Job Discussion Forums

[BinneySK]

Could anyone tell me, jobs wise, what is the difference between doing a CELTA and a MATESOL.

I am aware that the MA is a masters degree and opens more doors, what I'm specifically looking for is...
Would I be able to get a job that specifies they want a CELTA if you have a MATESOL?

Thank you

[spiral78]

CELTA is a 30-day entry-level qualification.
An MA is a much bigger step.

Normally, it's a good idea to start with a CELTA or equivalent, and then get a few years of teaching behind you before starting an MA. An MA holder without experience isn't always at the top of a hiring list...

The job market for holders of a CELTA tends to be lower-paid jobs, such as in private language schools, teaching small kids, etc.

MA holders generally compete for university positions.

Many MA holders earned a CELTA when they started their careers - there are many 'older' teachers who have both, obviously.

[tttompatz]

[BinneySK]

Thank you so much for the information.

I love teaching at the public elementary school I'm at but I don't want to limit myself to doing this forever ie, I want to have the option of teaching at universities or doing teacher training later.

If I had the MATESOL and up to 3 yrs experience, in Korean public school, would I still need a CELTA? Sorry if I'm being a bit dim, just trying to figure out which is the best way to make myself more marketable.

[Perilla]

As Spiral says, doing the CELTA first makes much more sense - otherwise it's a bit like putting the cart before the horse. And actually, even with an MATESOL many employers would expect that you have CELTA. The MA is (usually) not a teaching qualification, whereas CELTA is.

[BinneySK]

Thank you. I understand now Really appreciate the help

[Chancellor]

This topic has been discussed in other threads.

CELTA, Trinity, SIT, the generics, they're all mere entry-level certificates in teaching English primarily to adult speakers of other languages. It cannot be compared to a master of arts degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (for that matter, even the DELTA can't be compared to a graduate degree). Depending on which MATESOL program you go through, the program may lead to government teaching certification in ESL (as an add-on or supplemental to a general education teaching licensure) in the government primary and secondary schools.

Do you want to teach adults or teach children? The answer to that question will have significant bearing on which way you go toward TESL certification. Again, these entry-level certifications like CELTA are for teaching adults (though people have taught children with those certs) - there's a separate certification for teaching young learners (like the CETYL). And if you want to teach in the U. S., certs like CELTA are largely worthless, though there occasionally are language schools or other private organizations that will hire you to do adult ESL classes.

Do you want to do this as a career or just try it out for a few years? If the latter, would you really need to go through all the work of getting a MATESOL?

As others have said, CELTA and the like are entry-level qualifications. If you want to get your feet wet in TESOL then maybe this would be the way to go. Then, if you decide you want to do this as a career, go on to get the MATESOL. If you want to teach children, go fir a CETYL or equivalent or go get government teacher certification.

[BinneySK]

Thank you Chancellor. I most definitely want to do this as a career.

I love teaching at the elementary school I teach at at the moment, however I am a co-teacher (assistant to the real teacher) and I sometimes find it frustrating not being in charge of the class, ie having to share. I feel there is so much more I could be doing if I had the freedom to add to the curriculum. I may write in ignorance, but most of the ESL jobs I have seen advertised are of a similar nature, ie co-teaching.

That is one of the reasons I am thinking of doing the MA, so that I don't get stuck in roles like this but have the option to teach adults, at universities, colleges or business schools. My experience of teaching adults has been in a corporate setting, which I enjoyed very much.

I have been toying with this idea of getting certification, but the more I teach esl the more I'm inclined to think that teaching Eng as a first lang is not what I want to do.

The MA or CELTA are rather costly so I just want to make sure I'm as well informed as I can be regarding where each one could take me.
I really appreciate your input I realise it's rather difficult to answer.

[Chancellor]

[laconic]

Here's a thread that may be of interest:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=79989&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

I posted the message below on it and I have not changed my opinion of the situation except that "sect" could be substituted for "clique" if desired:

"The very worst teacher I have ever known has a CELTA.

The very best teacher I have ever encountered has no teaching certificate of any kind.

The problem with CELTA holders, in particular, is that they all too often evidence a "clique" mentality firmly believing that the CELTA is the one and only certificate of value in the world of ESL/EFL teaching.

Also, in my experience, they all too often seem very unwilling to stray from the teaching methodology they were presented with during their CELTA training and so teaching spontaneity and innovation in the classroom are often missing and classes tend to be stale and overly rigid.

My take on this topic is that all of these teacher training programs and courses are only as good as the trainer(s) presenting them. A brand name does not an excellent course make, regardless of the name of the brand involved.

CELTA has the brand recognition and this can sometimes be helpful for employment purposes. This is a fact, like it or not.

Does a candidate with a CELTA guarantee the hiring official is automatically looking at the very best teacher among many candidates without CELTAs?

Absolutely not.

Unfortunately, though, selecting officials with CELTAs all too often feel this way and automatically exclude other certificate or non-certificate holders only because they are not waving the one and only "very special" certificate at them.

Again, clique mentality at work.

It's a fact.

Like it or not."

[bulgogiboy]

I agree with you that you don't need a CELTA to be a good teacher, as the best teacher I ever met had zero qualifications too.

However, I think having degrees/diplomas/certificates shows an employer that you are willing to invest time, energy and money in yourself in order to try and improve yourself as a teacher. That's why I would always advise people to gain paper qualifications, even if they do end up just being pieces of paper in a drawer (or more likely in a suitcase).

If you get into legal difficulties you would want a qualified lawyer to represent you in court, not somebody who has just spent a lot of time reading law books in their spare time. Same goes if you are ill, you go to a qualified doctor, not your mate down the street who's seen every episode of ER



Why shouldn't students be allowed to expect some formal qualifications of their teachers?

[laconic]

[Sashadroogie]

Oh I don't know. One of the best lawyers I ever met had no qualifications either!

[bulgogiboy]

I'm not saying a CELTA is equal to a JD or an MD, that would be ludicrous. I'm just saying students should be able to expect their teacher to be reasonably qualified.

Funnily enough though, I think I felt just as pleased when I got my CELTA as when I got my Master's degree, not because they are equal qualifications, but because of the stress I went through to get it!

The best doctor I ever met hadn't even finished his degree when he provided the perfect diagnosis. I'd had a dream I was a wigwam, and the night before I'd had a dream I was a tee-pee. He took one look at me and told me I was simply 'too tense' (two tents? ).