Korean Job Discussion Forums

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Sad-but all too often true. South Korea might just be worse than others(e.g. Japan)...that's all.

JacktheCat · Joined: 08 May 2004

Korean schools generally have three responses when presented with my CELTA, in order of frequency:

A) They think it is a fake certificate that I bought off the internet or in Thailand.

B) They think it is a hack course that I did online or through some shady operation.

C) They see the Cambridge University seal and are suitable impressed, though they have no idea what the the certifcate means.

I have yet to met a Korean school that knows what a CELTA is.

barrybrown · Joined: 18 Apr 2004

Worth it!

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Well I certainly think it was much more worthwhile now that Macquarie U is giving me 4 credits for it toward my MAppLing.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

It depends on why you want to do the course. If it's to improve your teaching, it'll help, but 25% or so is TOTALLY unrealistic in Korea. If you've taught before, the CELTA helps to sharpen your skills...especially in the area of analyzing grammar (a place where most teachers have problems).

If you want to teach in Europe (now or in the future) CELTA is a MUST! In Korea, it doesn't matter, except from a personal point of view.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

ajuma

Pronunciation as well.

We don't teach enough pronunciation and word stress. The Ss often don't know how many syllables or where the word stresses are. Also highlighting the form of the word (adjective, noun, etc) helps as well as providing the phonemic script for the language.

I"ve learned more in 1 month of CELTA than I did in 1 year of a distance M.A. Applied Linguistics Degree. Sad, I know, but that is the reality. You will not learn more about classroom teaching in any other program than the Trinity or CELTA. M.A. Degrees do not prepare you for the classroom in any practical sense like the CELTA.

Zed, compared to your CELTA, you may be disappointed with your MaQuarie M.A. degree.

I know I am.

CELTA is by far the best route to take to improve your teaching.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Has anyone who is reading this thread done a DELTA? I never hear anyone mention it really.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Third week finished!

1 more to go.

chocolatechipcharlie · Joined: 30 May 2006

Definitely worth it to learn to be a teacher. I did it in Poland with IH, where it is also very cheap and well taught. Now in Korea, and the certificate means nothing, and I get an entirely average salary - but I got the job and location that I wanted, and I'm happy, which is worth a lot to me. The CELTA is also very useful for getting work throughout Europe.

Another thing I have found is that the CELTA has taught me to be a better communicator - I find that I use CELTA techniques constantly in communicating on my travels. To me the course is indispensable and a valuable investment.

i_teach_esl · Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Location: baebang, asan/cheonan

whats the difference between a celta and a delta? uh, well, i guess i could google it...

Delirium's Brother · Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:01 pm Post subject:

certificate v. diploma
1 month v. 10 months part-time

I'm sure there are other things too.

two roads · Joined: 04 Jan 2006

I read the book Learning Teaching right before taking the course and felt like all of the classes were just a repeat of what I'd learned in the book and not particularly useful. I did, however, find the teaching practice useful because I had professional teacher trainers watching my every move and giving very detailed feedback on my teaching. Also, it was worth every penny to get the certificate that will help with future employment.

two roads · Joined: 04 Jan 2006

By the way, having the certificate can get you an extra 200,000 a month in the public schools. The certificate can pay for itself the first year.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

The CELTA was worth is, just for bringing down my own personal stress levels (by learning better ways to do normal class things). I has paid off financially too.

techshots · Joined: 18 Sep 2006

I just got denied a teaching JOB in Vietnam because I didn't have a CELTA.

for Korea, it's not at all necessary in my opinion. Simply depends on the place you are applying for. Having said all that, it's obvious that it doesn't hurt, and only helps to have a CELTA. The "real" CELTA, not a "paper" CELTA.