Job Discussion Forums

Kara Murray · Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 10 Location: Los Angeles, CA

Hi,

I'm trying to work my way through the maze of places that offer TESOL & CELTA certifications. I've come to see that Trinity & Cambridge approved certs are more prestigious, but I'm wondering in a practical sense (from an employer's standpoint) how much weight that really carries.

So far I have a list of four schools I'm thinking about:
1. St. George's Int'l in London (Trinity Cert)
2. Coventry House Int'l in Toronto (Trinity Cert)
3. Oxford TEFL in either Barcelona or Cadiz (Trinity Cert)
4. The Int'l TEFL Corp which has sites from Phuket to Bordeaux to Costa Rica (this one isn't Trinity or Cambridge approved)

The one school that is not Trinity or Cambridge approved is much less expensive, so I'm wondering if it's really worth paying the extra money???

If anyone has any recommendations on any of them, I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks!!!!

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

Depends how long you are going to stay in TEFL. If it is just for a year then do you need a cert? But if you intend to stay in TEFL for any length of time then start with the CELTA. Don`t bother with the mickey mouse fakes like tefl intl.

Cdaniels · Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 2:50 am Post subject: Where are you now?

Why are you condering such different locations? I would think that Int'l TEFL might be more worthwhile if you were going to teach in the same locale where you get the cert, although I've also heard that its better to get a cert someplace already familiar to you. Would that include both London and Toronto?

EFLtrainer · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 30

It depends on waht you want. If you want a resume filler, then it doesn't matter. If you want a quality start to teaching EFL, then it does.

Overall, the feedback on Trinity and Cambridge indicates a much more rigourous program with better prepared trainers than at TEFL International. You may end up with a trainer with TEFL International with no teaching experience, as has been the case in the past. The programs are different, also. A benefit of the TEFL International program is that it better prepares you for teaching different ages, IMHO.

EFLtrainer

tedkarma · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:00 am Post subject:

An experienced teacher's review of his decision and consideration of all the options is at: http://ajarn.com/Contris/kenmayjune2005.htm[url]

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Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

For what it's worth:
I did my TEFL cert. at New World Teachers, which was neither Trinity nor Cambridge. I have never had a moment's trouble with it.
Mind you, all of them are entry-level qualifications. 31 reckons you don't even NEED a cert. if you're not going to be in ESL for very long, but I disagree. The certification process helps you to get a better job, and it gives you an idea what to expect. In fact, if you go to work immediately after the course, you will find to your infinite relief that the job is a LOT easier than the course.
But that's what the course is FOR. It's also to give you an idea if you even WANT to do this. You go into ESL without certification, and you MAY find yourself struggling with all kinds of problems that you would have sorted out on the course. I, as an employer, would never hire a teacher who hadn't done the course or who could demonstrate to me that they got positive experience dealing with ESL in another job. It's just so specialized.
That's easy to laugh at, but I've been hiring teachers for YEARS, and the ones who haven't done a course are more trouble than they are worth. Seriously. At the entry level? Damn.

As for CELTA vs Trinity TESOL vs TEFL International? it's a wash. It depends on what you want to do, but it doesn't depend THAT MUCH. TEFL International is a decent course, it's a lot cheaper, and no one is going to turn up his nose to that certification. Remember - it's entry level.

Bottm line - again, it depends on what you want to do with your certificate, but I'm prepared to be more specific than that:

CELTA is more immediately recognized. Trinity CTESOL is a close second, and in my opinion as a hiring director, is actually superior (but that's JUST ME).
But TEFL International is cheaper, and is well-known enough to help you get a job. I don't know where you want to go, but, really, for a first-time teacher, you can't be THAT picky, anyway, and places where you are likely to find work with ANY certification is going to be happy with any face-to-face course that teaches grammar, techniques and offers teaching practice. TEFL International does those things, so why spend the extra money? I'D hire you.
Once you have the job, and I mean almost immediately, the certificate makes no difference at all. Are you any good? Do the students like you? Are you able to deal with the individual school's operations and culture? Are you able to deal with the COUNTRY'S culture and handle living there for the duration of the contract?
These questions' answers are NOT predicated on who gave you the certificate. If your students don't like you, a CELTA is not going to help. If the students DO like you, a certificate from TEFL International is not going to change that.
Basically, when it comes to DOING the job, the certificate matters none at all. Once you have the job, it's moot. After your first gig, the letter of recommendation is FAR more important than the TEFL cert. You just need to get the first job. And you can get a first job with the TEFL International certificate, no worries. Especially if you want to teach in a place where the certificate is offered (such as Bangkok), then go that route and save yourself some dosh.