Job Discussion Forums

[Zellig]

I've been reading a lot of threads and a couple of things have come to my attention.

I'm planning to take a TESL course here in Vancouver before teaching abroad. I see everyone talks about "TEFL". That's the same certification, correct? I mean one stands for Teaching English as a Second Language and other, Teaching English as a 'Foreign' Language. Is there a difference between these certifications in Mexico?

The other thing I've read is that some of the teachers go to Mexico to get their TEFL certification before teaching in Mexico. This sounds a little odd to me.

Clarification please?

[sarliz]

I did my TEFL training in Mexico (at ITTO in Guadalajara) because the type of program I wanted (not online, with observed practice teaching hours) was a lot cheaper than an equivalent course would have been back home. The course was taught by English-speaking instructors to prospective teachers, all in English, probably exactly as it would be back home. Just cheaper, and in Mexico. Another benefit I can think of it that you don't need to get a Mexican TEFL (or TESL, whatever) certificate received in Mexico apostilled for use in getting an FM3 later on.

Hope this helps to clarify!

[Oreen Scott]

I worked full time and completed the Canadian CTESL program before moving to Mexico. Check out this information

http://www.tesl.ca/Secondary_Navigation/TESL_Canada_Professional_Certification.htm

If you want to work in Canada at some point a Canadian certification would do you well, and it is acceptable in most countries looking to employ an EFL teacher.

[mejms]

Why don`t you just try googling tefl and tesol, and checking out the difference? I`m not going to bother confirming, but I`ll tell you what I think is true.

TEFL is for teaching English in a foreign country. TESOL is for teaching English in an English-speaking country. The main difference between the two would be that TEFL would be pretty much one nationality per class, and TESOL would be a mixed bunch.

[Guy_Courchesne]

Practically speaking, there is little distinction out there among the acronyms. Location of a course makes more of a difference...TEFL or TESOL done in Mexico means you'll see mostly Mexican students in any practicum. A course done in the US or Canada will offer a mixed bag of practice students, if a practicum is offered at all.

I do find though that many courses in Canada gear you towards teaching in Korea rather than in Canada or elsewhere. Something to ask about when shopping around.

[rrrjjjmmm]

Hi

I work for the Teacher Training Center in Queretaro, Mexico. We offer TEFL Certification, hopefully shed some light on it for you!

TESL and TEFL are essentially the same thing. They both teach you to teach English, however as the previous poster said, a TESL Teacher, is generally a teacher that is working in an English speaking country, teaching a foreign language speaker English. It's a different ball game in a way, as these students may be from several different nations with different native languages and are often forced to learn English based on their environment. From the moment they walk out of a TESL class, they still have to speak English, to find a job, to order a coffee, to buy clothes. So English is a very prominent part of their daily life.

When I think of a TEFL Teacher, I think of a teacher located in another country - in this case Mexico - who is teaching English to native speakers of the same language (although, at the school I worked at, there are a lot of Korean nationals too due to the enterprises in Queretaro). So, they come to school, they learn English, they chatter with each other in Spanish in reception, they speak Spanish as soon as they walk out the door. I guess there's less immersion when compared to a TESL student.

Both certificates will teach you the fundamentals of teaching, and English language mechanics which is the key, are are perfectly employable qualifications for either environment. Much of a muchness really.

I generally associate a TESOL certificate with Trinity College.

Personally, I can't comment on training institutes outside of Mexico, however, I would speculate that it is indeed more common, for people to come to Mexico for their TEFL training, rather than complete it at home. Sure, it's a risk, but a calculated one. During your course, you go for interviews, build networks, practice your Spanish, and I could speculate, a lower cost of living. I do know a couple of people, from Ontario coincidentally that completed their TEFL in Canada, but then had to come down to Mexico to get a job anyway (it's uncommon to secure a job without being here), so there was an eventual move without employment anyway, it's just that they were competing with people who were already living here, established, and had been building relationships with employers for the previous few weeks.

As another poster has mentioned, I would suggest steering clear of online courses.

If there's any particular questions you have, or anything else you'd like to know, please don't hesitate to contact me!

[Prof.Gringo]

Dunham Institute is another decent option. They are located in a smaller town in Chiapas. You can earn a generic 120 hour TEFL with the 6 hour teaching practice. The course includes teaching children, teens and adults, so it's an advantage if you want to teach in a colegio...

[Oreen Scott]

[Guy Courchesne]

Oreen, I don't think we're talking about the same thing...I mean independent course providers such as Oxford Seminars. I'm guessing Zellig is talking about such a course when he mentions 'a TESL course in Vancouver'.

[itoi]

TEFL, TESL and TESOL are pretty much exactly the same thing - often people view TESOL as teaching English in an English-speaking country and TEFL as teaching in a country where English isn't the primary language - but increasingly they're viewed as synonymous. There's more information here: http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-faq/content/2/53/en/what%92s-the-difference-between-tefl-tesl-and-tesol.html

Good luck with your Mexico plans!

[Zellig]

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Sorry, I would have chimed in earlier because I thought all replies would be notified in my email. I didn't get any emails....

Ok, I understand now. TEFL isn't offered here in Canada anyways. TESL, TEFL (semantics), I guess is more or less doing a proper course with practicum, which as stated by Oreen there are several accredited schools here that are acceptable and trustworthy.

[wildchild]

simplifying here, but, they're the same thing: they are both teaching English. teaching strategies are what really matters, and any course should expose you to them.

of course, what you teach mostly depends on your clients, but it normallly works like this...

ESL you are helping newly arrived immigrants. so you teach how to fill out a work application: address, age, experience; buy food, find an apartment, things needed to survive.

EFL: academic english; or tourist english: how to find your way around an airport, booking a hotel, etc...


am i missing something? be gentle...

[Zellig]

Wildchild,

I understand what you are saying.

However, here in Vancouver there is actually a pretty big ESL industry that ranges from teaching immigrants, to wealthy foreign students learning english here, to university certification and business English. Thus, it's important here to have the proper accreditation, ie. the TESOL certificate. Which, as you state, will be the learning techniques needed to teach English anywhere.

Now I have to think about dumping an extra grand for CELTA .....

[wildchild]

and the TESOL, another acronym, which should cover both EFL and ESL... you should be fine with that... you wouldn't need a CELTA if you do a TESOL cert. that has a practicum aspect...