Job Discussion Forums

[ssjup81]

Hello all. I know this has been asked a lot, but there are just so many pages when using the search option and even when skimming, I didn't get a specific answer to what I'm curious about.

Okay, I guess I'll describe myself a bit. I have a BA in Social Sciences, with an EDU concentration. I've taken my Praxis I teaching test recently, but won't know the results until about week after next, and I can only hope and pray I passed it! It was much more difficult than I was expecting it to be, just like the lvl 3 JLPT was for me last year! >< I also have an interest in Japan.

Anyway, I am interested in ESL Teaching, even if it's just for a short while and doing the Volunteer ESL Teaching has pretty much re-emphasized it, even though those I work with now are native Spanish speakers and adults. My Spanish is very basic since I haven't used it in so many years, and is coming back a little. My Japanese is basic since I don't have much of an opportunity to use what I'm learning.

I was interested in getting one of the certifications, but I'm having a difficulty figuring out how to get a CELTA certification or Trinity or whatever other ones are there. Is it preferred to obtain a certification within the country of interest or is it okay to do so in one's home country as well?

How does one usually go about getting one? I live in Richmond, Virginia. Any recommendations for this newb or can one point out a place for me to check out? I always see so many "online TESL" type things, and to me, that doesn't seem very practical. How can you get certified in something online that requires one to have to work with people?

I'm only asking this, because I would really hate to take a course in this, and it turns out that it wouldn't hold any weight in my teaching area of interest and seems CELTA and Trinity are the best known ones.

[naturegirl321]

You might want to get qualified first. IF not, then head to the library and read up on teaching, try to observe some classes, eventually you will need the quals.

[ssjup81]

I thank you for the insight, but that still didn't fully answer the question. What exactly is the procedure to obtain certification?

[denise]

Look for an intensive four-week course. CELTA and Trinity are the most recognized, but that doesn't mean that they are the only options out there--just choose carefully. Make sure that you will get observed practice teaching sessions with real students and that you'll get feedback from the course observers. If you already know which country/ies you're interested in, you can start looking at job ads to see what they require. That could give you a clue as to whether or not certain qualifications will be accepted.

As to where to do the course, I'm one of the believers in the "do the course in the region you want to teach in" philosophy. You can get started looking for housing, getting a feel for what your students will be like, and lining up job interviews, and your TEFL course can help you contact potential schools.

Good luck,
d

[spiral78]

You've hit the nail on the head in your OP - the lack of a classroom in online certs makes them fundamentally insufficient in getting a newbie teacher started!

While there are some regions where online certs are accepted, these tend generally to be regions where demand for teachers is very high and you can likely get a job there without any cert at all.

The basic newbie cert that is accepted in most regions is 100+ hours on site, including practice teaching on real students (not peer trainees) with feedback from experienced teacher trainers. CELTA is the name brand, but there are some 'generic' certs that fit the bill as well.

I agree with Denise that there are lots of good reasons to take a course in the country where you want to start. The course providers usually provide things like housing during the course, airport pickup, local orientation, and they know what employers in the region are reputable. Yes, the courses are intensive, and its unlikely that you'll get to know the area much until it's over, but it's still a head start into the area.

[nickpellatt]

[denise]

I think the option of doing the course at home is good if...

a) you plan on teaching at home--but jobs are scarce in the US--at least, the good ones are scarce--and many require MAs anyway

b) you don't have any idea where in the world you want to teach, so there's no point in getting a head start in familiarizing yourself with the region. Oh, and you will initially save the cost of the airfare, but since few countries/schools will pay your airfare for you, chances are you'll have to come up with the money eventually anyway.

c) you honestly believe that being home, with your family, friends, favorite hang-outs, easy access to TV programs that you can understand, etc. would not distract you--if you get a call on a Friday night to go out, will you be able to tell your friends that you need to stay in and prepare a lesson plan? If you take the course in-country, your social circle will initially be your classmates, who will understand what you're going through.

