Job Discussion Forums

[Milo.Minderbinder]

I'm soliciting opinions as to whether the CELTA certification is worth it or not. I kind of consider it a waste of time and money as I've been teaching here in Beijing for five years. I don't think that there's much about the profession that I haven't learned already, but I know that people are all hung up about pieces of official-looking paper. Anyway, your input would be appreciated.

[Gordon]

I think you need to ask yourself a few questions.
Do you plan to stay in China forever?
Do you feel limited in your choice of jobs becuase you lack that piece of paper?
How long do you plan to be in this business?

I was in a similar boat to you, had taught for almost 5 years and did not have a CELTA or other TEFL cert. I got my CELTA and am so glad I did because it did open up doors and I learned a lot. You need to have an open mind if you do decide to get a CELTA or you will be frustrated.

You may not need a TEFL cert now, but you never know when circumstances change and you will find that cert invaluable to you for getting a job. Experience isn't always enough.

[amandabarrick]

I would say that the certificate is not worth the monetary cost you pay to get it, in that having the certificate does not increase your salary dramatically. I got my TESOL cert. while i was getting my degree in college and I figured the TESOL alone cost me around $2000 U.S., yet I could probably make almost the same salary without it, at least for the time being.
But I feel it is worth the time cost because I really enjoyed the classes and the education i received from the courses was extremely useful in the ESL classroom setting. Because of the courses I am a much better teacher, had I never gotten the certificate i would have no clue on teaching ESL effectively.
AB

[tofuman]

My recollection is that CELTA advises classloads of no more than 12 students. I work in a government school with an average of 50 students per class. Although supposedly an "expert," the school cares little for my opinions.

I did try and divide my classes into groups of 8 or 9 students after assessing their English abilities. I put strong students with weaker ones and assigned "tutors" to weak students.

The resistance of the students themselves proved the greatest obstacle. In only one case out of ten or more did a group develop a working dynamic as I had hoped.

Our government school doesn't even encourage foreign applicants to get any type of TOEFL, ESL, CELTA, etc. I got one for my own benefit, but it cost me more than I earned in my entire first year teaching in China.

Since FEs teach mainly conversational English where I am, there is little that CELTA would do for a teacher. The most valuable tool I learned in CELTA training was the concept of "grading" the lessons. Most of what I learned that has been actually useful might have been done in a couple of days rather than a month.

One place I see that would be valuable for CELTA would be in the establishment of your own private school. It would be a real plus. The establishment of a CELTA school might be a rather formidable task, however. It would probably be better to set up a school along CELTA lines but not call it CELTA.

The real proof of the school's value is not in the certificate, but in how effectively your students are able to communicate. In this society, as in many others, that too, is irrelevant.

Addendum: After reading other posts, I am beginning to recall a number of things besides grading that have been useful to me. While not a member of that elite club, I am certainly glad that I took the course.

[struelle]

I agree a lot with Gordon, but just to add that when you take a CELTA course, you can expect a lot of criticism. You will get the criticism from 3 angles: self-criticism, peer-criticism, and criticism from your trainers. This of course is all very useful, when you consider that criticism is nothing more than a form of feedback which provides new information and insights into your teaching.

I found that the trainers are quite blunt in what they tell you and write on their evaluation forms. At the beginning this was quite hard to take, but in the end I appreciated this because it helped correct errors I wasn't aware of before.

I also noticed that those teachers on the course who already had several years of experience got the MOST criticism during the course. There were elements of brainwashing and bootcamp during the course, no doubt about that, but as far as I could tell the main rationale was to tell the teacher, "Don't rest too much on your experience because it's not the only thing that counts."

At any rate, if you can hack the criticism, are willing to be challenged, and you are committed to the teaching profession, by all means take the course.

Steve

[stillnosheep]

[MyraG]

Well depending on what you want to do with the rest of your life.
CELTA is definately better than TESOL, you get to teach straight away, learn to write lesson plans and best teaching practice and inventive ways to teach. It isnt useful if you have been teaching for many years except to open doors.
It was the hardest course I have ever done. My 4 year degree was easy compared to it. I must admit I had no previous teaching experience before it but it was and is a good help. Plus it does open doorways. Its sort of an elite club, (Everybody finds it difficult)
The plus is that if you want to teach at language schools in Australia, NZ England Us, Canada etc they require it and a degree. When I did my course in Australia, half the participants were teachers who had taught in Japan etc who wanted to teach in Australia. It just gives you more skills and options. It is bloody expensive but is far more useful than TESOL.
The two teachers who I have employed(no exp) who have their TESOL haven't been that great. TESOOL does not give you the hands on plus peer, teacher, and self evaluation that CELTA does.

[amandabarrick]

[YankeeDoodleDandy]

Myra, Thank you for the information on CELTA. I have a California teaching credential plus a CLAD certificate ( Cross Cultural Language Academic Development ) This included several classes on language acquisition and cultural awareness and sensitivity. MY contract ends in July and I would like to go to Australia in September. How long would it take to complete this course and what would it cost me for tuition,room and board etc ? Are there other places where I could complete a CELTA program in the world? Cairns is a beautiful city and the Great Barrier Reef is spectacular, but what is up with those giant marsh flies.?Would twelve years of teaching experience count for anything? BA in English plus 84 units.

[yaco]

DO a CELTA/TEFL course online.

They cost $300 to $400 US.

As an experienced teacher you will benefit from the excellent teaching material provided during the course.

It is more cost effective and useful.

The academics in this field are 'out of teach' with real teaching experience.

All the training is geared to the following

- small classes of 12 students ( laugh, laugh, laugh ).
- motivated students
- students who are graded into the correct level
- modern teaching equipment

A fellow teacher and I met an Acedemic Director of a TESL Program at a College in New Zealand ,who was in China on a recruitment trip. ( My friend and I moonlight for the China branch ).

We were discussing difficulties with students leaving mobile phones on during class ( middle school classes of 50 students ). Her suggestion was that we take a tray to class and ask the students to hand in their phones. This person obviously has no understanding of Chinese culture. Students rather than teachers are ' Kings ' in China.



The following countries in Asia require a CELTA/TEFL.

- Indonesia
- Thailand

Good luck

[YankeeDoodleDandy]

Yaco, Thank you for all of the useful information on CELTA. I believe I will try to take a course on line. When I searched on Google, I found out about programs in Canada, Guadajara, Mexico and another company that had two locations in Thailand. No information about courses on lineI will keep trying. Thanks again.

[yaco]

Many reputable Organisations are now offering CELTA/TEFL courses online.

You can now complete a Masters TEFL online.