Job Discussion Forums

abc1234 · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 9

Hi there,
I'm about to embark on obtaining a TEFL certificate with Boston Academy of English. I've gone by and sat in on the current TEFL group, and the course seems to be well run with good instructors, and enjoyable. My initial advice was to obtain a CELTA, but being in Boston this is not offered until the summer months due to classroom availability. I would like to have this done before the new year, so that eliminates the CELTA option. Do I miss out on any opportunities with the TEFL rather than the CELTA? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 2:36 pm Post subject:

You've sat in on another TEFL group of trainees? Never heard of this before.

As for the course, does it have observed lessons with real students etc. and over 100 hours of input?

Plenty of other threads answer this same question. Do a quick search, you'll soon find most of the answers you need.

abc1234 · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 9

'Sat in' meaning I spoke with the instructor over the phone, and she offered to me an option of checking out one of the classes live. I got to see the students teaching their grammar lessons to the other students. I know it fulfills the practical part aspect. I was more wondering if either cert. had an unknown advantage. I'll look further for comparative info between the two. Thanks again.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 3:12 pm Post subject:

Hmm. I'm still not too sure I understood properly what you mean. Do you mean you saw trainees teaching other trainees on the course, i.e. peer-teaching? Is this the only practical side?If so, then this is a clear disadvantage. Courses like the CELTA or Trinity will give you practical experience in teaching real live foreign learners. The course, as you describe it, doesn't seem to do this. I would say CELTA would be worth the wait for this alone, and certainly be more worthy of your investment.

abc1234 · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 9

I see what you mean. That makes sense indeed. I will have to see if Boston offers a Trinity course as I know CELTA isn't an option until May 2010. Thank you very much for that.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:17 pm Post subject:

Trinity is basically the same as CELTA. Some other posters may favour one over the other, but I don't know many employers that do. So that too would be a better option than the TEFL course you described. It also has an external assesor too, which gives a lot more legitamacy to your new qual. And let's not forget brand-recognition. CELTA and Trinity are the most recognised globally.

There is also another option, SIT, but I don't know that much about it. I think it is an American version of the two above, but could be wrong. Run a search on this forum, you'll get lots of info on it. But the word from other posters is that it is just as respectable as Trinity or CELTA for basically the same reasons. Might be more available in your region.

In any case, the course you sat in on doesn't sound like it is up to snuff. So hold out for any of the others mentioned above.

Best of good luck to you.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Just to second the info you've already got here, trainees teaching other trainees is NOT a viable substitute for teaching actual language students - supervised teaching (with feedback on how you've done) is the KEY component of reputable courses!!

Don't go for anything less.

abc1234 · Joined: 05 Nov 2009 Posts: 9

Understood, and now off to research...

80daze · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 118 Location: China

I did a TEFL course in Thailand a few years ago, it was 120 hours on site with 6 hours teaching "proper" students. It worked well for Thailand but it didn't serve me well while applying for other jobs.

I ended up spending the money again and doing a CELTA course simply because it is a brand name that everyone knows rather than "Text & Talk" which I did my TEFL with.

I would recommend you do the CELTA as it is known and respected in far more places.

80daze · Joined: 15 Oct 2008 Posts: 118 Location: China

Sorry, forgot to put that I too would recommend Trinity or SIT as they are all same standard and widely respected as an entry level teaching qualification in the industry.

Good Luck! Very Happy

motown · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 68

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

My few Thai students say that drawing stick figures and singing songs is somewhat common practice in language classes in Thailand Shocked

Perhaps such a course does prepare one to teach successfully there?!

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I was making a (poor) joke. Shocked

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject:

I know, I know. Sorry. Didn't mean to sound so po-faced (if one can do that). It's just that lots of folks seem to think that it actually matters where you train up, as if there were some local skills that were essential to learn on a training course.

I'll try and reverse the humourectomy...