About the English certification program
This thread contains posts related to enrolling in the English certification program.
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I am just enrolling in the ABCTE English program. I have no english background. Is it possible to complete this program in 3 months or should I just work towards the six months with the goal of teaching in January?
Kim,
While it is possible to complete the program in less than 6 months, the individuals who do it in that time frame usually have a good amount of knowledge about their subject area and teacher knowledge. It all depends on how much you already know and how much time you can put towards studying every day, week and month.
Remember, the average time it takes an ABCTE candidate to complete the program is 8-10 months but it can definitely take less than that the more studying that you can do.
Chris
ABCTE
I took the test earlier this month and passed the objective portion with a 300...still waiting on the written portion.
As far as studying beforehand, I did lessons in areas that I felt deficient and skimmed the areas that I felt confident. While in college we were required to notate in APA, so I had to brush up on MLA. My weak suit was the specific works and worried about that coming into the test. If you aren't currently a big reader, I would spend time reading. You'll notice in the practice exams that you are required to read quite a bit of text and pull out information. This is a long test with a lot of reading involved.
A test taking tip...when dealing with the reading passages, look at what question is being asked and the selection of answers before reading the passage. It helps me to know WHAT looking for before reading.
I picked up on the reading requirement as well. Since there is so much to read, would you recommend any particular works and/or genres? I'm also a communications major (undergrad) and I am refreshing on the fundamentals. I have a principal that has offered me a position this fall contingent upon my certification in July. I am working like gangbusters to finish the program in July.
I received my Ph.D. in English this past May, and I have taught at the college level for almost nine years. I am following ABCTE's advice and taking the PTK first. This is the one that scares me (especially statistics, as I am NOT a math brain)! As I progress, I find that much of the PTK content is common sense; many of the instructions include things that I have learned as a matter of course in teaching. But college teachers receive shockingly little training in actual pedagogy, so I am learning methods and strategies that I can see will be beneficial to implement in the college classroom as well. I am hoping to fast-track through these exams, and this forum has been a great help. I'm going to order the practice exams on CD ROM right now!
I also want to offer my help to those who might need it. I've taken the GRE Subject Test in Literature in English, and I did pretty well. My oral exams for the Ph.D. were on 20th-and-21st-century American Literature (all genres) but I have taken courses in many other areas (Shakespeare, Victorian literature) and have a particular fondness for Anglo-Saxon (Old English) and other aspects related to the history of the English language. I'd be more than willing to trade knowledge for some help in statistics!
Can I ask which practice exam CD roms you're talking about? Where did you buy them? I'm new to this program and want to gather all the resources I need before I "dig" in.
Thanks,
Leslie
I am excited I am starting the English program in March.. My question is what can I do now to prepare for the program if anything??
Debra
There is a lot of technical information here on succeeding in English certification program. Nevertheless I think I need more than you shared here, I need to know how will the exams or English test be organized: I know there's a test for written English but I am worried about the spoken English test. I am now practicing intensely with my accent reduction tutor, can anyone give more details on what I need to know? I really want to enter this certification program.
Hello and good luck to everyone. I also enrolled and was accepted in the ABCTE program in hopes of getting my certification in MS. I think this is an excellent program; I also plan to enroll in a graduate program in the spring.I know I don't need a master's to teach but it's a personal goal I would like to achieve. One of the entry requirements for graduate school is to have taken and successfully passed the Praxis I & II or enter into the graduate program on a provisional level the first semester. Afterwards,to register for second semester I must submit the Praxis I & II scores to the school to be considered a traditonal student enrolled in the MAT program.So my question would be to anyone that is also in graduate school or thinking of enrolling. Will the school accept my ABCTE certification or will I also have to take the Praxis I & II? I haven't had a chance to speak with anyone at the school but plan to before the semester is over.
