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Sparlita
Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Posts: 6
Location: Toronto, ON
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 Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:35 pm Post subject: Can't choose which course to take.... |
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| I'm thinking about traveling to Latin America this January (probably Argentina or Chile) and teaching english. I am prepared to take whatever course is required of me but I can't decide how much to invest in it. You see, I'm hesitant to take a cheap and short internet or weekend TESL course, but I don't think I am dedicated enought to pay $1300 for a Canadian TESL certificate. What i mean is that I don't see myself making a career of teaching english. If anyone can give me some advise, perhaps inform me of the rigidity of qualifications in these countries that would be amazing. Thanks so much. |
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ls650
Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:41 pm Post subject: Re: Can't choose which course to take.... |
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| Sparlita wrote: |
| I'm thinking about traveling to Latin America this January (probably Argentina or Chile) and teaching english. I'm hesitant to take a cheap and short internet or weekend TESL course, but I don't think I am dedicated enought to pay $1300 for a Canadian TESL certificate. What i mean is that I don't see myself making a career of teaching english. |
$1300 is VERY cheap for a TEFL certificate - you won't find a certificate program with classroom time for any less than that. I think most posters here are of the opinion that 'certificate' programs without a classroom experience component are useless.
Without a TEFL certificate and/or a degree you will likely only find illegal, "bottom of the barrel" jobs that pay a few hundred dollars per month while sweating out 25-30 hours of class time per week.
You say you aren't dedicated enough to take a course and don't see yourself making a career in teaching. Maybe what you really want to do is not teach, but travel. Why not just save up your cash and go backpacking through Latin America for a while? Maybe once you're here for a while, you'll change your mind and want to take the training necessary to be a teacher here. |
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moonraven
Joined: 24 Mar 2004
Posts: 3094
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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I think that's good advice.
You'll be doing what you really want to do--and you will be one less non-teacher trying to teach. |
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matttheboy
Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Posts: 854
Location: Valparaiso, Chile
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Couldn't agree more. Save some money, travel around and if you find somewhere you really want to go back to then take a course like CELTA or Trinity. If you're not dedicated to teaching for at least a little while (basically to at least pay for the course) then don't become a teacher. Foreign currency goes a long way in Latin America (longer in Argentine than Chile btw) so save up and enjoy the trip.[/i] |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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Good advice all around. If you're considering teaching, but not sure, there are quite a few volunteer organisations, many of which provide at least some training. (PM me if interested.) But if you're sure it's not the career for you, then best to skip it if you can.
In any case, if you're sure you're not willing to take a "real" course (and it's true, $1300 ain't bad) I wouldn't mess around with a cheap, "unreal" one. The bottom of the barrel jobs you could get anyway, and the good ones will not be impressed with a skimpy, no teaching practice cert. So what's the point.
Good Luck
Justin |
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Sparlita
Joined: 21 Jul 2005
Posts: 6
Location: Toronto, ON
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks so much everyone. Traveling around was my initial idea, teaching english was only an after thought. I guess i have some thinking to do.
thanks again. ciao |
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