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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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 Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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The jobs that require 120 hour certificates are usually the same ones that want you to have previous teaching experience and/or an advanced degree, which you also probably don't have. Therefore it will be of negligible value to spend $3000 for a course that will in all likelihood not make you much more employable than a $1000 certificate
This is not true everywhere.
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Second that.
I would consider hiring a newbie who had done an intensive course including teaching practice observed by qualified trainers, without prior experience or "advanced degrees." This is what I mean by "entry level." I would not consider hiring a new teacher who would be in front of a class for the first time ever with my students who had been promised well-prepared teachers. It's just too big a risk.
That's where the fundamental flaw in a lot of online programs is. A 120 hour cert with 6 hours teaching practice is NOT a high level professional qualification. It is an extremely minimal preparation for EFL teaching which, if well done, has shown to be adequate initial preparation for many people. (A lot of grads of such certs still aren't ready- but they can be.) But the key words here are adequate and minimal. Less, in my experience, leads to putting people into the classroom who simply aren't ready.
I'm not opposed to distance learning. As some of you know from other threads, I'm currently pursuing a distance masters by research. Distance learning has its place, and can be highly beneficial. But a distance only qualification as a first qualification in teaching, by definition, doesn't put you in the classroom. And I don't want to stake my reputation, or that of the organisation I work for, on putting you in the classroom for the first time with paying students.
Distance learning has it's benefits- but far, far too many online EFL "certification" programs aren't distance learning. THey're cynical attempts to separate the unwary from their money without offering them any meaningful preparation to teach. And they're downgrading the quality of a field already overloaded with cowboys, phony certs, and unprofessionalism. Just my two cents worth.
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| I guess you could do the certificate in that country, but how transferable will that certificate be to other countries? |
If you do a good program, which would be externally accredited (SIT, CELTA, Trinity) it wouldn't be a problem.
Best,
Justin |
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caustic yeti
Joined: 24 Nov 2008
Posts: 8
Location: himalayas
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| Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:46 am Post subject: |
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justin,
you mentioned that you hire teachers.
i'm just curious which country you are in.
being a newbie,south korea seems like the country to start with.
my cert is from oxford seminars (plus an english degree)
i really want to be a prepared and effective teacher, and i know that my 60 hour crash-course cert. doesn't carry a lot of weight.
should i be worried?(both about finding a job and being competent) |
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Justin Trullinger
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
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| Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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I'm in Ecuador, though I've just been in Korea for a bit.
In terms of finding a job...you probably will, in many places. Korea doesn't necessarily require a cert. Ecuador does, more and more, but plenty of places still will hire you with a "minimal" cert. (Like the one you have.)
About being competent, depends a lot on you. I don't consider the Oxford seminars course to be worth a LOT, but you can pick up a lot on your own if you really want to.
Would I hire you? Erm...not because of the cert. If you really wowed me in the application and interview, and I was in a hiring crunch...maybe. But maybe not.
Best,
Justin
PS- was your degree in Language? Literature? LInguistics? It could help. |
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