I am a student at the University of Central Missouri. I am in the MAT graduate program. My university doesn't like ABCTE. They don't recognize the certification. They don't even like it when you bring it up. I had to take the Praxis to be in the program. It took me forever to finally decide that it would take too long to get certification with the university. I need a job to finish certification. It's a catch 22 because in my area you have to be certified to get a teaching job. There are too many certified teachers out of work competing with you. They look at certified teachers before alternative people without full certification. I'm going to get certified, get a job, and then finish my masters program. The master degree is a personal goal for me. ABCTE is the best way for me to achieve my goals. I took the PTK exam and everything that I learned in my education classes was in the exam, even the essay. I have to thank my professors because I couldn't have done it without them. No one should doubt the validity of the ABCTE. The PTK material is thorough, just like in my masters classes. It gave me more time to study for my content area exam because I was so comfortable with the PTK material right away. Don't give up on this! I've told other students in my classes about ABCTE because I believe in this program as a reasonable alternative when you really believe that teaching is your calling. I've spent two years in my masters program. It's expensive and time consuming. I wish I'd known about ABCTE earlier. No one told me how great this program is. I am spreading the word. You shouldn't have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars trying to get certified.
Thankyou ABCTE for this program and especially the study direction/format as well as the continued help though this forum. I considered teaching while in college and thought that I would not make a very good one, however, as I served as a scoutmaster in my local BSA unit I received comments from people that I should have been a teacher, some of those comments were from teachers themselves. I have since brought up the issue with local superintendents and have received rave reviews of the idea of ABCTE teachers and decided to persue this direction.
Like others I have been nervous about the ELA exam, but the suggestions through this forum have been very encouraging. I have also found that getting up an hour earlier each morning has also helped in study time (quiet and nondisruptive). Also, I attended the ABCTE exam workshop presented in Idaho Falls Id. on Nov. 16 and found it VERY helpful.
Bryce
I wish it were true that it only takes a couple of days for the background check results. I have been waiting a month since I passed my last exam. I have submitted two help desk tickets and talked to Matt at ABCTE once. Now, when I call him it just goes to voicemail and I've gotten no response from my helpdesk tickets. I taught last year on a temporary certificate in Missouri and I passed a complete fingerprinted background check at that time. For some reason my background check with ABCTE is not progressing. August is fast approaching.
Wow! A month is a long time to wait for your background check. I would call again.
Maybe you should call the general 1-877-669-2228 number and ask to speak with ANYONE who is available. Maybe Matt is on vacation. Just an idea.
Good luck!
How long does it normally take to complete this program? I am trying to do it in a month or two. Is that possible?
I have the same question danzjsu! I just finished my first year teaching, on a temporary certification. I was getting ready to take my DESE-required 9 college hours this summer - and then I heard about the ABCTE program. What a better way!!! My school and DESE are okay with me changing course (doing the ABCTE instead of the 9 hours of college each year) but school starts in August and if I don't complete this program I will be teaching without a certificate! I'm a pretty fast learner and I'm hoping the my first-year teaching experience will also help me with the program - but I'm still a little spooked! The good news is that I have the summer off to work whole-heartedly on the program - but will that be enough?!
Study Hard christym . . .
If you are a quick-study it IS possible (through a narrow window of time) to complete this process in about 2 months.
Your experience should help you with the PTK. ;)
*I highly suggest using the Workshops for the PTK & the Refresher Course for the ELA.
ABCTE on Hyperspeed:
(1.) Schedule both exams TODAY.
(2.) Have your principal verify your hours (on company letterhead) TOMORROW.
(3.) Send in your form for the background check TODAY.
(4.) Take the PTK practice tests, STUDY, & PRACTICE the written responses ALL WEEK.
(5.) Take the PTK on July 6th.
(6.) Take & pass ELA practice, STUDY, & PRACTICE the written responses ALL WEEK.
(7.) Take & pass the ELA exam on July 13th.
(8.) Wait 4-6 weeks for your essay results. (I hear 4 weeks is average = mid-Aug)
(9.) Schedule (now) & do your fingerprinting with Identix - if not already completed.
