Job Discussion Forums

[yodetta]

greetings,

I'm currently a graduate student, completing my M.A. in social science, and have enrolled in a TEFL certificate program at my university...I'm exploring opportunities to teach outside the US and am seeking advice on how to evaluate training centers and agencies that post "guaranteed jobs" on the web. What to look out for? How to best protect myself?

Specifically, I'm looking at ITC, which purports "immediate placement" in Eastern Europe....and have also been reading posts about CELTA with great interest. I'm assuming that one of those training programs are desired in addition to my university TEFL certificate. Is this correct even if my plans are to teach for only 1-2 years?

I haven't chosen a most preferred destination yet -- am researching locations in both Eastern Europe and Asia -- maybe some of the info I seek is location-specific.? A training center or agency that facilitates job placement in either/both regions would be ideal, though my initial impression is that different schools/agencies predominate in different regions.....sorry, this is long. But I'll really appreciate thoughtful replies!

[denise]

Why would you need both a university TEFL certificate AND an a CELTA? A CELTA is TEFL certificate.

As far as job placement and guarantees--I went through ITC in Prague, and during week three of the four-week program, they invited several local schools to a recruitment fair. Many of us had interviews before and immediate after the course had finished. They also helped people who wanted to teach elsewhere in the CR or in another country, but I'm not sure exactly how much they could do. Their job guarantee basically meant that you could teach at their school. (I think...)

I was very satisfied with ITC and can happily recommend it.

d

[yodetta]

thanks for your reply, Denise. Where did you teach through ITC and for how long? Did you accept another assignment from them after your intitial placement?

I heard directly from ITC that a TEFL certificate from my university would help make me a more competitive applicant...that their training is commensurate, though not identical. And from reading posts to this cafe, I got the impression that the CELTA was superior to basically any other training, that employers favored that to other sources of certification...?

Yodetta

[denise]

People are divided on the CELTA issue. Some say it's the best; some say it's just a name-brand. I'm in the latter camp. Any certificate course that is over 100 hours (including several hours of practice-teaching during which you are observed by trainers and fellow trainees) and covers basic methodology and grammar should prepare you for the classroom. (Sorry, pro-CELTAers. I feel this way because I am a non-CELTA 'success story'-- I have a lesser-known certificate, but I feel fully competent and have never had problems getting jobs.)

I stayed in Prague for two years after I finished the ITC program. I was hired by one of the schools that came to the recruiting fair (actually, I got a few offers). My interview was during the last week of the course, before I had actually received my certificate. I was working full-time within a week or two.

d

[yodetta]

okay, cool. i have teaching experience and am a very confident communicator...so i hear you. It sounds like I really needn't waste the money on duplicate courses then.

I really apreciate your insights. thanks!
and btw, do you prefer Japan to Prague?

Y

[anthyp]

Hey, I did the ITC course in Barcelona.

This was in October 2003. I spent about a month and a half in Prague though because of their job gaurantee, which is kind of bogus. What they do is hold a job fair, give you lists of schools, and, if you absolutely can't find anything after a month, possibly make a few calls for you.

You have to understand, it's not a job placement service, so they are not going to find you jobs. They told us straight up that the "guarantee" was only in relation to there being so many jobs throughout Eastern Europe that we were bound to find something sooner or later.

I really don't think you need to go through a TEFL course of any kind, either. You are probably already over - qualified for a lot of entrance positions. What kind of teaching are you interested in doing, anyway - kids, high school, universities, international schools?

Prague is a cool city, though I only spent a little while there. The job situation is not so good - rather crowded, isn't it? And the city is absolutely over - run by tourist!

China is (occasionally) a wonderful place to teach, but you might want to look at Japan. Better jobs and pay!

(Oh, and I still don't know what to think about that avatar of yours!)

[denise]

[yodetta]

Thanks for your replies.

Anthyp, so are you teaching in China now, or somewhere else? It sounds like the training ITC provides is good, although there are mixed reviews on their job placement support...yes?

[i'm new to finding artistic avatar's on the web...feel free to direct me to sites with interesting images. I chose this from the Rocky Horror site, because it's where my signature comes from.]

So, Denise, you like the "scene" better in Prague but the working conditions a