Job Discussion Forums

[Robert100]

Hello all.

Totally new here (and to the world of TEFL, with a hope to teach in Japan) so hopefully some of you will be able to give me advice.

I am applying for a five week intensive CELTA course at my local college. It is accredited by the British Council and is a large well known college in the area and approved to run CELTA.

But�. I am suddenly having pangs of doubt after browsing some forums on the web.

I chose the CELTA course because it was a five week course instead of four therefore giving me that extra week that would (hopefully) relieve some of the intensity I keep hearing about.

Also, it is local to me and I felt that, living on my own with no dependants, it would provide the comfortable and familiar surroundings around me to concentrate on the vast amount of effort required for the course as opposed to new surroundings.

My doubts arise when I keep hearing some of the recommendations for other schools in the UK for CELTA (mainly International House and other London based schools).

1.) Am I right in thinking that due to the certificate being run by Cambridge that a CELTA is CELTA wherever it is taken and is looked upon the same internationally wherever it�s acquired in the UK?

2.) The cost of the four week International House (IH) CELTA course (taking into account the cost of accommodation as well) is over �500 more expensive than the local five week course. Is the CELTA at IH worth the extra cost?

3.) Am I unnecessarily putting extra kudos to a five week course over a four week course when I should be concentrating on where I take my CELTA?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated and I hope I don't sound too naive!!

Many thanks.

[spiral78]

I think you've made a good decision all round.

CELTA is CELTA, so far as international employers are concerned. Most employers abroad will be entirely unaware of any possible distinction between the different locations of the training centres.

Further, the Cambridge accreditation should ensure that a CELTA offered at any location should be reasonably equal to one in any other location.

Five weeks is ideal for an introductory course - four weeks are a bit too intense for many learners (speaking as someone who took such a course, and later worked as a curriculum designer and teacher trainer on two others).

[KoreaLifer]

You don't need a TEFL course to work in the ESL industry.

The CELTA is far too expensive, but is good if you're a new teacher with no experience. Personally, other than CELTA-affiliated centers and schools working with a local CELTA program, I have yet to see any job which requires a CELTA over any basic TEFL program. Better to save your money and go for an online TEFL/TESOL MA, in my opinion.

If you're going to work in the UK, a CELTA will be more valuable. You certainly don't need one to work in ESL at many places around the world.

[BenE]

It's interesting how anyone who has managed to battle through a few teaching jobs with an online TEFL and found their feet that way thinks a CELTA is pointless. Those that took it and have skipped that part of working in low quality schools seem to have a bit more appreciation for the course.

Here in VN there's still a lot of kudos for having a CELTA.

[didikai]

For me CELTA was worth doing.

A quick scan of the job lists will show that many schools prefer applicants that have CELTA.

Before I had any experience I was offered jobs in Korea and Japan at the higher end of the private language school pay rates, I can only assume this was because I had CELTA. When I started teaching I felt like I knew what I should be doing. The downside of this is that if you end up working for a bad school you are actually aware of how bad their teaching methods are.

CELTA is CELTA, it does not say on your certificate where you did it, or with which school; and I haven't been asked.

If you have found a five week course then I think you are lucky. The course itself is not that difficult, but the pressure of packing it into a month makes it more stressful than it needs to be.

Best of luck!

[nickpellatt]

I actually did a Trinity course, but there isnt so much difference between them. I just popped into this thread to say I dont see any reason for you to regret the decision you have made.

I have commented several times that I feel taking a course in your hometown is the right move for exactly the reasons you mention. Being comfortable and having a support network was key to my success in passing the course with a good grade, Im not so sure I could have done so well if I was away from home with the temptations and frustrations of a new country or city to deal with.

Perhaps a Celta taken with IH might be better if you intend working with IH immediately after graduation...but Im sure it wouldnt be worth paying extra for this in terms of course cost and / or accom or travel costs.

Anyway....it isnt actually that hard to find a job with IH or similar types of schools anyway as far as I can tell.

I'll be interested to hear how the 5 week course pans out. I have a friend who did a Trinity at the same time as me, but over 5 weeks to my 4. Her course actually had extra assignments, so it doesnt always mean that 5 weeks will be less stressy.

A note about the stress factor. I dont think its as bad as people say ... whilst people on my course did have nights when they were still completing course work at 5am, and then having tears and tantrums in class, they were also the people who were not quite so well organised.

Dont come home from the course, and think ... 'Ill have a cup of tea, then make dinner, then watch Eastenders...run a bath....and do my work after'. That can easily take you into a pattern of working into the night. Crack on when you get home, and by 8.00 you will be free....and 8pm is worse case scenario.

Do start assignments and coursework early, rather than leaving it to the last minute. On my course the language awareness program was handed out on the 3rd day....so I did 85% of it on the first weekend. The people who had all nighters, where the ones who didnt look at it until the 3rd week began.

And have realistic expectations...it isnt about being the best teacher on day one, but more about developing as a teacher throughout the course. Take on board suggestions and put them into practice.

I really really enjoyed my course, and would recommend it. Although you can work without it (and I did for two years) if you are serious about teaching, you really can learn something and it will make a difference to your teaching skills.

I am nowhere near the finished article, but I do feel that the course I took has made me much better than I was, I wish I had done it ages ago. I was doing an OK job before, and always had good feedback from employers and students, but I know realise I could have done much better. It took the course to make me see that.

Good luck!!

[Robert100]

spiral78, KoreaLifer, BenE, didikai, nickpellatt � Thank you very much for your input and opinions. Much appreciated.

Someone who has run both a 4 week and a 5 week CELTA course said that some trainees are stressed out for a week more than necessary and most will fill the time by adding to assignments or touching up portfolios unnecessarily.

Which is a point I had not considered, or would have known, not having experienced the course before.

If, for the sake of argument, we say the above is true, has anyone any advice on how to take advantage of the extra week? There must be, if approached correctly by the trainee, some advantage of having an extra week to what is already a very intensive course.

Again, many thanks for your responses.

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[ap4058]

Hi All,

I am full time teacher in a state school in London. I have a number of years of experience teaching my subject which is not English. I have a BSc, MSc, PGCE, QTS.

I would like to do a CELTA course and would like to do it in my summer holidays in London.

Has anyone got an ideas where i can do it and not get muged by doggy colleges!

As far as i can work out it cost around a grand. Not easy money these days.

[nickpellatt]

http://www.stgiles-international.com/teacher_training/tefl_dates.php

I did my course with them in Eastbourne. They have a London location too. Definately legit