(10.) Call ABCTE and check on the progress of your background check.
(11.) Send your State Dept. of Ed your notarized certificate, official transcripts, & verification of hours.
(12.) Since you already have a job => Start teaching in August! =)
Good luck!
P.S. If your paperwork doesn't come through in time, ask ABCTE to draft a letter outlining your progrees and expected completion of the certification. There are several ways in which you may begin the year (temp / sub) until you have your state certificate.
Thank you DawnSmith for your input. It is possible with this time frame to complete the program especially considering you have already been teaching. The only thing I would add is that do make sure you get your college or university transcripts to us ASAP and now that we have changed our background check, you will only have to submit a background check release form and not have to get fingerprinted (we do recommend running the background check before you enroll if you have any prior misdemeanors or felonies). If you do not have any previous criminal penalties then ABCTE will process your background check AFTER you have passed both exams. The check should only take a few business days at that point.
I wish you the best of luck!
Chris Bale
ABCTE
You are welcome.
By the way: (9) Fingerprinting is for the state not for ABCTE. It's part of the "conversion" from ABCTE certification to state certification. (-at least in some states)
UPDATE: L-1 Identity Solutions is now that name of the company doing the fingerprinting for the state.
Hello, I am from Connecticut/New York area and wanted to know if anyone in my area has taken this program. Our states do not accept it but I there there may be something called repriocity. Can anyone explain this to me and how this program will work for me.
Thanks,
Marie
Marie,
Reciprocity generally refers to a transfer of a certification from one state to another. They try to convert the certification to what the new state offers - which most closely matches the certification from your previous state.
Ex. Your certification in Secondary Language Arts from State A is converted to a English Language Arts, grades 6 to 12 certification in State B.
Contact your State Department of Education or go online to their website to find state-specific information.
Again, this is generally for state certifications. To convert ABCTE certification to state certification, your state has to accept ABCTE certification. You said yours doesn't . . . yet.
Hi Blair. I am also in SC and looking to start the program. I truly believe this is the correct calling for me. I only wish I had found that out 10 years ago. Since you are just out of college, studying habits should be fresh in your mind. What area are you in? I'm in Charleston, and would love a study buddy.
I have just become aware of the ABCTE program in my state of S.C. I am very excitied! I just graduated from college last year and subbed for several months until I found a job. It was during that time I realized that I wanted to teach. I have not signed up yet. I am very nervous! Can I do this? I keep reading about how hard the test is. I also read on one of these blogs that the ELA test has only about 32% of people pass. YIKES! I am in need of some encouragement!
Congratulations on getting your degree and thank you for considering the teaching profession. Our exams are challenging which is why our states accept them. It is known that if you pass our exams then you have demonstrated your subject mastery in the subject area.
Traditionally, our pass rate across the board for all our exams is about 40% and this includes the English exam. However, what we've found is that for people who take advantage of the resources (advisors, learning plans, refresher courses, CDROM practice tests) the pass rate goes up to 67%. So the exams are very passable.
One recurring issue with the English exam is that sometimes candidates treat the exam as they would the SAT or GRE exam. That is, they expect an exam to test them on synonyms, antonyms, reading comprehension, etc. Our exam is an English Language Arts exam and it tests your competence on a wide variety of domains including your familiarity with literature, poetry, drama, etc.
I think once you know what to expect and lay out a great study plan, you are well on your way to success. As you can see with this thread, the ELA exam is not easy by any means but it is very passable and some of our candidates have shared some very nice study tips.
We do provide you with a number of resources to help you succeed in our program. When you enroll, you receive an initial self-assessment that helps you determine your strengths and weaknesses so that you get an initial sense of the journey ahead of you. The assessment is based on the exam standards so you can see where you stand initially relative to each exam.
You will then receive access to your refresher courses that are designed to help you study and prepare for the exams. In addition, your advisor will help you develop a detailed study plan and make specific study-resource recommendations if you need additional study resources. For ELA, they also provide a list of classic works in lit, poetry and drama that you would be expected to be familiar with.
