. (Click
here for Yahoo Currency Converter.) Links ETNI Website - English Teachers' Network Israel ETNI Job Postings - Teaching Jobs in Israel ETNI List of Courses - Places where you can get a Teacher's Certificate and/or degree in education in Israel Anglo Yahoo Groups Groups for English speakers (Anglos) in different parts of Israel. (Hanglo=Haifa, Janglo=Jerusalem, Raananglo=Raanana, TAAnglo=Tel Aviv, etc.) Dave's ESL Cafe Why stick to Israel? DEC lists jobs around the world. Digital Eve Israel - A Woman oriented email list which does not exclude men. Mainly women in Hi-Tech but also job-search / survival-in-Israel information. ESLEmployment.com has a somewhat dated, but still possibly helpful, article about teaching in Israel. Haaretz in English - Recent Articles on Education IsraEmploy - Israel Jobsearch Website. Teach and Study Program, Israel Wikipedia
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