Job Discussion Forums

[nparker]

So I'm sure that this has been answered somewhere else, but I was wondering if anybody could offer me any advice regarding online TEFL certification. Is there a particular site with better accredation or credentials than the rest? Also, I know I'm amongst the many who would like to teach in Italy. I know that not being a European citizen I am at a considerable (perhaps insurmountable) disadvantage, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. I just really miss Italy am trying desperately to get back. Thanks so much!

[spiral78]

If you are up for teaching under the table, get an onsite certification in Italy. Online certs just don't cut it. No supervised teaching practice is the key.
Going to a country where you are going to work illegally with an online cert is a recipe for quick failure.
At least get a qualification that will be reputable.

And be 100% sure that you have the financial resources to support yourself for a few months and to get back home if you need to.

I know people who have worked under the table in Italy long-term. Their qualifications were stronger than yours (CELTA+experience+fluent Italian+local contacts) and they were never able to find a way to get legal working papers OR to make more than a subsistance living. They both finally gave up in the face of the constant uncertainty, one after four years, and the other after two.

[Jetgirly]

I also worked with some illegals for more than a year in Italy. Unfortunately, they were let go with with literally two minutes' notice when whoever checks up on these things paid the school a visit. The Americans I worked with were all of Italian heritage (and Italian names), spoke fluent Italian and had degrees. They didn't have TEFL certificates, though. Most of our clients were corporate, and I imagine it's a little sketchy sending out an illegal immigrant to teach lawyers and accountants. You might have more luck teaching children.

[alexcase]

Everybody wants their lives to be a Roman Holiday, but even Audrey Hepburn in the movie decided to do the sensible thing and go home...

If you've got the cash and time, do a TEFL course there and that will give you time and contacts to sort everything out and will be a hundred times better than an online Cert in terms of getting a job and knowing what to do in the classroom when you get it. I was a teacher trainer on a course in Rome, and to be honest most of the non-EU people who got our (CELTA-like) course had a great time but decided that they'd be better off going to teach in Asia. Or you can get by and live the dream a year or two and then go home

TEFLtastic blog- www.tefl.net/alexcase