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What Certificate Will Prepare Me to Teach ESL Learning?
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ebooktrial0001



Joined: 02 Jan 2014
Posts: 156

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 9:59 am    Post subject: What Certificate Will Prepare Me to Teach ESL Learning? Reply with quote

Hi Everyone,

In truth, I'm an ESL teacher that's mediocre at best. I took a CELTA; but, I feel I didn't learn much or do well.

The good news is, my current employer in China wants a Westerner to teach ESL. They may pay for an additional degree, if I will do it. Can someone answer the following four questions as concisely as possible:

1. What degree in teaching will be the best for me to advance?

Potential choices include:

a. Master's in TEFL/TESOL/etc. (either online or in-person)
b. DELTA
c. PGSE

2. For the DELTA, do costs vary by center, as they do with the CELTA?

3. How long does the DELTA take to complete?

4. How much of the DELTA can be done via distance?

Thanks
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Gamajorba



Joined: 03 May 2015
Posts: 357

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 10:44 am    Post subject: Re: What Certificate Will Prepare Me to Teach ESL Learning? Reply with quote

ebooktrial0001 wrote:
Hi Everyone,

In truth, I'm an ESL teacher that's mediocre at best. I took a CELTA; but, I feel I didn't learn much or do well.

The good news is, my current employer in China wants a Westerner to teach ESL. They may pay for an additional degree, if I will do it. Can someone answer the following four questions as concisely as possible:

1. What degree in teaching will be the best for me to advance?

Potential choices include:

a. Master's in TEFL/TESOL/etc. (either online or in-person)
b. DELTA
c. PGSE

2. For the DELTA, do costs vary by center, as they do with the CELTA?

3. How long does the DELTA take to complete?

4. How much of the DELTA can be done via distance?

Thanks


IIRC, DELTA can only be done when you've taught for X amount of hours, I'm not sure what the number is though. I think 2000? I could be wrong. Someone can clarify that better than me.

PGCEs I believe are more for elementary/secondary school education...again, could be wrong.

TESOL MA could also be a good option. I know several who have gone down that route in UK universities and haven't been steered wrong yet!
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santi84



Joined: 14 Mar 2008
Posts: 1317
Location: under da sea

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why are you a mediocre teacher?

I think you need to understand that before you choose a path.
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Delta. Or Trinity Dip
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 2:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

All info about Delta options, e.g. the distance Delta, can be found on the Cambridge website. But prices vary, as do local entry requirements. As far as I know.

http://thedistancedelta.com/
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ebooktrial0001



Joined: 02 Jan 2014
Posts: 156

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 4:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. Ok. My question is "where do I go from here"?

I'm guessing the DELTA sounds like a good option. Most of it can be done online (perhaps the prep work for modules 1 and 3). The module 2 can be done in-person and completed.

2. Suppose I get my DELTA, can I teach at Universities, etc. in the Middle East?
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ebooktrial0001



Joined: 02 Jan 2014
Posts: 156

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 4:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. Ok. My question is "where do I go from here"?

I'm guessing the DELTA sounds like a good option. Most of it can be done online (perhaps the prep work for modules 1 and 3). The module 2 can be done in-person and completed.

2. Suppose I get my DELTA, can I teach at Universities, etc. in the Middle East?
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not likely, I'm afraid.
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nomad soul



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 5:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ebooktrial0001 wrote:
1. Ok. My question is "where do I go from here"?

I'm guessing the DELTA sounds like a good option. Most of it can be done online (perhaps the prep work for modules 1 and 3). The module 2 can be done in-person and completed.

2. Suppose I get my DELTA, can I teach at Universities, etc. in the Middle East?

You're already aware that you can get work via a Saudi contracting company with just your current qualifications. However, for pretty much every Mid East direct-hire university position, you'd need a TEFL-related MA; the Delta alone wouldn't suffice in lieu of a grad degree. On top of it, some employers in the region want to see several years of teaching experience gained after you've received the MA.

ebooktrial0001 wrote:
In truth, I'm an ESL teacher that's mediocre at best. I took a CELTA; but, I feel I didn't learn much or do well.

and you wrote:
I will admit, I don't want to stay in the ESL field forever. Realistically, I am mediocre at best and have only done it for about two years to pay down my undergraduate debt. (From your own thread one year ago: "Is ESL For Losers?"http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=106525 )

I have the same question as Santi: Why are you a mediocre teacher? We all start out as novice teachers usually in an entry-level teaching situation. But at the same time, we should be developing professionally through regular classroom observations/evaluations, in-service teacher workshops, specialized certificate courses, TESOL conferences/semininars, and so on. Apparently, that hasn't been your experience---either you've never sought out professional development and just skated by for a paycheck, or it's never been provided at your workplace or in the countries you've taught in. Within the last year, you've asked about getting a k-12 teaching qualification and about a Delta, but never followed through. So, what's your goal and what steps, thus far, have you taken to get there?
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suphanburi



Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 11:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A typical question that is often posed is, "If I get some qualification then where can I find work?".

Perhaps a better set of questions might be:
    What work do I want to do?
    Where do I want to work (region)?
    What remuneration package am I looking for?


Yes, they will require some reflection but ultimately, your chosen path should determine your credentials and not the other way around.

IF you want to head for the tertiary sector then an MA/M.ED TESOL/TEFL is almost mandatory. A decent one will take about 1 year for coursework and 1 year for your thesis or 2 years of coursework and a mini-thesis type of project. The pay in the tertiary sector isn't always great but the hours aren't so onerous either. If you plan to go down this road then a PhD and further research (as a researcher) is also on your horizon.

