Job Discussion Forums

[Lukeukwalker]

I'm just enquiring about the credentials of UK-TEFL which is run around the UK. Should I avoid? I want to get a qualification to teach in China. I have just completed my BSc and want to extend my portfolio. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks all

Luke

[nickpellatt]

I searched this company and have spent 20 minutes browsing their website. Save your money!

This company and their course are the type that are often discussed here, and they make a number of claims that are questionable, and to some degree, make a mockery of the industry and qualified EFL teachers.

Some people study full time BA honours courses in EFL, and others study for EFL Masters qualifications. The recognised bare minimum EFL qualification is the one month intensive course offered by CELTA / Trinity etc, yet this course claims to teach you all you need to know in a weekend. A crazy overblown claim especially when you read further into the course content and note it doesnt even offer any real teaching practice with real students.

They claim the qualification is recognised world wide ... which is really just a barefaced lie .... also note they dont say who the course is recognised by. I have actually been browsing TEFL.com tonight, and have looked at some of the big international chain schools such as Shane / IH and EF, who all state they are looking for CELTA or equivalent 120 hour courses as a minimum observed teaching practice. They dont mention this course as a minimum qualification!

They also mention they are accredited course providers, but checking the site I cant find any accreditation .... only that they are a member of a teaching organisation called the 'college of teachers'. Being a member of something does not mean their course is accredited by them, or anoyone else.

Whilst they do have a link that shows worldwide employment opportunities, I dare say any of the positions listed would accept you whether you hold this qualification or not.

There is (I guess) very little regulation with regard to setting up a company and training course like this ... this is way short of the industry wide minimum qualification standards...and so offers nothing that would really a) enhance your CV, or b) enhance your ability to teach. You may as well throw you cash away to be honest. Their claims for this course lack credibility ... and that means I would say avoid them.

If you were going on a 3 month voluntourism trip to Africa, this course might be OK to go on to get one or two ideas, but to see this course as something to enhance you CV or prospects ...naaaaah!

The money would be better spent in going towards a real qualification.

Other than that ... the money would be better spent buying some decent EFL books. Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener would represent far better value than this course, and would be far more valuable to you as a prospective teacher too. You will learn more from the book IMO

I write this as someone who has completed both an online TEFL course and a Trinity course. I took my online course sometime ago as my employer told me they needed a certificate of some kind... the reality was a certificate I had made myself with clip art would have been good enough ... the same goes for the people who allegedly accept this 'qualification'.