Job Discussion Forums

wilco · Joined: 22 Jan 2009 Posts: 39

Anyone any info about a company called "Serious TEFL", who offer online and in-class courses?

Thanks in advance

Julieanne · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 120

Yes excellent course, very informative and interactive. See the testimonials on their site and placement is 100%.
PM me if you would like to know more.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

It's less than 100 hours, I'd pass on it.

Julieanne · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 120

I asked about this and by the way they are going to have a 120 hour course by the end of May. I spoke with [email protected]
This is the site by the way
http://www.serioustefl.com

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

wilco, you might want to do a search for julieanne's posts. She has been very strongly backing this particular course for a couple of years now. However, in the past, it didn't really meet the standard for a basic newbie course. Perhaps things have changed...

IF it is 120 hours ON SITE, and includes at least 6 hours of practice teaching with actual students, not peer trainees, then it's OK. If less - it's below the standard.

CELTA is the name brand newbie level course, but there are decent generic courses out there that also meet the basic standards above.

Ideally, you should consider taking the course in the country where you want to start teaching. There are some excellent reasons for this: you can get your feet wet in country/culture while you still have a support system, as training centres generally arrange for airport pickup, housing during the course, local language training, and orientation. Your practice teaching students will be more representative of those you�ll be working with when you start. You can be sure your cert will be recognized by local employers, and the training centre can give you invaluable information regarding reputable employers in the region.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 6:10 pm Post subject:

Spiral and I are frequently sounding off on threads around here about quality teacher training, and often we agree. I'd like to disagree slightly, though:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Actually, Justin, we still agree - you're entirely correct that a course can appear to meet the basic standard of 120 hours and supervised teaching practice...and still be below standard in actuality. I tend to stick to the formula because I can't possibly judge a generic course on any other level, unless I am personally familiar with it (as I am with a couple of the generic courses offered in Prague - both of which are really quite ok).

I should qualify my formulaic response to read 'such a course is likely/probably ok.'

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 7:47 pm Post subject:

Agreed and agreed-

I just get nervous, because, as a lot of us online repeat the 120 + 6 mantra, course providers and ripoff artists alike are getting wise to it. I get a lot of applications that say "I have completed a 120 hour TESOL course with six hours of teaching practice."

And upon investigation, it was 120 hours online, possibly completed in 10, and 6 hours of "teaching" practice committed in some way that avoided real learners.

So I hate to be a hard *beep*, but if I don't personally know a course, it doesn't really carry much weight.

Bst,
Justin

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Yeah, I always mention the 120 hours ON SITE and teaching practice with actual students, but I have to say that I myself know of a few generic courses that meet this standard and are still pretty crappy.

I don't blame you for not being interested in candidates from some course you don't know.

Probably the best advice is still 'take a course in the country/region where you want to start working.' That way, local employers will know your cert...