Job Discussion Forums

santo · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

I'm planning to go to Japan fairly soon on a spousal visa and am thinking about getting a TEFL certificate. I know its said that you don't need one to get a job at a conversational school, but not having one makes me nervous about my job prospects nevertheless and also it only seems fair to my future students that I make an effort to get one. However, every program I have seen in my city is ridiculously expensive with the exception of the Oxford Seminar TEFL training which offers its certificate for an astonishing $695 USD (including all necessary texts) which is at least $2,000 less than I've seen anywhere else. I can't think of any potential pitfalls, but still this price just seems to good to be true. Is anyone familiar with this program? The course is condensed into 60 hours, whereas most courses are at least double that in length, but I guess you get what you pay for. Anyone gone through this? Thank you! EDIT- Maybe this should be in the 'Newbies' area, sorry!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Newbie section would be better and even better is the Teacher training form, but we'll let you live this time. Wink

Post a link and we can look at it. I will anyways.

Yes, the price seems low. Before I would shell out even $100, I'd ask the following Q's.
What are the qualifications of the teacher trainers?
Is there a supervised practicum? Do you teach real students or fellow teachers?
What is the class size? A CELTA for instance has 12 students and 2 trainers.
Can I speak to someone who has previously done the course?

60 hours isn't bad, I've seen weekend TEFLs advertised before. Yikes!

I am glad you are looking into a TEFL program, I agree I think you do owe it to your students.

I spent $2500 CDN on a CELTA and am so glad I did. Well worth the $ IMO.

Sheep-Goats · Joined: 16 Apr 2004 Posts: 527

For a TEFL, no. For a CELTA, yes. Not to say a TEFL is worse, just that they're cheaper. The difference is that there is no certifying organization for TEFL certificates, and as such they're hard to trust. Of course, four weeks of education won't make you into an effective teacher -- and in most employer's eyes a TEFL/CELTA might just as well be a 1000 dollar fee that you pay some organization to prove you're at least more dedicated than a backpacker.

I've seen many job ads specify a "120 hour" TEFL course, though.

If you care about the actual education part of the course (rather than the I've-got-a-certificate-now part), be sure to check in on that before siging up for any corse, as Gordon has already said.

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Prices of Celta courses vary. You can get one in Thailand for $1500 including housing. You can take the course in Japan, going to school every Saturday for 4.5 months and pay 320,000 yen. The TEFL comes in many flavours, from the part-time evening, the one month 120 hour course, the 2 weekend special. The 120 hour TEFL will stack up against the Celta, depending on what instructor you have. It's just that the TEFL is more common in North America. Many TEFL instructors have a Celta and a Delta.

The courses teach you the principles, give you opportunities to teach real students and receive feedback. They give you the theory, an opportunity to make mistakes and a foundation. I would recommend some sort of training and the courses are well worth the money. It's so much harder to take time off to get one once you start teaching abroad.

santo · Joined: 03 Sep 2004 Posts: 11

Gordon (and anyone else who is interested) here is the web address-
http://www.oxfordseminars.com/
I've read over and over in various places that you don't need any training at all to work in an eikiwa and I almost kind of bought into that even though it seemed like it would be kind of unfair to both the students and yourself to show up (basically) unprepared- but after reading your comments I can see that I definitely want get some real training/certification, even if I do end up just working in an eikiwa.
If I can round up some extra money after graduation I will go to one of the 120 hour TEFL courses here in my hometown, but if I can't I'll have to make do with the Oxford people. And I definitely will ask them those questions that Gordon suggested. Thanks, S.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

The one thing that struck me about the program is that the teaching practicum is crammed into the last day and doesn't seem to be a large part of the course. I can't stress enough how this is the most important component of a TEFL course.

It is also taught over 6 days. After 4 hours, your brain would be mush. It would be better for it to be taught over a month. I also doubt that it is 60 hours, that may also include lunches and breaks. 10 hours a day?

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

I took the Oxford Seminars Course. I enjoyed it a lot.
You don't actually teach students, you teach your fellow classmates.
But you do learn a lot about culture shock, interviews, as well as techniques for teaching. You receive a massive binder filled with activities.
I don't know how much help it will be when I arrive in Japan, but it definetly made it easier for me to go through my interview at ECC.

If you have any questions about the program, feel free to PM me. I recommended it to a friend and he enjoyed it a lot as well!

We had lunch and breaks of course, or else we would be brain dead.
Each day is split into 4 sections so it's not too much of a strain!

canuck · Joined: 11 May 2003 Posts: 1921 Location: Japan

Peer teaching is not even close to real teaching. Any course you take should involve teaching real students and getting feedback from the instructors. It's better than nothing I guess, but I would recommend something like that when there are other alternatives, like the 120 hour TEFL or the CELTA where you have the opportunity to learn, make mistakes and experience being infront of a class.

melirae · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 145 Location: Korea

If you are planning to teach for NOVA, save your money unless you want to do the training as a favor to the students you will have. You will only get a salary supplement if it is a 120 hour course and it`s only about 5,000 yen per month. Even if you do manage to get the increase, it won`t cover the cost of the course.

Not that I am bashing training- now that I have been at NOVA, I am leaning towards putting in my year and heading home for a Master`s in TESOL. I really enjoy teaching and I think it would be even better if I knew more about trying to teach English as a foreign/second language. While training would, I`m sure, help me be a better instructor at present, NOVA doesn`t really give you room to put other theories besides theirs into practice. Not saying that`s a bad thing, as they have their formula and I signed up for a job knowing that. I try to improve upon the NOVA formula by talking to my trainer and other instructors to get their ideas on what I can do to change the lessons up a bit and incorporate new ideas.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

ericlemire · Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Posts: 9 Location: Tokushima

When I took the oxford seminars TESL course we actually had the opportunity to teach actual ESL students. It was good experience, and they gave us feedback afterwards, which was very helpful. Every weekend we had one or two esl students come in and do activities with us.

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

Another idea would be to join JALT or English Teachers in Japan (ETJ) which has regular workshops for teachers in Osaka

http://www.jalt.org

The next meeting of ETJ is July 17th in Kyoto and is about teaching young learners.

malcoml · Joined: 28 Dec 2004 Posts: 215 Location: Australia

Another idea would be doing the CELTA in Rio, Brazil. There is a school there that offers it for US$850. Depending from where you are flying from the difference in price could make for a half reasonable holiday.