Teaching English certificate offered

If Keith Folse had a dollar for every time he received a last-minute email from a soon-to-be graduate regarding teaching English in a foreign country, he'd be a very rich man.

With the steady influx of inquiries, the Modern Languages and Literature department has decided to offer a Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate starting this fall.

Folse, a professor in the Modern Languages and Literature Department, receives a very common email from students that goes a little something like this:

"Dear Dr. Folse, I heard you know something about TESOL [teaching English to speakers of other languages]. I found this thing online for $140 and I can't pay more than $150. What do you think of this certificate?"

"It's typical," Folse said of the non-recommended quick route to TESOL. "Ten years ago, you'd be hard pressed to find one online. Now, Google it, you're going to get millions of hits. Everybody and their brother is trying to sell their latest one."

Folse has seen more and more students come to him with questions about TESOL over the last few years.

"We have lots of students in the master's [program] and people get jobs, but at the undergraduate level, there's nothing," Folse said. "People were coming to me because they were undergrads, they were interested in going overseas or people who want to know something about linguistics and they would come to us because there are five TESOL professors here."

Graduating soon or not, Folse wants students — undergraduates and graduates — to be smart about this process and wary of an easy ticket.

"When you ask employers what they think … they're going to ask you how many hours of actual classroom practices or instruction or experience do you have," Folse said. "If you can't name a number, you're automatically not hirable and you've wasted $140."

Taking this route isn't on Folse's list of ways to make it overseas, as it can have some unpleasant consequences.

"If you're not smart you're going to end up in China not having any books and papers with you and living out of your backpack," Folse said. "That's all fine if you want to do that, but I'm trying to help you do a little bit better than that."

His primary hope is that students sign up for the certificate.

"If more people knew about this, they'd be very smart and instead of taking four electives in something you really don't care about and really aren't going to benefit you down the road…at least take the first class [of the certificate]," Folse said.

Folse said the biggest thing UCF's TESOL classes can boast is the hours of classroom experience, which is the most important thing employers will ask about.

Taking all of the courses in the certificate, which will result in about 50 hours of classroom experience, includes shadowing teachers, giving speeches and having actual conversations with non-native speakers.

For students who are graduating before the certificate is offered and are interested in TESOL, Folse still has plenty of advice.

One of his most important pieces of advice is to never be customer No. 1. Mom-and-pop shops that are not as reputable as more established schools are often willing to hire just about anyone.

Someone who didn't accept just any offer is alumnus Angel Hernandez-Savino.

Hernandez, who graduated last December with a degree in business management, is leaving to teach in Japan next week.

Hernandez first heard about TESOL when he was a member of the United Nations Association at UCF.

"It just seemed like a great idea, so I enrolled in some of Dr. Folse's classes," Hernandez said.

Through Folse's classes, Hernandez learned how to better navigate the sea of programs that exists and choose one that didn't make false promises.

He also learned what to expect once he's over there, like drinking with his coworkers.

"In Japan, you must follow the atmosphere," Hernandez said. "I love meeting new people and this will be a great way to mingle with my coworkers."

Folse advised that the students are not trying to date their teachers or anything that is viewed as inappropriate and that they just want to bond with their teacher.

While most students' experience is good and leads them to a contract renewal, Folse said most students look at teaching abroad as a short-term option.

"Since I've been here I've kind of been toying around with the idea of going to law school," said alumnus and Fulbright recipient Tristan Reiniers, who's teaching contract in South Korea is drawing to a close.

Reiniers said while he's enjoyed teaching, it was the international experience that meant the most.