Job Discussion Forums

haleynicole14 · Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Posts: 178 Location: US

Groupon has a special right now for a 150 hour online TESOL course. This is the link http://www.groupon.com/deals/tesols-portland?pt=aUIWNtDAAAACk8oRa-mcJVL0hIdYid5Z0. I wanted to post the link in case anyone is interested, and I have a question of opinion too. Is there any point in paying for this? It's $69, regularly $599. Do you think this would hold any sort of meaning in the ESL world, or are the in person courses all that help obtain better jobs? The website for this program is here http://tesols.com/.

I have taught abroad before, and received a TEFL certificate from my recruiter for taking an online course, but I know this doesn't mean much. So if I was going to take it, I would want to be sure it would be at least seen as more "credentialed" than that on a resume.

Thanks. Smile

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Online courses are useless for the purpose of gaining employment.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:13 pm Post subject:

Dear coledavis,

Perhaps you should have written "virtually useless." Very Happy

Regards,
John

fluffyhamster · Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:29 pm Post subject:

But would they be useful for gaining virtual employment? Smile

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Virtually, fluffy.

OP, it's unlikely to add even 69 dollars worth of value to your CV/resume.

haleynicole14 · Joined: 20 Feb 2012 Posts: 178 Location: US

Thanks all. I've heard from a few sources that in-person courses are the way to go. I've avoided them this far because they're so expensive, but I guess if it gets me a better job in the future it's money well spent. Just have to start saving...

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

Agree - Virtually useless. But not totally useless.

I dont like to support such courses, but in some limited contexts they might be worth taking. Not that one is likely to learn much, but an employer may recognise/reward it.

Case in point - my summer school employer pays a TEFL / Non-TEFL rate per teaching day of 4.5 hours. ANY tefl cert qualifies and earns the holder around �10 / $15 more per day. Over the 36 days I taught for them this summer, that groupon deal makes sense!

Tudor · Joined: 21 Aug 2009 Posts: 339

Denim-Maniac · Joined: 31 Jan 2012 Posts: 1238

Yep - Its true and crazy. I cant say I approve, but generally the employer in question looks after me quite well, Ive worked for them for 5 summer seasons and get well looked after.

There are things Id change, but hey ... thats life right?

Nkengaola · Joined: 28 Nov 2011 Posts: 92 Location: Wanzhou, Chongqing

It wold be fine in China, maybe Taiwan, but very few other places. If you're just trying out TEFL, and plan to teach in China, this would be fine (it won't teach you much, but it's enough to get a job here). If you want to go anywhere else, or want this to be your new career, go for the CELTA or equivalent.