Job Discussion Forums

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

In the smaller cities in China, an online TEFL certificate is acceptable. It won't teach you how to teach, but you'll get a basic review of grammar and some ideas for how to put together a lesson plan.

I know this opinion will get blasted here, but I think you should try out teaching English before spend thousands of dollars on a certificate. If you hate it, or like it but only want to do it for a year or two, that's a lot to invest in something that you only use for a short time. On the other hand, if you love it, you can always go back and get the certificate, and maybe have a bit less debt as well. Also, I have heard from some people that they got a lot more out of the course after having taught for a time - they could immediately see how they could apply what they were learning to a teaching environment.

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

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

Nomad, I don't disagree that a CELTA certification will open up many more opportunities - I was just saying that it's a lot of money to spend on something before you get into it. I may have missed it, but I don't recall seeing the original poster stating that he/she had any experience teaching. Spending thousands of dollars on a new career that you may or may not enjoy, especially considering the student loan debt, seems a bit reckless to me.

However, I can only speak from my own experience (as is true for all of us). I decided to teach English because I thought it would be my next career. I wanted to save up some money, and teach in a few countries, eventually settling down in one. I've been teaching for five months now, and although I enjoy it, I don't feel I want to do it for more than another year after this contract is completed. I'm VERY glad I didn't spend the money on a CELTA, because then I would have felt I HAD to made the money back before abandoning it - not a good place for anyone to be, let alone a teacher.

As always, YMMV.

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

Sashadroogie · Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 2:18 pm Post subject:

Oh, oh, but the learners! Think of the learners!

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

Oh, yeah. Learners. Deserve. Something. Credible.

Laughing

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Teaching EFL ANYWHERE in the EU is a ticket to poverty. Go somewhere that will pay you a decent salary. Mother Russia ?

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

I tend to agree with Scot47 here. I remember applying for a job in a part of northern France. The pay was a joke and when I politely advised that I didn't see how you could live on it, I was told, 'well, other teachers seem to manage'.

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

MotherF · Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:05 pm Post subject:

I think there is something to be said for Nkengaola's suggestion.

There are those chain schools that will make you go through their in-house training program before you start to work for them--whether or not you've already done a longer training program. And they expect that you teach only in the method that they have "sold" to their students.
It's not the best way to learn a language, nor the best way to be "a teacher". But, it does give you an idea of what this field is like. I don't see that as the wrong way for a newbie to try out TEFL. IF they hate living abroad or hate working with students, or for whatever reason decide to go home after a year--they have a novel experience under their belt and didn't spend thousands of dollars on training they don't need--since they only worked at a school that required them to give classes in a certain way. If at the end of that first year they decide they want to go on in the field and want access to better jobs, and better teaching and learning--then they can get a CELTA or comparable certificate--or maybe even and MA.

kellysh · Joined: 15 Sep 2011 Posts: 3

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

Concepcion780 · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 32 Location: United States

If you are interested in teaching in Western Europe for a year or two you do have some options available. I would look into teaching assistant positions through different ministries of education or culture. For example:

In France:
http://highereducation.frenchculture.org/teach-in-france

In Spain:
http://www.educacion.gob.es/eeuu/convocatorias-programas/convocatorias-eeuu/auxiliares-conversacion-eeuu.html

These programs are only a year long (I think most have the option to do two years) and after that year or two is over you would have to leave.

These don't pay that well, but if you have government loans and are on a standard 10 year repayment plan that should work out to under $150/ month, which I think you could manage pretty easily (that number is based on how much I pay with a slightly higher amount of total loans, not math, just so you know). I think they might provide housing too, maybe like student housing.