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croc23
Joined: 22 Aug 2009
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject: Looking for advice on teaching English abroad |
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Hi, I�m looking for advice on what TEFL course I should do, I plan to leave Ireland in January so have some time to complete a course.
I was also wondering where would be a good place to go and teach English, I pretty much am willing to go anywhere I can earn an ok wage and enjoy myself, I was considering Taiwan?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for advice on teaching English abroad |
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| croc23 wrote: |
Hi, I�m looking for advice on what TEFL course I should do, I plan to leave Ireland in January so have some time to complete a course.
I was also wondering where would be a good place to go and teach English, I pretty much am willing to go anywhere I can earn an ok wage and enjoy myself, I was considering Taiwan?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. |
Is TEFL something you want to do as a career or are you just trying it out for a while?
You should start by reading various threads where questions like yours have already been asked. If you're considering a specific country, check out the forums for that country or region of the world (e.g. the Asian forums for Taiwan).
What's most important isn't where the course is taught but what the course contains. The minimum industry standard is 100-120 course hours followed by at least six hours of supervised teaching practice with real ESL/EFL students. Don't even think about anything less than that. CELTA, Trinity and SIT are brand names (don't be taken in by those who insist that you must take one of the brand name courses or you're not certified) but there are several generic courses out there. Do your own research and find the course that's right for you (and be sure to check out the agencies that supposedly have "accredited" these courses to make sure they're valid accrediting agencies). There are good arguments for taking the course in your home country and for taking it in another country.
"An ok wage" is subjective and might provide a better standard of living in one place than it does in another. |
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catherineluff
Joined: 05 Jun 2009
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 11:23 am Post subject: |
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Definitely agree that you should try and complete at least 120 hours of study before you go, otherwise it can be a bit overwhelming when you get out there. Think i-to-i offer courses in ireland that mix practical teaching elements and online study too - might be worth checking out.
In terms of where to teach China and South Korea always get a good press, as they've got low costs of living so while you don't earn a huge amount it goes a long way!
Good luck with it! |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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you can probably ignore the suggestion by catherine of trying the i-i courses. These courses do NOT match the minimum requirements as stated by Chancellor earlier in this thread. They also make some spurious claims about the fact their courses are internationally recognised.
I am pretty sure Catherine may work for i-i as each time she posts she mentions them  Perhaps she may like to tell us exactly who recognises the course?
I have completed two i-i courses, and both are a resounding waste of money in my opinion, and are below the minimum standard accepted in most reputable schools and organisations. The places that would accept you with this type of qualification, would probably be as likely to take you without it.
Avoid ... a total waste of money ... and you may find that to continue working in TEFL, you will end up having to invest time and money in a genuine, recognised course later...which does kinda mean the money you spend with i-i would be wasted. |
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surrealia
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 241
Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 1:49 pm Post subject: |
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If you're interested in teaching in Taiwan, a good place to start collecting information is EFL in Asia. Read some of the articles written by experienced teachers, so you can get an idea of what to expect.
EFL in Asia - Taiwan Links
http://www.geocities.com/allhou/taiwan.htm |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:42 pm Post subject: |
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| catherineluff wrote: |
Definitely agree that you should try and complete at least 120 hours of study before you go, otherwise it can be a bit overwhelming when you get out there. Think i-to-i offer courses in ireland that mix practical teaching elements and online study too - might be worth checking out.
In terms of where to teach China and South Korea always get a good press, as they've got low costs of living so while you don't earn a huge amount it goes a long way!
Good luck with it! |
Forget i-to-i! You have to do not just the basic online course (40 hours) but several extra "modules" (grammar, business English, young learners, etc.) and the 20-hour weekend to approach 120 hours. As for the practical teaching elements, there is no supervised teaching practice with real ESL/EFL students - they have you trying out your teaching on fellow i-to-i trainees. |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Also, think about the market. Most employers specify that they want CELTA or Trinity. The horses' mouths, as it were. |
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