Job Discussion Forums

Basil Seal · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 27 Location: Tuxtepec, Oaxaca

I am considering taking a CELTA course through Southern Cross in Ecuador this summer and I just wanted to see if anyone has had any experience with this school or has heard anything about it in general. Thanks.

Salverston · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 9 Location: Guayaquil, Ecuador

Southern Cross is a brand new school. They supposedly will only be using British trainers, but I hadn't realized that they had started classes yet. They are supposed to be tied into Espol, one of the better universities in Ecuador.

Basil Seal · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 27 Location: Tuxtepec, Oaxaca

Thanks for the information Salverston. Obviously no one is going to have any experience with them if the school is new, good to hear they are connected w/ a good university.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:

They're newly pushing HARD in the market, but have been around a little longer than it looks like.

They've advertised CELTA courses in the past- but I don't know how many have been offered. At least one person I know claimed to have registered on their CELTA only to have it cancelled due to low enrolment.

Best,
Justin

Basil Seal · Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 27 Location: Tuxtepec, Oaxaca

Thanks Justin, yes I'm going to write them an email inquiring upon some things, including when they will know whether or not they will have adequate enrollment to offer the class.

Thanks again,
jm

Atlan Training · Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 76 Location: Spain

Basil I noticed your post here. I am the lead trainer at Southern Cross. Feel free to cotact me with any questions you have or if you write to Southern Cross, they'll forward your email to me. We are not exactly a new center. We are in our fourth year now. The courses for 2009 are going to run. In fact, if you would like to apply for the Quito course that is in July/August, it would be good for you to apply right away! We have worked very had to be a world class CELTA center. We have an excellent assessment record with Cambridge University and a 100% pass rate. I'm Jaem.

littleone · Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 13 Location: UK

How much does the course cost in �pounds�??

Atlan Training · Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 76 Location: Spain

The course fee is in US dollars because Ecuador uses US currency, so the amount in pounds will fluctuate with the exchange rate. At the moment, it would be about �875 or �965.

Linguist · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 202

Atlan / Jaem, I hope you don't mind my asking, how did you become a CELTA trainer ? What qualifications do they require ? Do you have to have an MA in an EDU field? Are you affiliated with the BC? How do you get certified?

Many questions, I know, but I would appreciate answers.

Atlan Training · Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 76 Location: Spain

Hi Linguist

No I don't mind at all. It's a good question! And the answer is not simple.

Officially, regarding qualifications and process, you should have the DELTA plus some years of post-DELTA teaching experience, and then be recruited or invited by an employer to "train up". You needn't be affiliated with BC, though I suppose it would help, and you needn't have any special academic qualification, though, again, I suppose it helps. I know several trainers who have no pertinent qualifications at all. Like most things, it largely depends on being in the right place, in the right space, at the right time.

If a prospective employer recruits or invited you, you are assigned a supervising trainer. This poor person writes up a training plan for you ( of course it is a cut and paste job ). You then shadow / observe, and to a minor extent, participate in a full course, most often a month-long intensive course of 120 - 160 hours. You write up a report of everything. At the end of the course, your supervising trainer writes a report of your perceived progress ( which, again, of course, is a cut and paste ). You do the same. You amass an enormous portfolio. You, and this portfolio, are assessed by a Cambridge external assessor, who observes you giving a seminar, sits in on your feedback on teaching practice for that day, and then meets with you to briefly interview you about your perspective on teaching. At the end of the day ( literally ), you are given the nod, or not.

Unofficially, I did not have the DELTA, as I'd done my teaching qualification as a Masters in TESOL at an American university. I was not recruited by an employer but rather banged their door down because I wanted the job. I did not shadow / observe a course but rather ran a full half of it, at least � my training supervisor had a grand time! I did have an external assessment, did produce an enormous portfolio, and was interviewed briefly.

If you want to train as a trainer, your first step would be to get the DELTA, then recruit a centre to train you � all told, three month minimum but more liely about five or more.

All the best!

Linguist · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Posts: 202

Many thanks for the comprehensive reply. Will follow your advice.

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

As far as I know, Southern Cross is legitimate and a good place to do your CELTA. I did mine in Bogota and our lead trainer had just finished up doing the course at Southern Cross. He was a great teacher.

Atlan Training · Joined: 02 Apr 2009 Posts: 76 Location: Spain

Spanglish, you can be sure that Southern Cross is a good teacher training center! World Class! We're committed to being among the best in the world. Thanks for the mention.