Job Discussion Forums

ksagain · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA

I don't think that a TEFL course varying in hours from (40-120) is equivalant to a Masters degree in any language. But thanks for the sarcasm!

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

ksagain, you have a master's degree in a social science. You have no qualification, certificate, or degree of any kind in English teaching. So what makes you think that a master's degree in a social science qualifies you to teach English? Because you can speak the language?

I have a master's degree in music. Can I get a job as a chemist in a pharmaceutical company?

Brodsky was absolutely correct in his point and in his sarcasm. Too bad you can't see the silliness in your original question.

Brodsky · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

Brodsky · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

thanks there Henry! to be honest i was amazed at the response to the post, i found the arrogance in it, especially the "do i really need a TEFL" absolutely extraordinary.

Of course there are all sorts of teachers out here (ahem) and the TEFL certificate is only really a little grounding in the job, but for people who are serious about teaching what the TEFL provides is an indication of whether the sort of work is of interest to you and whether you will be suited to it.

I suggest that whether you have done a degree, masters, phd, and been CEO of TimeWarner, it doesnt mean you can teach english. i'm sorry to be argumentative but i find the arrogance in both the orginal post and the response above unbelievable.

ksagain · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA

Brodsky

The only thing useful that I have found from your responses is in the information that you provided below:

"Of course there are all sorts of teachers out here (ahem) and the TEFL certificate is only really a little grounding in the job, but for people who are serious about teaching what the TEFL provides is an indication of whether the sort of work is of interest to you and whether you will be suited to it."

That is the response I was looking for and the information that I needed. So I appreciate you finally getting to the point. I never meant to imply any arrogance in my statements, only an acknowledgment that I do have a higher level of education and wanted to know if this was sufficient or not.
What I was attempting to imply is that since the level of education that a TEFL supplies is really not equivilant to a degree in Education, is it really necessary for employment in another country.

ksagain · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Scottsdale, AZ, USA

In my original question the "really" was meant to ask if a TEFL certificate is a requirement to secure a job in Thailand.

Sorry that you all (the 2 negative responses) could not differentiate between a sincere request for information and your assumption that it was arrogance. Remember what they say about assuming.

I can't believe that you both having nothing better to do than to attempt to make others feel badly about themselves...which I don't by the way because apparently I'm arrogant.

I do wish you all the best and wish that you would keep your negative comments to yourself and follow the rule that if you don't have anything nice to say then it's best to not say anything at all.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

saint57 · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:47 pm Post subject:

Brodsky · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

Well im glad that you found some of my response useful.

I'm sorry to upset you, and I can assure you that my intention is not to make you feel bad, but i hope I've made you think a bit.

Sadly, this is a profession that attracts a lot of people who think that the ability to speak english is enough to make them a teacher. What is even sadder is that many schools will employ them simply on this basis. There are many good ESL professionals in Thailand, but there are many here for whom teaching is a way to allow them to travel around thailand, drink alcohol and take advantage of Thailand's women and men.

I'm in no way suggesting this is ksagain but seeing your original post, sets the alarm bell ringing, i.e. another person who thinks ESL teaching is just something you can do as long as you are educated to a high level.

You didn't say anything in your post about TEFL vs Degree in Education that is an entirely different point. However, i have to say that having a degree in education does not imply suitability or ability to teach english as a foreign language! If i have a degree in primary school education can i teach secondary Maths?! NO, so why do people assume it's different with ESL?

For the record, at my school, we've recently had two primary school teachers arrive to teach ESL, and both lasted less than 2 months when they realised actually it wasn't for them. If they'd done the TEFL certificate they might have already known that!

Debating the TEFL course itself, is another argument altogether!

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

Actually even with a degree in education it's beneficial. Some of the worst teachers (for teacher talk time etc.) I've met have been 'proper' ones.

LoL (and I've seen this myself) the right way of teaching is often the furthest thing from how your employers (or how you have to) teach here. I think a lot of BEds etc. would go insane trying to teach 50-60 kids in a class, and putting up with the cack from the Thai bosses etc.

Although to be fair they do seem to include in some BEd and PGCE courses EFL techniques nowadays.

Serious_Fun · Joined: 28 Jun 2005 Posts: 1171 Location: terra incognita

kenkannif · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 550

^ Combination of thing over the last few years IMO....SARS, chicken flu, trouble down Sarf, Tsunami, also the low pay, difficulty in obtaining WP etc. Vietnam, China etc. kind of pay as much if not more than here and it seems to be easier there.

Also a lot of new schools opening and also other schools employing more Western teachers etc.

Check the tourist stats and they're down as well from what I can gather.

verity · Joined: 31 May 2006 Posts: 19 Location: WestCan

Brodsky beat me to the punch!

Please, for the sake of those who will devote time and money to your classes, get some kind of experience and/or training beforehand. Not only will your students benefit, but you'll enjoy yourself more in your work, having the confidence of knowing what you're doing, and the satisfaction afterwards of a job more effectively done.

Soooofey · Joined: 24 Jun 2006 Posts: 5 Location: CHINA

Hi,

I do not think you really need tefl to teach English. I think that some people have been a bit too over excited with their replies though.

Ksagian I do not have a tefl either and I certainly do not have a masters, only a degree. I am teaching in China at the mo and the only thing a tefl will do is give you some ideas it is very different I hear when you are actually standing in front of 60 kids and it is up to you to prvide a lesson that is fun and educational.

You need to be enthusiastic and passionate about your job, not a member of the "tefl, we need you gang".

Okay so yes to work in Thailand you may need a tefl I do not know I have asked the same question, and similar to you I need a job before I get there. I have friends here in China who have tefl's and I am just as good as they are of not better than some of them. I just think that pompus attitudes really do not help people who are trying to find adventure whilst working.

My degree is also in Social science, and let's put it this way it is alot more useful than a music degree I think or no education at all except for a tefl that people can fake. So ksagain if you find out any useful information about the tefl in Thailand please let me know thank you.