Job Discussion Forums

acornrevolution · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 47

Are online TESOL/TESL certificates generally accepted in Mexico? What about the rest of Latin America?

Any recommendations for well recognized online certificates?

Thanks for any advise!

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject:

I think that you will be able to find a job without much of a problem. I wonder if I had just took an on-line course instead of taking a 120 hour TEFL how my job search would have played out. I don't regret taking the course that I did because I didn't have any previous teaching experience.

Do as jfurgers said and you should be OK. You can also go to work for a large language school chain and they will train you and you'll get experience that way.

In Mexico, many people don't even seem to know the difference between a TEFL, CELTA or anything else. If you show them a piece of paper that says "English Teacher" or something else like that they seem to be happy. Somebody on this forum will come back and say "Oh, the CELTA is best and they know what that is in Mexico". Yeah, if you happen to work for one of the 3 or 4 people on this forum that also happen to be in a position to hire. Or if you actually go to a school where someone has heard of "CELTA". I'm not joking. At my last school, most of the Mexican ESL teachers had never even heard of a CELTA. Maybe 2 out of 14.

Anyways, you can take a TEFL for pretty cheap at Dunham Institute in Chiapas. $1,400 for the course and your housing.

Or you can take a distance TEFL for about $300 and up.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

gregd75 · Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject:

As someone who recruits teachers, I can honestly say that the TEFL / TESOL qualification isn't the most important thing. Its the way that you communicate your qualifications!

When I am about to recruit teachers, I always have mixed feelings- a great feeling of anticipation and excitement- the thought that I have the opportunity to find great assets for the school. But I am also filled with DREAD because you wouldnt believe the terrible quality of resumes that I receive.

And this is my point! The qualification you have is a door opener. It doesnt get you the job, but it helps you to attract the recruiters attention. If I were you, and I had completed an online course, I wouldnt be worried, but I would spend some serious time changing your resume.

Look to place this TEFL qualification in your 'education' section, and maybe move this to the top of your resume. Expand as much as possible on what you did. Examples- studied business English, Grammar, teaching methodology, completed projects on classroom management etc.

Remember- every TEFL course is different and you need to communicate to the recruiter what you studied and learned!

And don't stop there... Guy is right- if you dont have teaching experience, then an online course probaly wasnt the best thing to do- but it is better than having done nothing. Go back through all your experiences, both at previous jobs and school and there MUST have been times when you taught, helped in a classroom or with a sports team or coached someone. Make sure this is claerly emphasised on your resume!

Really, what I'm saying is work your TEFL qualification as much as possible. Please dont spend the time to complete the qualification and then not invest the time to make your resume look as good as it possibly could. Recruiters receive dozens of applications. Make yours stand out from the crowd. The recruiter doesnt spend a long time looking at your resume. Make your resume so good that the recruiter would be crazy to skip over your resume. Then you have the key to the door and you can use your fantastic personality, motivation and enthusiasm to wow the person. Finally making it a dead cert that you'll get the job you are looking for.

Good luck!

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject:

Good advice gregd75!

I agree that you have to really sell yourself, no matter what the job is, the location or your qualifications.

I don't claim to be a resume expert, but I have seen some terrible resumes. Where the format was bad, the resume didn't make much sense and there were spelling and grammar errors all over the place.

Take your time and make a good resume!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

MO39 · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:22 am Post subject:

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

Back to online TEFL certificates, I have a 120-hour classroom-attended TEFL certificate without an apostille. It would cost me maybe US$225-300 to take a trip to Bangkok to get it apostilled (and you never know in Thailand if all 3 bureaucracies will approve it). I almost wonder if it would be cheaper to get another cert online. Do they come with an apostille? I do not imagine that I could get an FM2 or FM3 independiente with an apostilled degree but a naked TEFL cert.

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

gregd75 · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject:

I'll just repeat what I said earlier.

I dont think its of major importance if your TEFL certificate is apostled.

I think its about your experince and suitability for a position.

Try revamping your resmue, put a heavy focus on what you studied and learned during your TEFL course and try to add any teaching, training or coaching experience you have.

Any decent school wont be worried about the certificate. They will be worried about you and your ability to do the job.

With the position and the work experience you gain, and decent lawyer can then help you to get a work visa.

MO39 · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

jfurgers · Joined: 18 Sep 2005 Posts: 442 Location: Mexico City

It doesn't matter what the SCHOOL thinks. What matters is what MIGRACION thinks and migracion wants to see that you are qualified to teach English.
A certificate in TEFL will help, but migracion won't give it a second look if it's not apostilled. Trust me on this. I'm working on getting my FM3 now so I know what I'm talking about.
MO39 is 100% correct. Listen to what she's saying, she just got her work visa.

gregd75 · Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject:

I humbly apologise for my comments.

I am just speaking from my experiences. My TESOL certificate was NOT apostled. I had absolutely no problems getting my FM3.

I guess I have been lucky.

I stand corrected, please disregard my previous comments.