Job Discussion Forums

[coledavis]

Apparently, there are weekend courses selling themselves as actual TEFL training. Please note that this might be useful for giving you a feel for TEFL, so that you can see if it suits you; experienced teachers who are not TEFLers may also be able to use it if they really don't want to invest in CELTA or Trinity (specialising in adults and children respectively).

Now, I apologise if this is obvious, but some people manage to deceive themselves. Weekend courses are not, repeat not, suitable as full teacher training courses for those without teaching experience. Recently my school let a graduate of one such course teach a group; in spite of considerable preparation by a manager and by myself, he left half-way through the first lesson. Apparently, the course said that it would suffice as a launching pad. Although I do rather think that the punter knows perfectly well that this is a poor substitute for the 4 or 5 week course.

Which brings me back to Trinity/CELTA. If you're going to invest in a long course, then I think trying to go cheaper via a less recognised course is a poor economy. Apart from having regularly checked professional standards, CELTA or Trinity courses are more respected by employers. Also, have some pride in being able to do something well...

[Justin Trullinger]

I agree that a weekend simply isn't anything like enough to get READY. I train regularly on a pretty respectable four week course, and it is INTENSE. Trying to pack basics that teachers need in their first job into four weeks is hard, and though I think our grads do well, it always falls short of what could be done in a longer course.

Less just couldn't come close.

I wondered what you meant, though, by:

[coledavis]

Well, given that employers often ask for 'CELTA or Trinity', I think new TEFLers may be inclined to think that they are just competing courses without discernable differences. To reiterate, although both are acceptable to employers in a range of settings, the CELTA is rather more focused on the teaching of adults and Trinity on children. The lessons to be observed and the assessed teaching will almost certainly depend on which course is attended, adults with CELTA and younger people with Trinity.

[fluffyhamster]

What about the CELTYL?!

[Justin Trullinger]

Sorry, no. Both certificates are in teaching English to adults.

Though the Trinity cert content has changed some since I took it, it's still just a plain certificate in teaching English. When I took it, it had an input session, one, on teaching teens and young learners. Last I heard, it now has a session on each, separately. The fact that it has these at all is one of several differences between it and the CELTA, and there are others. But having a couple of hours in a 120 hour course, of which the rest of the time is dedicated to teaching adults, doesn't exactly make for a "focus."

Trinity has recently started offering the CertTEYL for young learners, and Cambridge has the CELTYL.

But the standard Trinity cert isn't focused on children.

The primary difference between CELTA and Trinity, to my eye, is that they're offered by different organisations. But there are some subtle course content differences.

Best,
Justin

[nickpellatt]

I completed my Trinity cert TESOL on friday, and as mentioned, it does lean quite heavily towards teaching adults. Although my observed class did have someone as young as 16 in it, the majority of my students were over 20....and some closer to 60.

Whilst there was an input session aimed at teaching younger students, I think it was combined with teaching ESP too.....so the input was minimal really.

Im going to post a rare defence for the weekend course though! I really dont think anyone would ever believe it is enough to be anything other than a taster, but it is probably of use for many people especially as many people dont see EFL as a career.

For example....I have a friend who is currently working in a kindergarten, where he sings 'the wheels on the bus go round and round', and also makes all the noises associated with farmyard animals. He works with a Chinese assistant who helps. He only did an online with one weekend course.....and that is probably fine for the type of work he does.....and lets face it, not much can prepare you for kindergarten anyway.

There are also lots of young people and students who embark on gap years having undertaken these weekend courses. These young people may often find the 'voluntourism' trip may take them inside a classroom or have them working with young learners. A one month course for these people probably isnt viable...especially as EFL isnt going to be a career for them.

Finally, there are a number of companies that bring students to my hometown for very short term visits, typically two weeks. In that time they go sightseeing, have student disco's.....and have some English 'lessons', with native speakers who organise games and activities for them.

Of course a weekend can teach little and is only really a taster....but Im going to be positive today, and say there is a positive element to these courses. Lots of the entry level and less desirable EFL jobs, have people who have no experience and no training or qualifications at all. For some people, and some jobs.....perhaps these courses are better than nothing.

[coledavis]

Thank you very much for the update. I therefore apologise to all for my outdated comments on the Trinity and CELTA qualifications.

[fluffyhamster]