We also have CDROMs with practice tests on them. These have 300 sample questions with explained answers. They can be taken in time and untimed modules. You can also take topical quizzes. These practice tests are not included in the $850 enrollment fee, but they are only $49 each or you can get a bundle (one for each exam at the same time) for $64.
Here's the exam snapshot for the ELA exam (http://www.abcte.org/files/english_snapshot.pdf) and here is the content standards page (http://www.abcte.org/teach/english-standards)
I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 877-669-2228.
Thank you
Ono Ekeh, ABCTE
I'm new to the program and just trying to get my study materials sorted out. So far I feel a bit like Brett, above - Mostly scatterbrained that is. One minute I feel determined and sit down to work thinking "I can accomplish this", and the next minute I feel lost and don't even know where to start! I used to think English was my strongest subject, but now I just feel overwhelmed. I have set aside scheduled time a few nights per week to study, but I don't think I am getting anywhere. Any advice on getting the ball rolling in the right direction? What resources were most helpful to get you started?
I recently responded to a similar question to yours in the Elementary Education forum. It might be helpful to start by focusing on one objective in the ELA standards at a time, trying to master that topic before proceeding on to the next. You may want to begin with your highest needs areas, based on your self-assessment. You can use the refresher course and the other recommended ELA resources as needed. If you print the standards and cross off objectives as you go down the standards, that will likely feel like a good accomplishment. I know I love crossing things off my To Do list. This is just one way to get your momentum going. Of course our wonderful community likely has some great suggestions as well.
Best of luck,
Jessica Morris, ABCTE
I hear, you, Brett!
I decided NOT to take the first practice exam until I read through the materials, because, like you, it's been a long while since I graduated from college. I didn't want to get discouraged by confirming what I *know* I've forgotten. LOL! But I don't think you should worry ... just consider that when you step into a classroom all that material will be fresh in your head!
Hey all.
I'm just getting started and I have to admit my nerves are pretty high.
I have the practice CDs and I think I'm going to take my first practice exam on Thursday to see where I am at. So far I've been trying to get my paper work squared away so I can get to substitute teaching here in Missouri.
My thoughts are all over the place from anxious to apprehensive, to eager to a little scared.
It's been 12 years since my last English class and I've definatley strayed from reading the classics to more post-modern like Larry Brown.
Oh well.
Glad the forum is up
THANK YOU, Jessica!!!!
I'm an alumni of this, no, i am not teaching yet but it is always a dream and a possibility :D. if there is any way i can help you through this forum, please let me know. First: this test is passable, fear not, though a lot of hard work and tons of paper posted on my walls with important notes so I'd wake up to them each morning till exam day.
Good Luck to All of You
Any help you can give without violating any cheat laws would be greatly appreciated. I am studying with the CDs, books on tape, cliff notes, and the online information that is given. I look forward to taking my tests and receiving my teaching credential. It's been a passion of mine for years now and I'm finally getting to follow it. Thanks for any assistance you can give.
vondak, you can find this list here: http://www.abcte.org/node/6633
-Jessica Morris, ABCTE
I saw a mention of a list of the literature used in the English/Lang. Arts test. Is there truly such a list? I can't find it anywhere, but that would be a good resource idea, since there's no way everyone can have read every bit of literature and remember it through the years. I have used Cliffnotes for brushing up on my Shakespeare, and it is definitely a great study tool.
I found another resource that is really helping me to study. Believe it or not, it's cliffsnotes.com. It's helping me to catch up on the books I haven't read yet and don't have time to now, and then there's a quiz after each book.
Thanks Stepka! Cliffnotes can definitely be a great resource for refreshing your memory or getting a sense of the major themes of books that you may have read a long time ago. Thank you for mentioning that here! But for best results on the ELA exam, teaching candidates should have a strong background in literature from across genres, time periods, authors and literary movements.
Thank you!
