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anarisil18
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:53 am Post subject: ECC CELTA |
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Has anyone taken the ECC CELTA course in Thailand?
I've been reading up on it, and was wondering it if was all they make it out to be.
They claim they GIVE you a job right after you earn your certificate, and if you sign a year contract, they GIVE you half your tuition money back! Can this be true?
Any first hand experiences out there?
-as always, thanks!
-sara- |
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Kent F. Kruhoeffer
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 2129
Location: 中国
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| Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 5:40 am Post subject: |
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^ There are quite a few posts regarding the ECC CELTA on the Thailand Forum.
From what has been written over the past year or so, the
general consensus of opinion seems to be that ECC Bangkok is:
a) a great place to do the CELTA
but
b) maybe not the best place to work.
If you scroll (or search) through the Thailand Forum,
you'll find those first-hand accounts you're looking for.
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brewsterbudgen
Joined: 29 Apr 2005
Posts: 43
Location: Bangkok
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| Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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I'm hoping to do the CELTA at ECC Bangkok in October. The pre-interview task certainly presented a challenge to someone who last studied English grammar in the 70s but I guess it's all good preparation for the course! I now have a telephone interview on Monday. Hopefully this will be easier than the task!
All being well, I'll be heading to Thailand in September and starting the CELTA on 3 October. I'll be happy to report back on what I think.
I'm also considering the ECC "Train then Teach" programme as it guarantees work in Thailand after the CELTA - assuming I pass. The pay doesn't sound great and I don't much like the idea of 6 days a week, so maybe it's better to wait until I reach Bangkok? Is it really that easy to find work if you have no teaching experience (I have a BA)? |
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VanIslander
Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 67
Location: temp banned from dave's korean boards
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:32 am Post subject: |
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anarisil18, don't be impressed by the offer of a guaranteed job when you graduate. ANYONE with a CELTA will surely get a job when they graduate! 100% ... and if you check the job boards yourself you are likely to find better jobs than the ones they try to hand feed you (even though they may give you half your tuition back, it may end up as being less of a savings than if you took a higher paying job to start with!). Check around yourself. It's easy to find work. Many advertised.
brewsterbudgen, I have the CELTA already but I'm seriously considering doing the CELTYL there in October, so... I may see you then. |
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Rice Paddy Daddy
Joined: 11 Jul 2004
Posts: 425
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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what's a CELTA?
My Japanese boss has never heard of it and he's been in the English school business for 20 years. |
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stillnosheep
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 2068
Location: eslcafe
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| Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Rice Paddy Daddy wrote: |
what's a CELTA?
My Japanese boss has never heard of it and he's been in the English school business for 20 years. |
Err. The most internationally accepted Certificate of English Teaching To Adults in the world (by far)?
Hint: The clue is in the name. |
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Simone
Joined: 21 Sep 2004
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 7:54 am Post subject: |
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| I did the CELTA with ECC and then opted for the train and teach programme. Not many people rate it but I have enjoyed it so far and I am now half way through. Getting half of my fees back (which is definitely the case) will be a bonus, and it meant I didn't have to go looking for work. I'm sure there is plenty out there but for someone new on the scene this was definitely a plus for me. The money isn't great but its no worse than most of the other jobs out there. Why go looking for a different job that pays the same when ECC will help you sort one out? Don't be put off by the few people who rant about ECC - I know a lot more who are happy enough to work for them. |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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Simone has it right. In some ways I wish I had stuck around and done the program after I finished my CELTA in Aug / 03.
At that time, basically, I was financially strapped from having all my money stolen while biking through China 2 months earlier. I had borrowed money from friends in Shanghai to help pay for the course, plus I maxed out my credit card to make it happen.
Turns out that I went right back to Shanghai and took a job at a boarding school when they didn't require CELTA after all (the admin was clueless about what it was). This helped pay back money to friends, but in hindsight, I could have done so in Thailand and saved half my tuition.
Oh well, live and learn 
Speaking of ECC, I still haven't gotten around to writing a thank you email to the people who ran the CELTA course, as it was one of the most educational and fun times of my life!
Steve |
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Chris_Crossley
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1797
Location: Still in the centre of Furnace City, PRC, after eight years!!!
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:55 am Post subject: "Never heard of this CELTA!" |
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| Rice Paddy Daddy wrote: |
| What's a CELTA? My Japanese boss has never heard of it and he's been in the English school business for 20 years. |
Once again, we have a prime example of stereotypical Japanese insularity, not to mention ignorance. Considering that CELTA has been around for many years, it is clear that some employers do not give a hang for (to them) foreign paper qualifications.
Daddy, I hope you're not asking what a CELTA is - are you?!  Your question seems to imply that you don't know! |
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Chris_Crossley
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1797
Location: Still in the centre of Furnace City, PRC, after eight years!!!
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:59 am Post subject: Furthermore.... |
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| struelle wrote: |
| Turns out that I went right back to Shanghai and took a job at a boarding school when they didn't require CELTA after all (the admin was clueless about what it was). |
Further to my post immediately above, I would have found strange if that boarding school had known what a CELTA is, to be perfectly honest! So I guess that some institutions can be excused for not knowing what this qualification is!
By the way, Steve, do you like my avatar? It's your home city (isn't it?)! |
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stillnosheep
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 2068
Location: eslcafe
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 11:43 am Post subject: |
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| To achieve great things we must live fully knowing that we are going to die. |
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Chris_Crossley
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 1797
Location: Still in the centre of Furnace City, PRC, after eight years!!!
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:40 pm Post subject: To achieve great things........... |
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| stillnosheep wrote: |
| To achieve great things we must live fully knowing that we are going to die. |
Can I quote you?  |
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struelle
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 2372
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: Furthermore.... |
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| Quote: |
| Further to my post immediately above, I would have found strange if that boarding school had known what a CELTA is, to be perfectly honest! So I guess that some institutions can be excused for not knowing what this qualification is! |
All true, but the experience really teed off for a couple months upon teaching at the school, when I realized I didn't have to do the CELTA (or could have done it, and saved half the tuition by going to ECC).
Mind you, I was under high stress at every step of the way to taking that job, so my decisions weren't the best. A short history:
- The FAO (foreign affairs officer) showed me around the school, I was impressed, gave a demo lesson, and we had lunch to sign a tentative agreement in June / 03. This was all done after SARS, when tensions were running high with my current employer - I was on the verge of quitting, and looking for alternatives.
- The FAO said I needed a 'teaching certificate', but didn't specify what that was. I explained to her about CELTA, and she gave it her approval. Then I filled out apps for the July intake in BKK.
- Fast forward through a bunch of other stuff: bike trip through China, losing all my savings, borrowing from friends and maxing out my Mastercard, arriving in BKK in July, but postpoing the course when my grandfather passed away. Return to BKK in Aug to pick up the course again.
- I get to the new school and I deal with a new FAO. She has no idea what a CELTA is. She insists I need a teaching *qualification*, i.e. a BEd or PGCP, but I convince her I'm qualified enough for the job. Meanwhile, a new FT comes in later with neither degree nor certificate.
Anyways the whole thing is rather comical now, but it really teed me off then. Ironically I'm now pursuing the BEd qualification in Science. Maybe I should go back to the same boarding school and the FAO will say, "Sorry but you need a PhD"
| Quote: |
| By the way, Steve, do you like my avatar? It's your home city (isn't it?) |
Yes and Vancouver is really beautiful at night! I also like that quote of yours.
Steve |
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