Job Discussion Forums

[QueenJane]

I'm planning to go to Guadalajara early next year and to take a good certification course there first and then look for a job. I've read on these boards that CELTA and Trinity are well respected and widely recognized. However, I've also read about the ITTO TEFL course and it seems very thorough also. Can anyone tell me what differences there might be between the ITTO course and a CELTA program? I have a BA in Economics and an MBA in business management and many years experience working in corporate environments and would like to use that by teaching Business English. Can anyone tell me if either the ITTO or CELTA have concentrations in that, in particular in Guadalajara? One more question: I am now 56. How will that affect my being hired in Mexico. Again, my plan as of now is to stay in the Guadalajara area. Thanks for any help.

[shalomyishai]

Hi,

I just read your post. I see it was put up in October and I was wondering what the situation is for you now.

Interestingly enough I lived in Berkeley for ten years and am now in Latin America and am looking into TOEFL.

And I am also considering the CELTA training program you mentioned. It is alot of money for me but it would be worth it if it really makes me a better teacher and opens doors to good jobs.

So I thought this could be a good connection to make.

hope to hear back,
Jesse

[nwomac]

Hi,
Do not know what you decided, but here is what I have found. The CELTA is recognized in many places, particularly in Europe and the Middle East.
However, unless you plan on working in those places, then the best bank for your buck is ITTO. A TEFL Certificate which is 120 hours with practice teaching of at least 6 hours (ITTO does 10) will help you be a better teacher. Once you start working you definitely want to know what you are doing, have had some experience with real students, not volunteers, and have the 12' hours of theory and input so that you are competent. It also helps your self-confidence.
Hope you enjoy whatever course you decide on.
Good luck
N.

[geaaronson]

That�s certainly the theory and the rationale behind the 6 hour requirement. But really, how can one suddenly become a super teacher in 6 hours? At best, your mistakes in teaching are pointed out to you and you correct one or two errors that you made.
For a program to be really effective, student teaching would have to be for an entire semester with constant monitoring and feedback. It�s somewhat ludicrous to expect one�s teaching skills to turnaround in 6 hours time or that the monitor would be able to pinpoint all the errors of your ways or room for improvement in watching you for such a short time.

At best, the 6 hours gives the TEFL monitors a sense as to whether you would make a good EFL instructor. But of course they would be limited in telling you if you were not and never likely to be because you are paying their salary.

[fishmb]

Six hours of observed teacher training will make you a better teacher. It's pretty unusual for one to get that kind of constructive feedback in your normal teaching. Not that it doesn't happen, but it's rare. So it helps. Will you go from zero to hero in 6 hrs? No, but no one's saying that you will. And teachers will give you plenty of critical feedback because tuition is not refundable! Obviously if a branch gets a reputation for flunking students it will drive them away, but that doesn't mean they live in fear of their students.

[nwomac]

Hello,
Yes, it would help to have quite a few hours of observation depending upon the person doing the observing as well as the would-be teacher.
Since I am an observer, I have seen everything from not good to fantastic. Some people already have had years of teaching experience and just have to adjust to a new approach, while others are fresh out of school with no teaching background and really have to work at learning what they are doing.
Moreover, different schools require different things from their teachers. There is nearly always extra training involved once you get a job. Of course, experience always helps as well as ongoing training and education.
When I took the TEFL course, I had a Master�s degree and years of teaching experience in foreign languages, but I still had to learn. I also had great trainers and good observers...and still do.
N