Job Discussion Forums

[sistaray]

Hello, I have a BA in English Linguistics and a TESOL certificate from an American university. They were awarded to me at the same time, as a good amount of the courses I sat for the TESOL cert were also required or elective courses that counted toward my major. I have appx. 3.5 years teaching experience post-BA/cert, at training centers and a Chinese university. I am interested in steadily upgrading my credentials: first DELTA or Trinity DipTESOL, and then down the road, an MA TESOL or MA Applied Linguistics.

I think that should be enough background to help you answer this: what's next for me--cert or diploma? In investigating both, I come away thinking I'm overqualified to take a CELTA course, but not *quite* ready to pursue DELTA/DipTESOL. Staff development has been lacking at every stop of my teaching career; I've improved as a teacher over time, but I'm aware both of my classroom shortcomings *and* of the fact that I have shortcomings I can't possibly recognize. Some (many?) of the habits I've acquired are bad ones. One path I've considered is transitioning out of my current Chinese uni gig and into a training center gig that offers staff development, under the assumption that a year later, I'd then be more prepared/confident for the DELTA.

I intend to write to some of the DELTA/DipTESOL course providers out there and sound them out ... but first I thought I'd check and see what the people of Dave's have to say ...

[spiral78]

Did your TESOL cert include supervised teaching practice and feedback on it?

If not, then just bite the bullet and do the CELTA or an equivalent. It's the hands-on bit that's important. That's the basic stepping stone you need before going on to a DELTA and/or MA.

[sistaray]

[nomad soul]

[Spatula City]

I knew a guy without qualifications who took the DELTA after two years of meaningless private school experience and passed. He just barely passed, but he ended up getting it.

Something to consider.

I'm convinced that CELTA/DELTA are pretty much just moneymaking schemes that put a little extra effort into not appearing as such-- seeing that guy pass the DELTA really made me feel like my CELTA was a huge waste of time and money-- were it not for the fact that enough people think it means something.

[scot47]

Any suggestions that the Emperor may be naked will be met with hostility from the many courtiers.

[johnslat]

" . . . . were it not for the fact that enough people think it means something."

Which is, after all, speaking from an individual's financial considerations, the only important matter.

And the same could be said of many graduate degrees.

Regards,
John

[spanglish]

You sound way overqualified for a CELTA. I'd strongly encourage you to skip the DELTA altogether and just go ahead and get the MA in TESOL/Applied Linguistics, especially if you can get an MA with a practical component.

[RedLightning]

[bograt]