Job Discussion Forums

minanor · Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 6 Location: US

Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject: CELTA vs TEFL vs TOEFL
WHich is more likely to get you hired?

TEFL international at tefl course . org has accepted me without an interview or anything similar to an application, which makes me wary.

How do I know if I'm getting scammed or if I will actually get hired once I get there?

How important is "job placement included"?

does anyone know about cactus tefl? They include language courses and I'm incredibly interested in that.

I've applied to ILA vietnam but I'm still not sure if I should just go with an auto accepted TEFL course?

Please help!

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

Forstly, TOEFL is NOT realted to teaching English and if you are looking for a qualification to teach, do NOT do TOEFL- It is an entrance exam for non native speakers to enter an English speaking University.

CELTA is the diggity dog of teacher courses, BUT it is academically inclined and I have seen too many CELTA grads go into a class-room with good academic knowledge but no practical skills and they get eaten alive by naughty children whom they have not learned to control. However, it is well respected and well accepted, especially in Europe.

TEFL comes in many flavours from very good, to cheap and nasty on-line weekend courses from Mrs Flannerys laundry that will not get you any reputable work.

One you did not mention, but which is very suitable and DOES have a strong practical component that equips you for that first frightening day and well beyond is TESOL. From the right provider it is the perfect mid way choice-Practical, well accepted and one I heard of in Hanoi offers a very practical 2 full days in a very intensive active class-room situation followed by observed practicum of 40 hours with paid employment possibilities after the 2 day class workshop. They follow it with a Internationally recognized On line course from Britain. Best part is the price is only about $600 all up, and they have you in a teaching job within a few days most times.

I hope I have helped with your confusion-DONT do TOEFL if you want to be a teacher- Its a course that you may well be teaching yourself!

deadlift · Joined: 08 Jun 2010 Posts: 267

I'm With Stupid · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 432

VietCanada · Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 590

If you teach a subject other than English it's probably not an issue. Teaching English here, but not in a language mill, is competitive.

The Mad Hatter · Joined: 16 May 2010 Posts: 165

TEFL is not one single university or company, it is a general term. You can get one from a good university but employers are confused about the superiority of CELTA's claims, and don't usually recognize other university by name. If Harvard or Princeton offered TEFL courses most overseas schools would not recognize them either, simply because Cambridge has been very successful at cornering the market , as well as worked in partnership with the schools who offer the cert. to retain only those with them. Celta is a centre based institution that creates and exports all its materials and (single) syllabus to periphery in developing nations all over the world- former colonies. It is possibly one of the last vestiges of colonialism, as it purveys the myth of the superior native speaker. However it is very ambitious for one university to claim to create a one size fits all curriculum and monitoring rubric and use it to certify trainees all over the globe, as CELTA inc. does. Its just not practical and the logistics extend to far from the centre. Add to that a lack of competition is bound to prevent positive evolution trends and new research to influence their policy.
Many schools do not require it.

s10czar · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 60

I'm not sure how pertinent this is but I've actually been turned down for jobs in Korea because I didn't have a TESOL cert. even though I made it absolutely clear that I have a CELTA.

I think it depends on which market you're in. In Vietnam, CELTA is king, in Korea I don't think they even know what it is.

Oh My God · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 273

I have the TESOL and have been offered jobs at most of the schools here in Saigon at one time or another. CELTA is actually a souped-up super TESOL by any other name. TESOL is widely accepted all-over Asia and was (in the past) the preferred ESL cert.

The REAL truth is that an ESL cert. is just a kicking-off-point as the REAL training is OJT, unless you're applying to the cream-of-the-crop schools even the TEFL will get you jobs.

But watch TEFL nternational, they don't have a good reputation in this industry.

Julio von Chewlio · Joined: 03 Jan 2011 Posts: 7

Could someone tell me the expected waiting time to be accepted on CELTA / TESOL etc.
I will come to Vietnam early September this year, but have not pre-booked the 4-week course.
I am wondering if it is possible to sit the course as soon as October/November or will courses be fully booked?
Also, what documentation should I bring?
Thanks

BenE · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 321

shanewarne · Joined: 21 Feb 2008 Posts: 146

s10czar · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 60

I guess you guys missed that posting where I commented on getting shot-down outside Vietnam because I didn't have a TESOL cert.

It's worth a double-take. Or triple-take.

The CELTA is Brittish. If your market is American (or Canadian) it doesn't get the same respect.

Vietnam is a Brit market. Great. Cool. Whatever.

Are you always gonna work in Vietnam? Food for thought...[/u]