Job Discussion Forums

TheMoon · Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: New Orleans

I have decided to make an investment in this new career path. It seems that a CELTA certification will make me marketable. I am realistic about the prospects of finding a decent job without such a certification. I would like to start NOW, but I think I'll have to get a certification first. Can anyone recommend a CELTA program in Taiwan or China (by preference, one that has a program beggining before May '05)? I thank any responders in advance. Smile

clark.w.griswald · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 2056

If you are serious about a career in education as a second language then I would recommend that you attain teaching qualifications in a tertiary program back home. This will enable you to work within either the government school system here in Taiwan, or international schools. Both of these experiences will be good on your resume and would be a step closer to something else in this field. This would also enable you to continue on this career path should you return home or travel to another country in the future.

I am not sure what CELTA entails but I seldom see positions offered in Taiwan insisting upon this qualification. Nor do schools here seem to consider such certification when negotiating pay or terms. You may get a slightly higher pay rate in some private buxibans, but you would more than likely still be working alongside recent graduates with non-education related degrees.

Fortigurn · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 390

Clark, are there any formal education courses (degrees or diplomas), in Taiwan which you would recommend?

I'm thinking seriously of a permanent career change, and I'm interested in obtaining a formal tertiary qualification in education while I'm here.

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Fortigurn · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 390

Rice Paddy Daddy · Joined: 11 Jul 2004 Posts: 425 Location: Japan

OP,

There aren't any CELTA courses offered on Taiwan at the moment, as the British Council doesn't want to do them becaues apparantly there isn't enough interest in the course here.

Try China as it they have started offering CELTA courses and with competitive tuition rates.

While an M.A. degree will help you get your foot in the door at theuniversity level, you'll learn more about classroom teaching from a CELTA course than you would in many M.A. programs. Often, and surprisingly, many M.A. TESOL programs don't even require a teaching component.

aaron in halifax · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 9

are any of the correspondence CELTA's worthwhile?? Also, can you realistically expect to complete one while working a typical 20-25 hour week at a school in taiwan??
xo,ap

14 days to go... so long Canadian winters... for a while

TheMoon · Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 7 Location: New Orleans

Will it be too late to find a job in Taiwan in April or May?

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Pop Fly · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 429

I've only worked with one teacher that had this certification. He couldn't teach. Nothing replaces on the job training. Work for a chain school for a year or two, then, if you are good, you can write your own (reasonable) ticket.

Peace.