If you like working with kids and would prefer a nice remuneration package then a post grad certificate in education or a professional teachers certification course would be in order.
A specialization in TESOL/TEFL would also not be out of place but if you are so inclined a specialization in mathematics or the sciences would pretty much assure that your skills will always be in demand.
Remuneration packages in decent international schools are nice (US$50-60k/year) and they usually come with a full benefits package (airfare, medical, housing, family relocation assistance, generous vacations, etc) as well.
This will usually take about a year to complete.

If you want to stay in the private sector (language academies, etc) then CELTA+DELTA or a DipTESOL would likely be the path to follow. Picking up some additional coursework in management or human resources would not be a bad idea either since these grads tend to gravitate to DOS type or admin positions. These typically take 3-6 months to complete.

IF you like to stay where you are in the TEFL field then further professional development in classroom practices and methodology (workshops, seminars/webinars, conferences, SIG's at your local TESOL Chapter, etc.) would probably help you improve as a teacher, share ideas/experiences and connect with others within your local professional community.

.
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MuscatGary



Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 3:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Delta may be a good option as you could later use it as partial credits towards a Masters. It's worth 60 points so one third of a Masters.
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En929



Joined: 22 Feb 2015
Posts: 25

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 4:47 am    Post subject: Re: What Certificate Will Prepare Me to Teach ESL Learning? Reply with quote

ebooktrial0001 wrote:
Hi Everyone,

In truth, I'm an ESL teacher that's mediocre at best. I took a CELTA; but, I feel I didn't learn much or do well.

The good news is, my current employer in China wants a Westerner to teach ESL. They may pay for an additional degree, if I will do it. Can someone answer the following four questions as concisely as possible:

1. What degree in teaching will be the best for me to advance?

Potential choices include:

a. Master's in TEFL/TESOL/etc. (either online or in-person)
b. DELTA
c. PGSE

2. For the DELTA, do costs vary by center, as they do with the CELTA?

3. How long does the DELTA take to complete?

4. How much of the DELTA can be done via distance?

Thanks


Alongside with what other's said, teaching can sometimes be a trial and error field too. I think EXPERIENCE is the key to becoming a better teaching. Sometimes you have to dive into teaching head first and find out and note the things that work and discard the things that don't work. But, try different things. Yes, you could take courses and gather different ideas about what works for other people (and it is good to do this too), but sometimes what works for other people might not work for you. Thus, the key is experience. Teach as much as possible, because a lot of things that you could learn through teaching experience could be things that you won't learn by taking classes.
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 5:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Experience is important. But it ranges in quality too. As does the teacher and their ability to reflect on their classroom experience.

So, experience isn't enough. Training is the key element for most people in EFL. That will help you to understand why some things worked and why others didn't. The issue is usually more about implementation of teaching ideas in specific contexts rather than the ideas themselves.

Training. The key.




(And I get a healthy commission off the back of ALL Delta and Celta applicants - so please do get some more training.)
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buravirgil



Joined: 23 Jan 2014
Posts: 967
Location: Jiangxi Province, China

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 6:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sashadroogie wrote:
Training is the key element for most people in EFL. That will help you to understand why some things worked and why others didn't. The issue is usually more about implementation of teaching ideas in specific contexts rather than the ideas themselves.

Training. The key.

(And I get a healthy commission off the back of ALL Delta and Celta applicants - so please do get some more training.)
Have you been bruised? It's not like those accusations had merit. I don't believe you're this fragile.

Okay, for most people in EFL. Agreed, given an expansion and growth of a vocation with an inclination to demand the "ears" and speech of native-speakers ("authenticity", but often an excuse for an appearance) and deference to the often perceived (and sometimes not) accents of bilinguals.

But training is an ersatz solution to an absence of education about English as a discipline. Is it a practical solution? Yes, yes. For someone with an un-related degree to either English or Applied Linguistics (method) to better proceed in a classroom of country X. Yes, yes.

Citing training as a key? Absence an education, perhaps, because an accredited education in English with a concentration that is inclusive of writing, editing, and methods of teaching is a standard given short shrift by a small industry of "certifications".

And here is where the intersections of academic study and "professionalism" enter a land of contrasts, trends, and varying claims of priority.

Do we really need to examine the latest CELTA manual to cite any number of topics given cursory description and prescription in the name of expediency-- that is, a concentrated, rapidly paced overview to minimize a duration of study and maximize a solvency? The Brits have the British Council and its de facto standard of teacher preparation while Americans have a large constellation of private and public universities with English departments informed by adjoining departments of Linguistics and Education. Which is not to say a BA in English (with the aforementioned focus) from England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa isn't diluted by this same de facto standard.

I don't have to believe you're "on the take" to have an objection to the repeated advocacy of a training in lieu of an education. Is the canard genuine, or a sincere advocacy of a practical solution to shortages of English degree holders? Or is that a Hobson's choice?

Oh, by the way, all that's just my opinion. No one agrees with it.
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Sat May 09, 2015 7:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not bruised. Just amused. By the one extreme that classroom experience is all you need. And also the opposite extreme which holds that a higher degree in linguistics is the crucial point. In fairness, at least you specified applied linguistics. However, between the two, the Delta and an MA in applied linguistics, the former has made much more of an impact on my classroom practice than the latter. Both have value. But for becoming a better practicioner of EFL, my view is that practical training component of the Delta helps more. And that is what the OP seems to need, with these comments about mediocre teaching.

Take a Delta. Deliver better lessons.

And give me my cut : )
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