Job Discussion Forums

saigo · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Japan

Hi all,

I had some questions regarding the TESOL Certificate requirement that you must obtain during your first contract in your spare time.

1) Would a by distance Graduate Certificate from the University of Tasmania meet the requirement?

2) What happens if you do not complete a certificate by the time you finish your contract?

Thanks for the replies,
Saigo

saigo · Joined: 24 Mar 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Japan

sorry... this is in regards to the PNET program...

briandwest · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 98 Location: Hong Kong

The standard Letter of Appointment (contract that PNETs sign), states that you need to obtain a "TEFL / TESL qualification at least at the certificate level within the first 12 months of your employment" which is at odds with the Memoradum at the back of the same Letter of Appointment which says "...within the first Contract..."!

I have heard of no-one enforcing this and know a number of PNETs who have been teaching here for many years without it.

11:59 · Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 1:16 pm Post subject:

On the contrary, I have personally heard of teachers who were told they would not be able to go on to the second year of their two-year contract if they failed to meet this requirement.

A distance course would not cut the mustard as there is a minimum number of hours of observed teaching in relation to the TEFL certificate stipulated in the NET contract (and, correct me if I am wrong, but it states distance courses are not accepted, which is quite unambiguous).

(What's the fascination on this forum with 'on-line' courses? And why does everyone seem to think that they are widely accepted? Where did this notion come from? Must dash, I've got to go and do some work towards my on-line become-a-pilot course.)

Malsol · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1976 Location: Lanzhou

Pieface · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 42

Hmmm in my experience, I have not heard of anyone who has been denied a second year due to not having the TEFL. I'm now in my 3rd year teaching here and thus far have never been asked to obtain it, nor has it ever been brought up (other than in writing, in the initial contract).
If for whatever reason I am specifically told that I need it, then I might consider it but until then... Smile

gryffindor · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 15

You mean to say that the EMB doesn't take your TESOL certification into account when determining your salary?

briandwest · Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 98 Location: Hong Kong

Correct

hkteach · Joined: 29 May 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Hong Kong

I'm now on my third contract and don't have TEFL or any other language teaching qualification.

However, I DO know of other NETs who have been told they must get it So, after a full day of teaching they went off to the British Council in Admiralty (HK Island) and did their evening course, home by train and to bed around 11 (a LONG day)
Add to that the assignments, observed prac. and the usual teaching prep and planning and it was a pretty heavy-duty load.

BUT, this is just another illustration of how things are done here - it's mostly up to the principal of your school. As another poster has pointed out, EMB don't enforce it (if they did, there'd be even more problems with retention rates).