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icetrekker · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Posts: 10

I'm currently looking at options for training and came across Vive: http://www.ukvivential.com/vive/VIVE%20Programmes-TEFL%20Certification.html

Has anyone trained with them? or any positive/negative feedback?

Cheers
Ian

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Never trained with them, but here's what I know. They had money probs a couple of years ago. They don't have info abuot how many hours and how many practise teaching hours, should be 120 and 6 at least.

There's just too little info about them on their site. Go with another one, There are tons in CUSCO.

icetrekker · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Posts: 10

Thanks for the info naturegirl Smile

and thank you for putting together a great website, loads of information to get through.

ghostdog · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject:

I concur with Nature Girl on two points. This company's rep is bad -- they recently changed their name (from Britanico, I believe), never a good sign in my opinion. And any worthwhile course would last for at least 120 hours and provide the trainee teacher with at least six hours of classroom practice with actual students.

As to where to do the course, it depends on how long-term your objectives are. If you are only looking to teach for a year or two, and specifically in South America, it matters less about the certification as long as you're happy with the course. But if you're planning on doing this for awhile, I wouldn't spend money on a course which wasn't certified by either Cambridge ESOL or Trinity. They may or may not be better courses -- at least they do have outside assessors who come in for a couple of days of every course to certify things are up to scratch -- but they are the only providers who are genuinely recognized internationally, particularly by what are generally perceived as the better schools. If you are going to spend a fair bit of money, you might as well get something which will actually open doors for you in more places. In SA, however, they are less likely to care, so it depends on your long-term intentions.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Were they Britanico? It's only in Lima. I know El Cultural was associated with ICPNA and broke off because they didn't want to pay the fee

ghostdog · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:55 am Post subject:

I was in Trujillo last spring and saw a poster for Britanico in a copy shop, so I noted the address and walked in a cv whilst I was in the neighbourhood (it's not far from El Cultural). They were putting the finishing touches on their new signage. The person I talked to said that they had changed their name from Britanico to UK Viviental but wasn't exactly forthcoming on the reason. Since I had already heard about their less than stellar reputation, I didn't really need much imagination to guess why.

What's the story with El Cultural and ICPNA? I'd wondered about the difference in the names since El Cultural portrays itself as a binational centre.

icetrekker · Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Posts: 10

Thank you ghostdog, at the moment it's just for a few years. I want to get decent training to start me of right and give me confidence to do a good job.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

ghostdog · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 1:39 pm Post subject:

In short: not that I've found.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Not even the national or private university?

Kevin_NY · Joined: 28 Feb 2007 Posts: 11

I stopped by there 2 years ago in person and there seemed to be alot of confusion about the program. I was not impressed at all...