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nellychess
Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 187 Location: USA
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject: Are online TESOL certifications respected in the industry? |
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Firstly, I apologize that I'm sure this has been asked before, but I am not very good at navigating this site.
I have been on this site on and off for many years, but am ready to take the plunge, and start a new career/lifestyle.
I have about 6-8 months to plan, save up, and get certified before I go somewhere. My thoughts now are Vietnam, Taiwan, and South Korea, because they seem to have a good amount of jobs, and affordable living.
I have a BA in Sociology, and am ready to get certified in TESOL, or similar. I'm wondering if the online certification is respected in the industry, and good enough to get my first job. The in person course I have seen is over $1000, and the online one is about $300.
Thanks for any advice.
I'm leaning toward Vietnam because I have a friend who lives there, but I am pretty open. |
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nomad soul

Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Jessiemiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2012 Posts: 49 Location: Home
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:41 am Post subject: Re: Are online TESOL certifications respected in the industr |
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Nellychess - do you already have experience teaching, giving workshops, or group training? I give my advice assuming that you don't since none was mentioned.
I wouldn't say that online certification courses are particularly respected, but they can qualify you for some jobs. More importantly than industry respect, you will gain surface knowledge and no classroom experience and this could make 'taking the plunge' a decision you regret.
If you have 6-8 months to prepare, I would advise doing the in-class TESL or CELTA and once the certificate course is finished, observing as many different teachers as you can and volunteering in an ESL classroom.
Similar to online certification, the knowledge you'd likely get and absorb sitting in class for a month wouldn't be much deeper than surface. What makes the difference between in person and online is the opportunity to observe lessons, talk with your course mates and instructor, and learn from their mistakes and your own.
Teaching is trial and error and nothing can adequately prepare you as experience really is the best teacher . However, giving yourself as many observation and classroom hours as possible before taking responsibility for your own class is better than doing nothing. |
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tttompatz

Joined: 06 Mar 2010 Posts: 1951 Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 3:23 am Post subject: |
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In Korea they are adequate to meet the requirements for working in the public school system (coupled with your bachelor's degree).
To work in a language academy they are not needed for employment nor for the visa applicatin process.
In Vietnam and Taiwan they are not recognized but most other TESOL certs are also largely not recognized (or required) either. The requirement for the visa is a bachelor's degree.
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nomad soul

Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:05 am Post subject: |
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Nellychess:
I recall one of your other threads from early last year in which you stated:
nellychess wrote: |
I am 39 years old American male with a Bachelors degree. I teach tennis, and run a club in the states from April-November. I am off the rest of the year, and would love to go somewhere to teach English and live the rest of the year. Money is not important. i mainly want to have a good time, meet women and cool friends, and maybe just make money to live on while I am there. Any ideas? |
I have to ask.... Is this still your goal, or have your priorities and interest in teaching EFL changed for the better? |
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nellychess
Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 187 Location: USA
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, Nomad ! Thanks for reading my old post. As you can see, I have pondered this since 2005, and have never taken the plunge. I am ready to try this full time, and perhaps teach some tennis when I get to wherever I am going.
I always thought that a school somewhere cold use me as an English teacher, and a tennis coach, however it seems nearly impossible to set up from here, and with no English teaching experience. That would be a goal, to someday have that setup, and I would go anywhere in the world for that.
As for now, I am ready to become a teacher, pay my dues, learn, and gain experience wherever I can. I have some time(6-8months) to get certified if that's possible.
Would it be foolish to get an online Cert., and then while I'm working, work on a CELTA?
Thanks to everyone for ideas and help!
PS Not sure where my head was at re: my post you copied. It sounds shallow reading it now. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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If you are talking about courses which are completely online, then I would say that these are generally worthless in terms of employability, unless you are looking at scraping the barrel type employers. |
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GambateBingBangBOOM
Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan
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Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 4:05 am Post subject: |
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If by "on-line" you actually mean "off-campus" and by "certification" you mean "post-graduate certificate" or "masters degree" and your lack of specifying a provider means you assume that everyone knows you are talking only about brick-and-mortar universities that have off-campus courses available, then, Yes, yes they are generally accepted.
If you mean some mom and pop shop that offers a quick certificate you do in something like 10 hours (somehow billed as 150 or 300 hour certificate), then no, no it generally won't be respected in this field. But if you do the same thing in-person (usually done at a YMCA or possibly in rented out rooms at universities, though aren't university courses and do not appear in their list of courses) they still won't be respected.
Generally, the advice given to most people (those who don't already have a PGCE / Teacher's qualification in their home country) is to do a CELTA or go through a real university which lists their TESL / TESOL course in their prospectus (usually it'll be found in the graduate prospectus) and almost always has a masters degree in Applied Linguistics / TESOL / SLA or other English language teaching graduate degree if it has a certificate (and if you do the CELTA route, then look into then doing the masters degree a couple of years later, or at least do a DELTA).
Many universities in Australia and the UK offer a PGC(TESOL) that can be done off-campus (by people anywhere in the world), without experience. You can then apply those units / modules to the masters degree so doing the post-grad certificate isn't 'wasted' money or time. It's just doing half the work, then doing the other half at a later date. A post-grad certificate at an Australian university is 4 units (a unit is a single term course), so you can do them off-campus and part-time in a single year. Or you could do one full-time either on or off campus in a single term. The school year begins in late March (and finishes in July or so). Please note that you have to apply ahead of time (that's just the way it is with universities). Don't assume you could apply in February to do a course beginning in March. |
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VietCanada

Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 590
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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tttompatz wrote: |
In Korea they are adequate to meet the requirements for working in the public school system (coupled with your bachelor's degree).
To work in a language academy they are not needed for employment nor for the visa applicatin process.
In Vietnam and Taiwan they are not recognized but most other TESOL certs are also largely not recognized (or required) either. The requirement for the visa is a bachelor's degree.
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An on-line TEFL is sufficient for a work permit in Vietnam. That's my personal experience. Some employers that offer TEFL or CELTA may have different requirements for working for them. That is they may require you to pay them and forgo income for a month or two before they'll think about hiring you but that has nothing to do with gaining a work permit.
Last edited by VietCanada on Thu Dec 27, 2012 3:06 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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VietCanada

Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 590
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Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 3:01 pm Post subject: |
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To the best of my knowledge only Vietnam requires a TEFL or equivalent to get a work permit in all of Asia, perhaps the entire planet. The thing is utterly useless the world over unless you are a newbie and wondering whether you can do this job. In that case you most certainly should take a TEFL or equivalent which includes actual teaching and observation.
For an experienced teacher it is a total waste of money in this wired world.
Last edited by VietCanada on Sat Dec 29, 2012 2:46 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 1337 Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: Are online TESOL certifications respected in the industr |
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nellychess wrote: |
Firstly, I apologize that I'm sure this has been asked before, but I am not very good at navigating this site.
I have been on this site on and off for many years, but am ready to take the plunge, and start a new career/lifestyle.
I have about 6-8 months to plan, save up, and get certified before I go somewhere. My thoughts now are Vietnam, Taiwan, and South Korea, because they seem to have a good amount of jobs, and affordable living.
I have a BA in Sociology, and am ready to get certified in TESOL, or similar. I'm wondering if the online certification is respected in the industry, and good enough to get my first job. The in person course I have seen is over $1000, and the online one is about $300.
Thanks for any advice.
I'm leaning toward Vietnam because I have a friend who lives there, but I am pretty open. |
An on-site teaching practicum is essential if you want the better jobs. You might consider this one, bite the bullet and do the practicum in Toronto: www.ontesol.com |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:41 am Post subject: |
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OP I can imagine that you don't want to invest too much in this enterprise until you see if it suits you. But overall the idea seems a good one.
I did my last 12m gig in China when well over retirement age.
My ESL Cert is part class and part online.
My 2 cents worth is to do the online and then seek volunteer work with refugees or new migrants.
A language exchange where you acquire a bit of Vietnamese in exchange for your English could be worthwhile. Both parties are on an equal footing.
A bit of creative writing on your CV could make it appear that you have more than just an onliner.
If there are optional streams in the online, make sure you include the one covering Oral English.
Seems to me that most jobs in public sector schools/unis/colleges are of this ilk. |
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Prof.Gringo

Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 2236 Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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VietCanada wrote: |
To the best of my knowledge only Vietnam requires a TEFL or equivalent to get a work permit in all of Asia, perhaps the entire planet. The thing is utterly useless the world over unless you are a newbie and wondering whether you can do this job. In that case you most certainly should take a TEFL or equivalent which includes actual teaching and observation.
For an experienced teacher it is a total waste of money in this wired world. |
I Spent $1,300 on a 1 month, 120 hour on-site TEFL Course with the observed teaching practice. Taughts kids, teens & adults. Observed real exp. EFl/ESL teachers daily, and I had to really get into the lesson plans, games, etc. I did my TEFL course in Mexico, BTW.
Almost nobody in Mexico ever asked to see it.
In Vietnam everybody wants to see one.
Anyways, one of the best investments I've ever made. |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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My exp is similar to Prof Gringo.
The big plus was the confidence it gave me and the ability to monitor my own performance. |
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VietCanada

Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 590
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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Prof.Gringo wrote: |
VietCanada wrote: |
To the best of my knowledge only Vietnam requires a TEFL or equivalent to get a work permit in all of Asia, perhaps the entire planet. The thing is utterly useless the world over unless you are a newbie and wondering whether you can do this job. In that case you most certainly should take a TEFL or equivalent which includes actual teaching and observation.
For an experienced teacher it is a total waste of money in this wired world. |
I Spent $1,300 on a 1 month, 120 hour on-site TEFL Course with the observed teaching practice. Taughts kids, teens & adults. Observed real exp. EFl/ESL teachers daily, and I had to really get into the lesson plans, games, etc. I did my TEFL course in Mexico, BTW.
Almost nobody in Mexico ever asked to see it.
In Vietnam everybody wants to see one.
Anyways, one of the best investments I've ever made. |
I've heard this from others. It can be worthwhile PD for some. I've also heard from many who suffered from the pressure, abuse and disrespect that seems to be part of earning that cert.. I would never purposely discourage anyone who feels they would be a better teacher for earning it but I've heard far more negative comments about the course than positive ones. I often discourage it because the reports of extreme, deliberate, mental abuse seem to me to outweigh any possible benefit. I've even met a few who claim to be on permanent meds due their experience in that program. IMHO something is seriously wrong with any teaching environment program that has this effect on anyone. It seems wholly in opposition to the very concept of teaching.
What is the story with this? |
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