In my case, it just made more sense to leave the US.

d

[spiral78]

I agree with Denise - the support system provided by in-country providers is quite strong, actually.

I think it would be much scarier packing your bags and heading to a brand-new country to find a job and housing right away, than it is to have the transitional step of packing your bags and heading to a city where your course provider will have arranged for details like housing during the course, airport pickup, and some local orientation. It's a very useful bridge into a new country and job.

[nickpellatt]

Haha, Ill be the dissenting voice on this one then!

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=74059 I would suggest ssjup81 reads this thread about a recent CELTA experience though.

[spiral78]

which schools that can place you with, and ratios or details of their success rate in placing trainees.

I think the issue of 'job placement' needs to be clearly addressed! The whole notion can be quite misleading.

The only courses that offer actual 'job placement' are the ones that ALSO have language schools under the same umbrella business. Caledonian in Prague is one of these: in addition to teacher training, they also employ many teachers in the greater region through their main and subsidiary branches. The 'job placement' in such an organisation means that if you succeed at their course, they will give you as much work as they can within their own organisations.

Most course providers offer connections: they can tell you who the reputable local employers are, put you in touch with some of the directors, and help you arrange interviews and perhaps give you some tips on demo lessons. However, I know of zero training centres with arrangements with language schools who will just take a grad sight-unseen, without an interview and probably demo lesson process.

It's the real world - you must be prepared to go through the process of preparing your CV, arranging interviews, interviewing successfully, and likely planning and teaching a demo lesson. A course provider can give you help with this - but they don't eliminate the normal process!!

[nickpellatt]

Thats why I said this issue needs to be carefully discussed. If the training provider isnt an employer, and they dont have a great record in helping trainees find work, applicants need to consider their options carefully IMO.

Training courses may not always coincide with hiring seasons either ... If the training provider cant hire you, and cant put you in touch with former trainees who they have successfully helped find work locally ... surely we should urge caution? I would imagine there is a real risk of newly qualified trainees running out of money and being forced to fly home soon after the course has finished. I could be wrong but I cant imagine many trainees being able to afford another couple of months of boarding and living costs whilst they walk the streets looking for work.

As mentioned already ... taking a course abroad isnt my experience, so I am only guessing really ... I took my course at home. I would suggest people should consider what happens if they dont find a job the day they graduate though. The cost of staying in country for another month (or even more) before finding a job and getting paid needs to be factored into any costs.

[spiral78]

We always try to clarify the fact that any newbie starting off needs to factor in start-up costs, which obviously vary from country to country.

Consider for Europe: 1. It's very rare that any school will pay for your travel costs. 2. Most language schools pay monthly, at the end of the month worked. 3. Most landlords want one month's rent as security, the first month's rent up front, and you may have to pay an agent's fee equivalent to another month's rent (this covers contracts and stuff in the local language - sometimes really necessary to use an agent!!).

In the best case, you get a job to start soon after the end of your course. You will still need to plan to support yourself for a minimum of 30 days, and arrange for housing, before your first paycheck comes - which is unlikely to cover all the costs named above.

Start-up costs are a definite MUST to consider before taking the step, REGARDLESS of where you are going to take a course.

[denise]

[ssjup81]

Okay everyone. Thanks a lot for the information! This was exactly what I was looking for. That gives me a lot to think about. On one hand, I do feel it would be best to try and get a CELTA or any other thing like that, within the country that one would like to teach.

I feel that it would better if I just put that on hold and see how things go. If I end up in Japan through an eikaiwa, maybe I could look into it again.

[teachaus]

The other thing to consider in deciding whether to do the course "in country" is what the procedures are for getting a working visa in the country after you are qualified and looking for a job. There are some countries that do not allow for the working visa to be applied for "in country" so you would need to factor in the cost of leaving the country to a place where you can apply for the visa and coming back and for accommodation for the time that the visa process is proceeding