Grad School?!

The past three years if you had asked me about going to grad school, I would have said NO. My two reasons have been that (1) I don't know what I want to study, and (2) I want a break from school. However, the past few months have changed my mind on both points. In Peru, I realized I loved loved loved working with women (there especially women were the most neglected part of the family). And, last semester and this semester I have realized how much I love learning.

All that to say that I would like to get an M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). The market for this is huge right now, and I think it is such a practical skill to have. Lately God has been putting America on my heart (since middle school I have wanted to go overseas!) and I think that working with immigrants/refugees/foreigners here would be amazing, helping them to adjust to life here by teaching them English. If I had an M.A. in TESOL I could teach at the University level. There is a community college in L.A. that has people from literally all over the world wanting to learn English. You can just be TESOL certified without having an M.A., but I really think you get what you pay for. I was looking at a program abroad that gets you TESOL certified in 4 weeks!! I don't think teaching comes naturally for me, so cramming all of that info into a month might make me want to shoot myself. An M.A. would help me to be the best I can be and give me lots of time in the classroom as well as teaching experience before I graduate.

I have started looking at different programs and of course have no idea about the details of how this would work out (cost, location, etc). I am trusting that if this is something God wants me to pursue, He will provide and direct me! Prayers are appreciated :)