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Ruaridh321
Joined: 11 Aug 2015
Posts: 62
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 Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 6:54 pm Post subject: Difference between a CELTA and a 'CELTA-equialent' TEFL? |
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Hi guys.
I've been doing a lot of online research into teaching English abroad for a while now. However, I'm still confused about a few things.
I understand that a CELTA is one of the more (if not most) highly regarded qualifications in teaching English abroad, and to be honest this is what I am most interested in getting.
However, I seem to hear a lot of people mention standard TEFL courses that are "CELTA equivalent" i.e they are 4 weeks long, 120 hours and included a lot of practical training.
I've found a lot of TEFL courses that have this format (as opposed to weekend courses or online courses) but they do not have the CELTA name.
Is there a benefit to doing a CELTA course instead of a non-CELTA 120 hour TEFL course?
Or is either valid as long as its 120 hours and includes practical training?
Any info would be great  |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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Either is valid so long as a prospective employer is willing to take the time to read and understand what the generic course required. If you are applying in a highly competitive job market, the brand name is preferable because employers don't have to guess or do research to find out.
Generics are also usually acceptable (or should be) in the local job market. So, for example, if you do an equivalent course in Prague, the cert should be recognized by employers in the Czech Republic and surrounding region. |
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sparks
Joined: 20 Feb 2008
Posts: 632
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| Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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| CELTA will serve you the world over. Some other course may not be known everywhere, plus, who knows who oversees the quality? If you are going to bother to spend time and money on a course, just do the CELTA. Even Trinity or SIT, they are second and third most popular and cost about the same. Shell out for the most recognisable course, it should at least get you considered in a lot of schools. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Ruaridh321 wrote: |
Is there a benefit to doing a CELTA course instead of a non-CELTA 120 hour TEFL course?
Or is either valid as long as its 120 hours and includes practical training? |
The teaching practice component should be a minimum of 6 hours of supervised, observed, and assessed teaching practice with actual students (not your peers), which the CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, SIT TESOL, and equivalent, in-person TEFL courses provide. That entails your tutor or supervising teacher observing you teaching a lesson to a class of students. Your teaching is then assessed as feedback on what you did right and what needs improvement.
Many employers worldwide prefer or require an in-person, 120-hour TEFL qualification with this important practical component because it verifies that the job applicant has been sufficiently trained with the skills, knowledge, and hands-on teaching practice to facilitate an English language class. That's not the case with an online TEFL cert.
By the way, the CELTA is a standardized qualification awarded by Cambridge English Language Assessment via Cambridge University Press (not Cambridge University). Standardized means it has the same instructional content regardless of where in the world you take it. Ditto for SIT TESOL (SIT Graduate Institute) and Trinity CertTESOL (Trinity College London). These qualifications have origins going back some 30-50 or so years. |
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Ruaridh321
Joined: 11 Aug 2015
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 1:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the information everyone!
It does definitely sound like a CELTA would probably be best |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 1:45 am Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
By the way, the CELTA is a standardized qualification awarded by Cambridge English Language Assessment via Cambridge University Press (not Cambridge University). |
Perhaps it depends on where you are. Mine was awarded by the University of Cambridge, ESOL Examinations. The certificate is University of Cambridge branded, not CUP. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 3:09 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, HLJHLJ. I certainly could have worded that better --- that the award isn't directly from Cambridge University:
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Cambridge English combines the experience and expertise of two world-leading departments of the University of Cambridge - Cambridge University Press and Cambridge English Language Assessment.
Source: http://www.cambridge.org/us/cambridgeenglish |
More specifically:
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Non-School Institutions
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Its purpose is to further the University's objective of advancing knowledge, education, learning, and research. Its extensive peer-reviewed publishing lists comprise 45,000 titles covering academic research, professional development, over 300 research journals, school-level education, English language teaching and bible publishing. Playing a leading role in today's international market place, Cambridge University Press has more than 50 offices around the globe, and it distributes its products to nearly every country in the world.
Cambridge Assessment manages the University's three exam boards (Cambridge English Language Assessment, Cambridge International Examinations and OCR) and carries out leading-edge and operational research on assessment in education. Established over 150 years ago, it designs and delivers assessments to over 8 million learners in 170 countries and is a not-for-profit organisation.
Source: https://www.cam.ac.uk/colleges-and-departments |
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HLJHLJ
Joined: 06 Oct 2009
Posts: 1218
Location: Ecuador
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 3:32 am Post subject: |
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Cambridge English Language Assessment is part of Cambridge University, and they specify the course syllabus.
Maybe it varies regionally, or things have changed recently, but my CELTA was most definitely awarded by University of Cambridge, not CELA. However, a CELA branded certificates would still be being awarded by UoC, because CELA is a division of the university.
I can't see anything in those links to explain where CUP comes into it.
---
OK Google turned these up:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CELTA#/media/File:Celta-certificate.jpg
A CELA branded CELTA certificate 'Cambridge English Language Assessment, part of the University of Cambridge'.
and this
https://neuronjump.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/mark-celta.jpg
A UoC branded certificate.
The CELA branded cert is dated 2014 and the UoC is 2013 so maybe the branding changed last year. Either way, University of Cambridge is still the awarding body.
But I guess we are splitting hairs anyway |
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In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 7:28 am Post subject: |
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Hi Ruaridh321, have you looked at doing your training in Spain? You can do a Trinity-accredited 4-week intensive course, the Cert TESOL, in Barcelona at Oxford House*. It has good facilities and a good reputation, plus will be a lot warmer than Poland in January.
*many other good providers are available |
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Teacher in Rome
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Posts: 1286
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Either is valid so long as a prospective employer is willing to take the time to read and understand what the generic course required. If you are applying in a highly competitive job market, the brand name is preferable because employers don't have to guess or do research to find out. |
Do not underestimate this!
You really do not want to be in the position where either your initial application gets binned because an employer doesn't recognise your qualification - or have to then explain and justify it at an interview.
Employers know what they're getting with a candidate who has a CELTA. |
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Ruaridh321
Joined: 11 Aug 2015
Posts: 62
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| In the heat of the moment wrote: |
Hi Ruaridh321, have you looked at doing your training in Spain? You can do a Trinity-accredited 4-week intensive course, the Cert TESOL, in Barcelona at Oxford House*. It has good facilities and a good reputation, plus will be a lot warmer than Poland in January.
*many other good providers are available |
Would it be easier to find work in Barcelona than Poland in Jan/Feb?
I know most European countries are difficult, but some of what I've read on Spain is a bit more promising. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2015 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Spain's a bigger job market in general, so probably it is a safer bet. |
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In the heat of the moment
Joined: 22 May 2015
Posts: 393
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2015 7:09 am Post subject: |
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| Ruaridh321 wrote: |
Would it be easier to find work in Barcelona than Poland in Jan/Feb?
I know most European countries are difficult, but some of what I've read on Spain is a bit more promising. |
You don't need to limit yourself to one country when you're a qualified ESL teacher, which is one of the reasons I love this job. Before, during and after your course you can be talking with other teachers, recruiters and employers about what type of role best suits you. The country is not as important as the school (and your new colleagues) and your own attitude, so it's good to be flexible about where you're going to live and work.
The training for the CELTA is particularly tough, personally I'd rather not be freezing when I'm working a 14-hour day, 7 days a week, but that's just me. I've worked with Spanish and Polish English teachers and they've all been superb, but some employers may see a Spanish (or other western European) address on your certificate as a plus point. |
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