Job Discussion Forums

jophoto1972 · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:53 am Post subject: What about the Oxford Seminars?

I am from Philadelphia and my husband and I are looking to earn our TEFL. I understand that it is better if you can get certified in person and not online. The Oxford Seminars have teaching in a classroom here at Villanova University. Anyone know about the Oxford Seminars? We both have a Bachelor's degree and I have my masters in arts and cultural management. We are looking to teach in Asia or South America. We would like to teach in Europe, but I understand that it is a hard market to get into. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 2:33 am Post subject:

Welcome to the boards-

I'd strongly recommend a completely face to face course, and know that Oxford seminars is most famous for their distance courses- even if they have an onsite course, their name may get your resume put in the "wrong" pile- at least with the best South American employers. (Markets vary a lot throughout Latin America, but requiring a decent face to face cert is fairly standard.)

For Asia, you'll be better off asking about specific countries- a lot of Asia doesn't require certs at all...

Best,
Justin

PS- Personally, I recommend a good cert course regardless of requirements; It's not fair to your students to walk into the classroom unprepared. But in Korea or Japan, you could get entry level work without and training other than the degrees you already have.

jophoto1972 · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 11:51 am Post subject: Oxford Seminars

Thanks Justin. We are certainly going to do a face to face training. The Oxford Seminars are the only TELF trainings that I have found in Philadelphia so far that have weekend courses. Both my husband and i have to work up until we find jobs abroad. We want to save as much money as possible. I will keep searching. If we do the Oxford seminars I will make sure to make it clear that we did face to face training. I really appreciate the feedback. I can't believe how much is out there. We are trying to avoid getting scammed. - Joan

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

Check if the Oxford course offers supervised teaching practice with actual students - I believe it's peer trainees. This is the feature that's considered substandard.

Basic newbie courses should be about 120 hours on-site and include at least 6 hours of teaching practice with real students and feedback on your work from experienced teacher trainers.

This is the key that many employers are looking for in a certification.

I believe the Oxford on-site course focuses far more on the logistics of teaching abroad than on actual teaching.

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

You might usefully consider taking a course in the country where you want to start. I've just posted reasons why on the thread about online courses and Spain - I'd rather not type it out again just now (sorry) but you might check it out.

jophoto1972 · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject: Oxford Seminars

Thanks for the advoce. youa re right you teach to a teacher and you are evaulated, but my husband and I will still need to work while taking the course. We both have teaching experience though. just not in this area. Is there any, besides abother country in the Phialdephia area that you can recommend? Thanks - Joan

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

I don't think you understood what I am suggesting. It might be a better idea to save up, relocate to the country where you want to work, and then take a good course there.

"Consider taking the cert course in the country where you want to teach. This can help you get your feet wet in country/culture while you still have a support system - most cert companies will arrange for your housing during the course, airport pickup, local orientation, and can give you invaluable leads to reputable local employers. Your practice teaching students will really be representative of those you'll be working with when you start. Your fellow trainees can form your first social network in the area."

Experience teaching in other fields doesn't always translate to language learning. The skills are very different in many cases. Some of the least successful teachers I've worked with over my 12+ years in the field were experienced teachers from subject courses (English teachers, literature/history/maths, etc)

jophoto1972 · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject: Oxford Seminars

I see what you mean. That might be an option. We would probably be saving for a while though. I will have to look into it. Thanks.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject:

Experience teaching in other fields doesn't always translate to language learning. The skills are very different in many cases. Some of the least successful teachers I've worked with over my 12+ years in the field were experienced teachers from subject courses (English teachers, literature/history/maths, etc)

Least successful and the least open to re-training and feedback. Not just my experience of it then?

Isla Guapa · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:08 pm Post subject:

I started off as a Spanish teacher. When I switched to TEFL, I quickly realized that a great deal of what I learned while getting my B.S.ed. and from student teaching had a direct relation to teaching English. This would not be true of someone who'd taught history or English literature.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:10 pm Post subject:

What's the trendy phrase - transferable skills? Language to language, won't be too many differences, if any at all, in teaching. Subject to subject? Different planets in some ways.

jophoto1972 · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 6:28 pm Post subject: Online Courses and Spain

Spiral78,

Can you direct me where the thread is for the online course and Spain?

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

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

Guy, you just beat me to it:)

Jo, it's right next to yours on the board:)

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

I had a colleague with an MA in English (not teaching English, but the language itself, in case that's not clear). She knew the stuff inside out, but was utterly unable to convey the knowledge effectively.

I think knowledge OF something doesn't always equate to being able to teach effectively.

I've worked on teacher training courses and do training here as well. I agree that teachers from other fields find it very difficult to adopt the range of different approaches and methods the literature in our field suggests works best.