Job Discussion Forums

[DaumiD]

I would like to teach in Vietnam, and prefer to stay on the legal side of things.

I gather you need some sort of teaching certificate to get a work permit as an ESL teacher. How picky is that? Do they have standards beyond just taking the absolute cheapest junk online class?

[nomad soul]

Wasn't this question about TEFL certs adequately answered on your other related thread: On-Site TEFL/CELTA/Etc. in Vietnam?

Anyway, an online cheapo TEFL cert, unrelated BA, and zero experience aren't going to impress. Plus, you'll find it tough to compete against other job seekers who hold a CELTA/equivalent face-to-face TEFL cert.

[skarper]

I think we covered this well but very cheap unrecognized TEFL certs are a waste of time/money/effort. You won't learn a lot and they will not help you get a work permit. While the gov dept that issues WPs may not care the schools that go thru with the process certainly do know the difference...

I say nothing or put in the effort/time/money for the real deal = CELTA in Vietnam.

Though I suspect you might not pass/complete the course. Many do not...so maybe nothing and just be a backpacker teacher, cobble together a few hours and have a few laughs. Then move on to your next destination. You wouldn't be the first and arguably it is all most employers/students want anyway.

[Spelunker]

Celta/tefl is generally a joke anyways...I did a one month tefl course, with two teachers, and some students who were on it were PGCE qualified....all said it was a joke. I learned far more actually teaching in China than I ever did on that course. Much like you can't learn how to fish on dry land, you can't learn how to teach.......bit of a simplistic analogy, but no CELTA needed, not in Asia, and expensive as well!

[LarssonCrew]

Completely agree.

It's all fine and dandy the trainer leading you through exercises you should try, getting you to decrease your TTT! And being OTT with saying things like 'TTT', but at the end of the day, nothing will prepare you for 40 rich Chinese kids who have no manners and don't wish to lose face, they'd much rather you stuck on a Justin Bieber concert CD and be done with it.

[TRH]

[kurtz]

[DaumiD]

[skarper]

I don't think many people have managed to get WP if they only have the very cheapest certificates.

Some may have - it's a bit like the wild west here sometimes - but generally not at all likely you can work legally with a certificate that doesn't have 6 hours observed teaching and some name awareness.

The schools who can get you a work permit [few are far between and getting more so] know that only a CELTA has any merit [they even get confused by Trinity Cert TESOL which are equivalent and actually known by insiders to be better].

Even CELTAs can be iffy - there is massive variation between providers. The scheme is Cambridge verifies the course meets their specs but it is up to the course provider to actually run/teach them.

There is a huge amount of material to cover and many boxes to tick. They can seem ridiculous and certain bits should really be updated. Furthermore, many jobs just do not allow for TEFL methodology. Even the language mills that are among the better places to work usually have too many students in a class with too much variation in level, age and reasons to be there.

People looking at working 6 months to a year in TEFL and not intending to be around long enough can find work without a TEFL cert of any kind. But very seldom can they get a work permit.

This has really all been done and redone in older threads.

[Spelunker]

[ExpatLuke]

[kurtz]

[Spelunker]

I will apologize.

I was a bit despondent then, had just been turned down for a summer camp job.

Celta, tefl, or none at all....whatever skins the proverbial cat. Happy summer everyone.