Job Discussion Forums

[sarahstar]

Hi,

I have a BA in English and Modern Languages from Oxford University (2000), and 6 months teaching experience (dates back to 1998).

I am planning to take off from my job in Paris in the next 6 months to teach in Asia (need a change, love Asia, looking for a new direction - possibly teaching).

I have some experience but that was years ago and was not backed up by any formal training, I'm thinking long-term and looking at all of the possibilities if I want to teach TEFL seriously. On the other hand I still haven't paid off my student loans from 2000 and don't have a lot of money to get a formal teaching qualification.

After poring over this site I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get a job in Asia (S Korea/ China) without TESOL/ CELTA/ MA, so I've decided that I'd prefer to get some teaching experience in Asia, and see whether I actually enjoy it before embarking on any of these courses.

I have two questions for any experienced teachers out there :

1. Is this an intelligent route to take? Or should I spend some time & money getting some formal training before getting in front of a gang of kids?

2. Can anybody recommend any good TEFL resources/ a reading list if I do decide to start teaching without any formal qualifications?

Cheers,

Sarah

[Gordon]

Japan is also an option. A TEFL certificate isn't required (but it does help you teach), just a BA in anything. If you are in this for the long haul, then I would recommend getting some kind of training. You will be doing yourself and your students a service. Sorry, I don't know any cheap TEFL certs, but I was glad I got a CELTA. I was amazed at how much I learned and that was after 4 years of teaching already.

[sarahstar]

thanks gordon,

did you do a distance CELTA or did you go back to do it?

i think i'll try teaching for a year and do some training if i plan to stick it out..

cheers,

Sarah

[waxwing]

Are you aware that a CELTA only takes 1 month?

[sarahstar]

it's the cost that's making me wonder if it's worth it straight away..

[denise]

You say you've had some teaching experience. How confident are you in your ability to plan & deliver lessons to different ages & levels of students? Even when they're not required, TEFL certificates can do wonders for your confidence.

There are schools out there that have their own training programs. If you don't mind being told what/how to teach (you'd have to follow their methods), such schools might be an option.

d

[Gordon]

[sarahstar]

you are right.. celta is part time or full time but not distance.. i was looking at the i to i tefl course..

i've just seen that there are two colleges in Paris which teach CELTA full time.

Has anyone ever used the "Teach Yourself Teaching English As a Foreign/Second Language" by David Riddell ?

[kait]

Hess, in Taiwan, offers a TEFL certificate after a year of employment. They have a teacher training session when you first arrive in the country, then they provide additional training periodically throughout the year. That might be one way to actually get paid to get your certification.

[shmooj]

[sarahstar]

i wish my bank manager thought that way !!

i'll get hold of harmer's book - i was looking at that one too.

i guess i'll have to swot up before i go, perhaps get some teaching work in paris beforehand.. i've got a pretty positive outlook & living in paris has made me tough as old boots so i should be ok.

the taiwan option sounds interesting from a financial point of view.. but whilst in thailand i met an extremely stressed out canadian who was teaching english in taipei & after that i decided that taiwan isn't the place for me.. i know that this is a massive generalisation, and it's what you make of it, but i've had may fill of partying & loads of noisy drinking ex-pats would do my head in.