Job Discussion Forums

DAN SEBOLD · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 8

I have been looking at the RSA, the Trinity, and the TEFL International Certificates. The TEFL International program looks like the most convenient and cheapest program to get into, at least in my neighborhood out here in Asia. I may be inerested in going to the Middle EAst or Turkey someday, and I am wondering if the TEFL International Certificate would carry as much weight around the world as the RSA. Somehow I doubt it. (I keep on seeing words like "CELTA" and "DELTA" on those Middle EAst ads here on Dave's>)

Also, being an American, since TEFL International seems to be out of the U of Washington I am thinking I won't have to deal with British usage biases which Americans who have taken the RSA course in the past have made such accusations about.

At any rate, what's your opinion? Which is more prestigious: the RSA or TEFL International?

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

I would suggest you e-mail a couple of schools, and see if they care. All I can say is I virtually never hear of it making a difference in East Asia. It is all much ado about nothing.

Maybe it is different in Turkey or Middle east. My personal experience and what I hear, is that the certs, one and all, mean little in the middle east. Don't know Turkey. Ask on that cafe site.

guty · Joined: 10 Apr 2003 Posts: 365 Location: on holiday

Is it bias for a British organization to use the language as it is used in Britain? Not sure that bias is the right word.
RSA is certainly the most widely recognised, but after you have has one or two jobs your experience becomes more important anyway(s)

DAN SEBOLD · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 8

Yes, I do think it is a narrow-minded bias if you claim that your dialect is more correct than another's--very chauvenistic coming from western cultures which claim to be "celebrating diversity" and respecting differences in their institutions of higher learning, especially their finest instituions like Cambridge. All this talk of cultural diversity is really the leveling of dialects and languages around the world so that we all serve one globalized international corporation, sans unions, sans eyes, sans everything.

Guest · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2003 5:14 am Post subject:

The CELTA/DELTA program is overseen by Cambridge (except they know how to spell their own university's name correctly) and is the most popular program. I wouldn't say it's terribly better or worse than the others, but it's kind of the refrence point for EFL programs...

I took a CELTA and found absolutely no bais in the program toward any British accent -- I'm American, I took it in America, and both of the teacher-trainers were British. But, it'd do you some good to hear about British idiosyncracies as many of your students will be asking about them and you won't always be able to fall back on your Mony Pyton knowledge to answer their questions. For instance, what do you think: "This sweater is too dear" means when a Chinese EFL student says it? Cross training is best.

Generally, Asia will prefer an American accent, Europe will prefer a British accent, and everyone prefers someone who knows about both.

I know nothing about the RSA or Trinity programs, except that the Trinity program is generally a little cheaper than a CELTA.

DAN SEBOLD · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 8

I checked the spelling in my last message of "Cambridge" and it was the same as yours, but I may not be seeing it right since my eyesight is very poor these days.

I have no problem with learning British dialect. There have been complaints of people who have gone through ECC Bangkok's RSA program of being treated cruely for their American dialects. I was just talking to a man I just met the other day here in South Korea who mentioned that he was treated poorly there. Having gone through Catholic school and the military, I am really not up to being abused anymore as either a teacher or student--certainly not in a TEFL Certificate program where the instructors themselves may well have a limited knowledge of structural grammar.

Guest · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2003 5:41 am Post subject:

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

I think if you check the TEFL international website home page it says that they are NOT affiliated with UW, so why you think they are out UW I am unsure.

DAN SEBOLD · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 8

Well, I went back to their web page and can't find any reference at all to the U of W, but you are saying that they went out of their way to disclaim association with the U of Washington? I thought that I had seen something about their diploma program counting toward credits for an MA program at the U of Washington, but I can't find it now. It did, however, mention that it originated out of the Trinity program but is now completely independent of it. So, as far as I can see, the three programs, the CELTA, the Trinity, and TEFL International are very similar, the difference being that it looks to me that the CELTA may carry more weight around the world.
Someone recently told me that the Trinity is more broad=based involving training for the teaching children as well as adults.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Dan, you mentioned in your original ppost about going to either the ME or Turkey. In general you will need about 5 years experience before getting a job there. However, Turkey is a very good place for someone looking for their first job. Good luck

Guest · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2003 12:00 pm Post subject:

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Cambridge oversees CELTA? I suggest you check again.

TEFL International was advertising that you would recieve credits at Washington U. I think they are looking for the same scam CELTA has...pay a college some bucks to put their name on your business

How would we know that Europeans prefer a Brit accent, when it is so difficult for an American to get a job there. Though it is probably true.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

For the "not affilliated with the UW" thing, click on the TEFL international link at the top of this page and look on the first page that it brings you to. At the bottom of the page below information about who writes the site you will find the statement.