Job Discussion Forums

agmoe519 · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 11

I am looking to take a CELTA course in the next few months.

I have narrowed my search to 2 locations.

DENVER, CO. This is a 1 month program operated by Bridge Linguatec. It costs $2,500.00. The program offers job placement assistance upon completion of the course.

HOUSTON, TX.

This is a certification program run by Jeff Mohammed. It costs 1,800.00 for a 1 month long course.

Any recommendations? Anyone taken either of these courses?

Any information would be helpful. I am 24 yrs. old. I am just now entering this field. I have taught alternative ed for delinquent youth for over a year now. I am interested in teaching in the Middle East since I speak some Arabic.

Thanks!

warda · Joined: 22 May 2010 Posts: 29 Location: in transit

I took the Denver course last September. Overall, it was a good experience. Trainers are helpful, the information is easily applied in the teaching practice, and the students are a joy to work with! The homestay they set up for me was also a wonderful experience. My host took amazing care of us- we had a relaxing environment to come home to after class!
Job placement is what you make of it. Bridge is great for getting to Latin America and does some recruitment for a couple places in Asia. They gave me some direction in starting my resume, but I found my job entirely without them.
For me, the course was worth the cost.

Anything specific you want to know?

Chancellor · Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 2:12 pm Post subject:

They're CELTA courses! One would expect that they would all be pretty much the same regardless of location, simply because not just any course can call itself a CELTA. Those who control the brand get to decide whether a particular course gets to wear the brand.

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

Actually, I don't think either of the courses the OP describes are CELTA courses. They're both generics, I believe.

Yes, both have pretty good reps so far as I have heard.

OP, CELTA is a specific name brand course. The generic acronym is TEFL/TESL - Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language.

Chancellor · Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 6:30 pm Post subject:

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

nterested in teaching in the Middle East since I speak some Arabic

You might post this on the General Middle East forum, but I don't think that decent jobs are to be had in the ME with just a BA and entry-level cert.

AGoodStory · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 738

Both of these are CELTA courses. The OP is correct. I don't know much about the Denver course, but the CELTA program offered through Lone Star College in Texas (Houston and Cypress) has an excellent reputation.

agmoe519 · Joined: 07 Sep 2010 Posts: 11

Thanks for the replies everyone ...

Warda. I do have some questions about Denver.

How is the public transportation?

How did you get around the city?

How much did it cost to stay with a host family?

warda · Joined: 22 May 2010 Posts: 29 Location: in transit

The public transit's pretty good. I had a monthly bus pass and took the light rail once or twice. It's clean and the maps are easy to use. Most of my classmates brought their cars, and carpooling was common. The homestay and training center are both in good neighborhoods, so I did some walking too.

http://www.bridgetefl.com/tefl-housing.php

Same price as last year, $860 for a homestay vs. a couple grand for a hotel.

FYI: Denver offers both CELTA and a generic in alternating months at the same location with the same "practice" classes but different tutors. The generic looks to be equivalent, but I went with CELTA because I wanted to have brand recognition on my side.

PS to agmoe, check your inbox.