Job Discussion Forums

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

That's rather broad. What other cereal box courses have you researched?

Aramas · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 3:47 am Post subject:

Broad? On this forum? Next you'll be telling me that some posts are only opinions! Rolling Eyes

It's difficult to research cereal box certifications, since no one has actually heard of any of them. If they were substantially cheaper than a CELTA or Cert. TESOL then they might be worth a look, but they're not. Perhaps a Certificate of Tawkin Proper Like from Chas and Dave's Big Ben School of English would be adequate for a lot of TEFL jobs, but it's difficult to see the value in it.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:37 pm Post subject:

After reading

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

I've never hired on worked with a SIT teacher before, but have heard only good things about the course. When does the Ecuador branch open up JT?

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2005 11:17 pm Post subject:

Offered through the Ecuadorian Experiment in International Living, it should have its first course in 2006, probably mid to late summer. It seems quite similar to the Trinity TESOL cert in content, but focuses on a fairly colaborative methodology. Groups are small, maximum of 12 per course, with only 2-3 trainers.

Justin

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Coming soon to the back of a box of Froot Loops near you.

Laughing

Just kidding. I look forward to hearing more about a good program in Ecuador.

Aramas · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 1:36 am Post subject:

SIT? Never heard of it Smile

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:12 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Witty rejoinders I've got in a bag next to my desk, but not for today.

jessicah632 · Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Texas, USA

Thanks all for the help (er, sans the drug bit!) As it is I think I'll show up in Quito as planned in Feb. and see if I can find some lower-rung work in Ecuador without the cert. (I'm not looking to save up tons of money here, really just break even w/ my daily cost of living.) If I can't find anything I'll probably go ahead and invest in a course somewhere, or perhaps try Central America as was my backup plan.

A couple more questions (sorry!):
1) Generally how long-term are teachers hired for (in Ecuador, at least)? Is there a market for fairly short-term, like 2-3 months?
2) Is it mostly part-time work or full-time? (I'd prefer part-time but it's no big deal!)
3) Any ideas on what the hiring market is like outside Quito & Guayaquil? Like maybe, in Cuenca or Loja? (I'd like to stay out of the big city but know this may not be possible. Quito's ok but I can't stand Guayaquil.)

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2005 8:58 pm Post subject:

Part time and full time are both options, and if you really want part time, you'll be helping your marketability, as part timers are hard to find. (I often need them, to cover classes in peak hours, when my full timers are occupied.)

PM me as your arrival approaches, I might be able to help.

Regards,
Justin

Cdaniels · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:19 am Post subject: Rumors about SIT!

I don't have any experience with SIT, but I did look at their program a while ago. They're based in Brattleboro, Vermont (Beautiful country up there, esp in the fall) They used to sponsor a Spanish course in Cuba before the Republican administration stopped making allowances for educational trips there. Crying or Very sad

I suppose they are left-leaning, although I can't say if this is reflected in the curriculum or not. For people who know they want an MA it looks very good.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I know one person who was enrolled in SIT's MA program. He had some very negative things to say ... but then again, he's a difficult person for most people to work with, so it was unsurprising to me that there was a problem.

MELEE · Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:19 pm Post subject:

I've worked with 4 SIT MA grads and 1 SIT Cert grad. I think their cert is as good as any of the big names. And I've been debating wether or not to make this comment for about a week, here goes--I'll probably never hire another SIT MA. 1 of the 4 was a wonderful person and a great teacher (she was one of those people born to teach) she would have been great no matter where she got her MA, the other 3 were loopy. And two of them didn't know very much about teaching the English language (the one who did, but was still loopy, had a BA in education and had taught ESL in public schools before getting her MA.