Job Discussion Forums

[nohjin]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, so apologies if this question has been asked before:

How does the Canadian Global Tesol College Certification / Diploma weigh up against the Trinity Cert TESOL?

Where I'm living for the next 3 months (singapore) seems to offer only 2 kinds of certifications, the Canadian Global TESOL College and the CELTA.

* i have missed the local CELTA deadline, they only take 12 students per course as it's a small country..

Both the above include teaching practice in front of actual students.

Ultimately, I aim to teach English in Czech for a few months next year.
One reason for taking the training course now is that I've got 3 months off, living with the folks.

* But having browsed other threads about TEFL schools in Cz, it's starting to appear that courses are better there (cheaper, more recognisable qualifications, work placements)

Mluvim trochu cesky, but I've got some very good friends who've lived in Praha all their lives.

[Chris Westergaard]

Why not hold off and take a course in Prague. I only mention this that it will be hard anyway to land a job in Prague from abroad. Also, are you sure you can get hired for only a few months. Most schools will want you to work for at least 6 months unless of you course you are doing summer camps.

[nohjin]

[spiral78]

There are apparently some checks going on about whether English teachers have proper papers these days. You need a work visa. You probably have to apply for it from your home country (this is a new requirement, so far as I can tell, and I'm not 100% certain that it is going to be the case for everyone, but it is the 'official' info).

It seems to me that you could go to Prague, take the course, go around for interviews, and then apply for a work visa while you are away for the six months you mention. It takes 90 days to get the work/residency visa, according to the official websites (unless, I suppose, they turn you down for some reason!).

No, it's unlikely that you can get contracts for 3 months. The standard is Sept - June, and 99% of newbie teachers in Prague are ok with that - so if you ask for something non-standard, you're automatically at a disadvantage.

No, it's doubtful that you could survive on private lessons. You need local contacts and reputation to build a clientele of reliable students. Privates are often NOT reliable in terms of payment and attendence. I've been here ten years and wouldn't try living on privates alone...

[spiral78]

And I should add that any language school in Prague that is knowingly hiring teachers without proper working papers is most likely dodgy in other ways - not where you'd want to work if you are counting on your pay promptly!

[Aussie Chick]

[spiral78]

C'mon. Where do you THINK it's going!!
The first year I taught in Prague the school secretary not only bought a very expensive new car, but started construction on a villa outside as well. It was quite suspicious as she was a single mother from a relatively poor village family with only one known source of income...

[Aussie Chick]

It�s pretty obvious where the money�s going.

I just wonder at the hide of the schools that do this. And it would be fun seeing the directors try to explain themselves

[nohjin]

thanks for the advice chaps

yes, my czech friends warned me about some things, $$$ corruption being one. There should be a name and shame list for such schools!

[brucecrawford]

Hi, I 'm new to this forum.

I would like to know about Global TESOL College awards, too. Is anyone here a Global TESOL graduate?

Are Global TESOL College awards as widely accepted as they claim to be? Also, they claim that it is possible to be granted college-level credits: has anyone had their Global Tesol credentials evaluated for credit transfer?

I have been considering their Advanced Diploma programme but am not sure if it is recognised outside Canada (or if it is recognised at all!)

Thanks,
Bruce

[spiral78]

For Europe, don't bother with any course that is less than 120 hours on-site, including at least 6 hours of teaching practice on real students (not peer trainees). This is the standard in the region, and anything less is going to put you at a serious disadvantage on the job market.

Not to imply that there is no way you would find employment with a different kind of cert, but without the teaching practice you will really be at the bottom of the list of potential newbies for reputable schools Europe-wide.

[brucecrawford]

[quote="spiral78"]For Europe, don't bother with any course that is less than 120 hours on-site, including at least 6 hours of teaching practice on real students (not peer trainees). This is the standard in the region, and anything less is going to put you at a serious disadvantage on the job market.

Thank you for your reply spiral78!

I did the CELTA fifteen years ago when it was still the RSA CTEFLA and I eventually completed a year-long DELTA course. I was thinking of adding an "Advanced Diploma" to my CV and thought that Global TESOL College would be a good choice.

[spiral78]

I don't think this is the best way to enhance your already-solid CV. Maybe you should consider an MA - many reputable programs will give you credit for your DELTA.

[nohjin]

From what I read, the Global Tesol Advanced Diploma is the same as the normal diploma but with 5 extra specialisation units e.g. business english / teaching of kids / how to teach students studying for their TOEFL etc.

The specialised units themselves look very good on paper, but some of them are taught online / via correspondence (at least this is the case with the GLobal Tesol franchise schools in singapore... other places may vary).

What I'm saying is: for someone already fully trained like yourself, it does not appear to be worth the cost of the advanced Global TESOL diploma if all the difference it makes is a few specialised units which they don't personally train you in-school for, anyway.

And from beginner's point of view (like myself):
The cost of a GLobal TESOL Advanced Dip here (in singapore) is about $4900 Singapore dollars, which is 1779 UK Pounds or 2281 Euro.

For that money I could stay a month in Prague, do a europe-recognised tesol course, get work contacts and still have some change left!

[nohjin]

oh, and Global TESOL College qualifications are recognised for teaching in schools in south east asia. I'm not sure about Europe though.
Trinity Cert TESOL seems to be the one for europe.

(and work experience, of course)