Interview at Marylhurst

This afternoon, I had an interview with the ed program at Marylhurst. I showed up 10 minutes earlier to prepare for the interview questions. The front desk gave me a list of questions. I sat there, reading the questions and trying to answer them.

When it was time for my interview, I was greeted by my two interviewers. One of them led to the conference room. I was feeling so nervous. We sat down. I tried my best to answer the questions. After our talk, they gave me feedback. One of them said, "I could see your passion. When you know what you are talking about, you get so focus. In the areas you are not sure, you stumbled. But I believe when you start learning and get into discussion with your own colleagues, you will refine and get better at conversing. You just need to work on your fluidity of your speech."

The other one said, "I could see you have the foundation on education. That is a good start. It's better than some candidates we get here in the ed program. You just need a chance to learn more and actually practice what you learned, you will get there."

Basically, I understood them of saying that I have potential in the teaching profession. The senior person there said that I need to get my CBEST writing section passed as well as getting my fingerprint results back, then they can really decide on me. Generally, I sense they might like me to be in the Masters of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program.

On April 14th, I will be taking the CBEST writing section again. I just need a 37 points to pass the section. For now to then, I am brushing up on my grammar and practicing writing.

***To answer Brenda's questions, I could say the interview process for me was about an hour long. The questions was asking me about my education background, my work/volunteer experiences with students/children, how I view education and the teaching profession as well as my thoughts on social justice issues and if it's important in the education world. This is for other interested people for the MAT program at Marylhurst University, please show up a few minutes earlier to your interview. Those minutes will give you a chance to review the questions and prepare your answers. The interviewers are also MAT/M.Ed professors and they are real nice. They are excited to help you reach your dreams of becoming a licensed teacher.

Be yourself. Let your words and body language express your excitement in entering the teaching profession. If you love to teach and get excited when a student/child learns something new and can master that knowledge/skill, then go back to school to get your teaching license.***

General Steps to become a Teacher

As for any career, there are steps to complete for one to get licensed and be in that career. Each state of their own requirements for licensed teachers. Here in Oregon, we have TSPC (Teachers Standards & Practices Commision). TSPC are the ones who enforce requirements to get a teaching license or renewing one. They have standards for education programs in this state. The ed programs are the one who recommend people to get a license through TSPC. They require one to successfully complete an ed program that have full time student teaching (at least 10 weeks), two work sample portfolios, fingerprint and background check and passing on all tests.

To enter an ed program, each one is different for application. Though, all programs do need to comply with TSPC standards. Here are the tests I need to do:

1. CBEST: All student teacher candidates need to pass CBEST which covers one's general knowledge of basic reading, math and writing skills.
Link: www.cbest.nesinc.com (Though there are other similar tests of this nature that qualifies but CBEST is usually done in Oregon.)

2. ORELA Multiple Subjects Exam (Subtests I and II); it covers language arts, social science, arts, reading, instruction, mathematics, science, health and physical education.
As for me, I will get an authorization in early childhood/elementary education which means I can teach pre-K, K-5 schools, and K-8 elementary schools. This test covers my basic knowledge of various content areas for teaching students from K-8. (For teaching in middle and high schools, the candidates take different tests.)
Link: www.orela.nesinc.com

3. Finally, the last test is the Civil Rights Test. This is taken by all candidates either before entering or before graduating from the ed program. Each ed program requirement on that is different.
Here is the new ruling: Effective September 1, 2009, the TSPC requires the Protecting Student and Civil Rights in the Educational Environment test for licensure. (I need also pass this test to be part of the process of getting a teaching license in Oregon.)
Link: Also the same as the ORELA link mentioned previously.