Job Discussion Forums

[oblomov]

I'm thinking about doing a 2 week TESOL course at ECC in Bangkok, mainly because I don't think, at the moment, that I'd be able to cope with the full blown CELTA. Just wondering whether anyone else had done this course???? Is it worth doing at all- would it give any basis for basic EFL teaching, or as a decent grounding for the CELTA course???

Any feedback greatly appreciated!

[Gordon]

If you want to do a CELTA, do it. A CELTA doesn't need a pre-course. I remember toying with the idea about getting a CELTA and then being turned off because of the price.
I'm really glad I bit the bullet and got the CELTA now and that I can put it on my resume.

Sorry I don't know anything about ECC.

If you were an empoyer, who would you hire first, someone with a CELTA (which is recognized) or a TEFL cert from ECC?

[Sekhmet]

Good point, well made, Gordon.
I completely agree. Why do a short course that no one will look twice at if you can do the proper thing? Also, I can't imagine a 2 week course has any sort of teaching practice, and since you didn't mention any teaching experience, I'm assuming that you don't have any.
The only way to tell if you are going to enjoy teaching is to actually do it. This is one of the main reasons for doing teaching practice. I teach a component in a TEFL course, and a reasonable amount of my students have said that they don't really want to go into teaching after having completed the practice section. Isn't it better to find out you hate teaching now, rather when you're in the middle of a year-long contract??
I'm not trying to put you off in the slightest. My only advice is do a course with teaching practice, and preferably one which is internationally recognised, since that will help with the job hunt later.
Good luck in whatever you decide!!!!