Jessica Morris
Manager of Teacher Preparation at ABCTE
It seems like the English program is very popular. I'm also in the program and found that with a full-time job, full-time masters student, full-time mom, and full-time wife, I don't have a lot of time. I'm getting through the material. One of the things that has helped me is to record myself reading the information. I have a 40 minute drive to work followed by 8 hours of processing files and 40 minutes to drive home. I can listen to the recorded information as many times as I'd like and really get it in my head. I look forward to learning other strategies for learning and networking with other teachers or soon to be teachers. Sharon
Hi there Sharon -- I was curious if you could email me and tell me how you are recording this? I would love to know how! Also - I am just getting started and would love to talk to you about the program. I am excited by terribly afraid!
My email is jennifergordonray@yahoo.com
THanks!
Jennifer
Sharon, Audio recordings of the materials is a great idea, so thank you very much for suggesting that here. After all, the idea of these forums is to help our teachers find support and techniques for success from each other.
And a special thanks to all of you who have joined us so far! We're so excited about offering these forums and it's fantastic to see your eagerness to participate! For all of you active candidates, remember to log in when you visit these forums so that you can access forums specific to your subject area!
Best of luck to all of you!
Jessica Morris
Manager of Teacher Preparation at ABCTE
Audio recordings are a FAB idea...where can I get them? Does anyone know of a website? Going to ebay right now! Thanks
jypsyemwalker,
I know that there are microphones that you can buy that plug directly into iPods which will allow you to record directly to your iPod, storing the audio file as MP3s, and play them back from you iPod or computer as needed. When this idea was first suggested I thought that this would be a great tool for these purposes. So if you have an iPod, you may want to look into these as well.
Best of luck!
Jessica Morris, ABCTE
Hi Write Teacher and others, I am also enrolled in the Language Arts program and busily working my way through the materials. It is a lot of work! Stephanie
Hello,
I am currently enrolled in the Passport to Teaching English language arts program and I would like to say thank you to ABCTE for starting this forum. I was just in touch with one of my advisers who mentioned their would be a forum up soon. I intend to utilize the forum as a networking tool and also as an important source for information about ABCTE's Passport to Teaching program.
The Write Teacher
I am considering enrolling in the English program as well. The only part I am skeptical about is the poetry, Shakespeare, the different genres? I have no trouble with the essays, writing, spelling, grammar aspect, just don't have a lot of background int he history portion. Have you fund the study materials helpful and how is it going for you?
-Jill
Dear Jill, I have graduated in 87 with an English minor, and an emphasis in poetry and film as it relates to literature. I am studying as much as I can since I work 45 hours a week. The refresher course is great! I am starting to retain the historical aspects of literature. The history of the English languarge in the Vocab section is my weakest point...so my strategy is to study, study, and do the work. We are in college again. Good luck to all!
Hi Jill
I'd love to hear what everyone has to say about how they've found the study materials. Here's a link to the pool of additional resources our learning plan advisors recommend from:
http://www.abcte.org/teach/exam-preparation/English-Language-Arts
Ono Ekeh
Enrollment Services Coordinator
ABCTE
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Got my final results the other day....back in December 2009, I passed my PTK both sections. I took my ELA exam April 2. and I passed my multiple choice, but not my essay. I am still in disbelief. I loved the poem I received for my essay. I could relate to it. I connected with it..I grasped deeper meaning of it. I felt my sentences were complete and that my position was well stated. I made a stupid error in the last 15 seconds of the exam, wanting to add the title of the poem in the first opening sentence and all I got written was part of the title before the exam shut down. My stomach sunk. But I thought, "Well, the content was solid, perhaps they can overlook that this was a mild panic error at the end. But if the graders were on the fence, that should could have tipped the scale. I am hoping to learn about what was missing in my ELA essay.
I studied 10-15 hours/week from Sept to Dec for the PTK and just as many from Dec to April for the ELA... so I'm a little worn at the moment to get the momentum to study for the retake. There is a reason for everything and I am confidant what is supposed to happen will happen. I'm just disappointed.