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[NorthTowardsHome]

I have researched several months of postings on this forum as well as a couple of other ones regarding the relative merits of each of these certs.
Plenty of qualitative value judgements.
However no one seems to be able to quantify the difference.
So in your opinion, all other things being equal, is it possible to say that a Celta is $100,$200 or even $500 usd a month more valuable than a standard Tefl Cert?
Thanks for your consideration.l

[TeresaLopez]

There are so many variables that that question really can't be answered. First of all, even an online certificate can provide a good education if the student does it thoughtfully. The same course can be done by just looking up the answers in the book and paraphrasing. The worth to an employer is the same, but not to the person who took the course, or to his/her students. An on-site course can vary greatly in content, even if the syllabus looks the same, due to materials, the teacher, etc. I have been investigating TESOL type courses here in Mexico City, and while a lot of them look the same on paper, the feedback I have gotten from people who have taken them is vastly different from one course to another. So, again, the value to the person taking the course is quite different. Maybe I am being an innocent here and assuming that you mean where will a prospective teacher get the best training, and what you really mean is where will the teacher make the most money. In some places a CELTA seems to be the only thing that is accepted because there is at least some guarantee of consistency of training. Personally, if I had the time and money I would probably do the course, even though I have been teaching for many years. I think there are lots of options for getting good training, I think the biggest obstacle is proving to an employer that the training you got was good. So from that perspective (depending on where you want to work) it can make a $$$ difference.

[NorthTowardsHome]

Thank you for your thoughtful response.
I get your various points.And I dont think you are an innocent(that's a compliment). You have indiretly answered my question.
One additional question.....other than perhaps name recognition .....is there a qualitative difference, in your opinion, between the Celta and the Sit Tesol certificate?All trainers being equal.....
The Sit people seem to take a fairly consistent and thoughtful experiential approach whereas I sometimes get the impression various Celta operations are pretty much churn and burn shops which is not current mythology.
Again thank you for your time.