Job Discussion Forums

[struelle]

Hi folks,

My contract will be finishing up shortly, where I've almost completed 2 years of conversational English in Shanghai to adults. The experience has been immensely rewarding, and I've got excellent feedback from students as well as professional training through the school in applied language theory.

Even so, with all the experience and training, I haven't been officially certified yet in teaching my native language. This is something I've been wanting to do for awhile, as put simply it opens doors. However, I'm quite confused by the options out there.

Through net research, I've come across 'TEFL', 'TESOL', 'TESL', 'CELTA' and 'DELTA' certificates. Most are 1 month and are offered worldwide where you pay between $US 1000-2000 for the course. From what I see, the course content for each of these certificates is similar, going over communicative teaching methods, 2nd language acquisition, and grammar. Most courses involve some sort of practicum as well as essays.
The course content I'd no doubt find exciting, as I talk about this in my daily job all the time. Plus I'd learn more professionally what I've done so far, as well pick up many new tips.

But the problem is, which certificate is best? I'd hate to invest time and money and find out that the certificate is not recognized later on by a school I'd be at.

What I'd like to do is take a TEFL course during summer in my hometown (Vancouver, Canada) or nearby, then teach for a final year in Asia before heading back to school and doing a BEd in Sept. 2004. Eventually, I'd do a Masters in TESOL. If not in Canada, I could do the course in Vietnam, Thailand, or Korea if it's offered there after summer time.

For experienced teachers out there, what route would you best recommend, given that I'd like to teach EFL abroad (not ESL in my native country) for a final year, preferably Korea, China, or Vietnam.

I've heard that a TEFL isn't required for Korea or China, and it's easy to find work in many schools. This is great, but I've seen drawbacks of this where plenty of start-up schools hire 'second-rate' teachers who can speak but can't *teach* their native language. I'd like to stay at a quality school and earn a higher salary for my remaining year, and I'm hoping a TEFL would open doors for cut-rate schools. A certificate won't completely seperate the men from the boys, or the serious schools from the mickey-mouse schools, but it's a good start, I suppose

Steve

[baby predator]

I did the Trinity Cert. in TESOL before I came to China. If I hadn't, I would definitely have had to accept a lower salary and a lot less job security. Most of my colleagues who have been here for more than a year are either beginning a distance DELTA or seriously considering it. The DELTA is more for teachers who have been in the business for a while and have already done a Trinity or CELTA course (although many courses will accept your experience in lieu of a qualification). The DELTA is a lot more intensive than the others and is probably overdoing it a bit if you will eventually be taking a Post Grad course in education.

I don't know what the recommended qualification is in North America, but why don't you look at job postings for the kind of positions you see yourself applying for next year and see what they are asking for?

Good luck.
Predz.

[scot47]

From a Britsih perspective, the only two certificates recognised are those from Cambridge or Trinity. I prefer Trinity. In adspeak they are "number two so they try harder".

I cannot comment on the perspective from the USofA

[arioch36]

My two cents.

I think the best time for taking a cert course is actually after you have taught for two years. Hope to hear your opinion someday. Colleges I know rarely care. it can be a bargaining chip, but everything is a bargaining chip in China. Bargain, bargain, bargain

The only possible exception I know is; some "top" (rich) high schools or two year colleges have deals with Australia, and the Australia school wants you to have a cert. I taught for several years inAmerica, a couple more in China, and I have a cert from a college in America covering more then these four week courses, 30 hours supervised teaching. Not good enough for the Australian school.

The standard seems to becoming: 4 week course, 6-12? teaching hours.

i would say that a cert course offering this would be a good bet. Yes, Celta is the biggest. Maybe 1 % ofthe schools in China know what a CELTA is. If a school is serious about it, they will recognize any quality course.

I know in America, if you carefully document your four week course with teaching practicum, some universities will give you 6 college credits towards your MA or PHd.

[Tripmaster Monkey]

I would bring up two points:

1) As Jeff Mohammed points out on his website (don't know the URL offhand), the trainers will make or break the experience. Try to find trainers who have worked together for a decent amount of time and be sure to get ones that have taught the course before. I believe anyone in teaching will attest that the first time you teach a course, you will be a bit off. It takes a few run-throughs to find your stride. These questions may seem a bit awkward to put to a training center, but remember that these same people will be the ones who evaluate you on the turnaround.

2) Having done the one-month format, I can definitely say that, if I could go back and do it again, I would choose a 6-month part-time version. In the short course, you will be insanely busy. Also, the material will come at you in rapid-fire succession. I had substantial experience, but it was a lot to digest in so short a time. In the 6-month version, you get to work while studying, giving you the opportunity to go out and practice what you've been taught as you move along.

If you are going to work in Europe, the RSA and Trinity definitely carry more weight. However, in the wide world, most adverts clearly state that you must have the RSA or an equivalent, which means a 100+ hour course with at least 6 hours of practicum. You should still be sure that whoever is issuing the certificate is credible, but there are other solid choices.

I did mine through SIT and was more than satisfied.
http://www.sit.edu/tesolcert/index.html

Best of luck!

[isabel]

Go to the training forum for the full discussion, but the TEFL, TESOL, DELTA, ad nauseum discussion has gone on there for eternity.

The truth is that there is just so much anyone can teach you in 4 weeks. Unless you are wanting a 4 week non-vacation in some place interesting other than home (Vancouver is beautiful, but it isn't Prague) take the course in Vancouver. In Asia and Latin America, no one really cares which certificate you have. You cannot work in Europe without an E. U. passport, and that seems to be where there is some bias towards DELTA and British certificates. With two year's experience, your certificate is simply window dressing.

As for the difference between the programs, again, look at the training forum. I have a colleague where I teach who did a CELTA, he is a fine person, but his grammar is so bad that he is relieved of any of the editing work the rest of us TEFL's have to do. It is what you bring with you, the certificate program will not turn you into a grammarian or a good teacher.

[Tripmaster Monkey]

What program will turn you into a grammarian and a good teacher?

[isabel]

Well, that was my point, no program will. A good M.A. is a step in the right direction.

Experience and a good heart will help you become a good teacher. A good reference library will turn you into a functional grammarian.

[struelle]

[struelle]

[Tripmaster Monkey]

Are you doing it at ECC? There are about 5 different cert-issuing entities in BKK now. Have heard mixed reviews of ECC. Someone here should be able to comment.