Job Discussion Forums

hansend4 · Joined: 24 Nov 2010 Posts: 5

Im intersted in ST Petersburg. I'm considering a course in St Petersburg that offers a tefl cert, but not a CELTA. Do you think its important to have the CELTA name, even if the training is similar?

jpvanderwerf2001 · Joined: 02 Oct 2003 Posts: 1117 Location: New York

CELTA is surely the most recognized certificate in the EFL world. Therefore, if you decide to make EFL teaching your career, I would recommend CELTA over another course, even if they seem similar.
Good luck

smithrn1983 · Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 320 Location: Moscow

What are your goals in tefl? Are you planning to stay in St. Petersburg or go somewhere else afterwards? Is this a short-term (one or two years) gig, or something you want to do long-term? What sort of teaching experience and qualifications do you already have? All of this information will help us to give you more helpful answers.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Yes if you want flexibility, CELTA or Trinity TESOL are best. May I suggest looking at the horse's mouth? Go and look at advertisements here and other sites and see what employers ask for; how many mention CELTA, how many mention Trinity and how many will be happy with a general TEFL course? I think you'll find that the last is the least, but do check for yourself.

Houston · Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Posts: 44

CELTA will give you more employment opportunities.

hansend4 · Joined: 24 Nov 2010 Posts: 5

Hey guys thanks for the feedback.

I want to teach for 1-2 years before going back to school for masters, but might potentially want to continue teaching English after that (don't know where I'd want to teach later).

I don't have any teaching experience or qualifications.

I haven't found any CELTA courses in St. Petersburg, but have found plenty of tesol/tefl programs. I haven't found many "McSchools" online for St Petersburg either, just L.L.

A program that I have been considering is Tefl institute. Anyone have any experience with this or similar programs? They have a course in St. Petersburg and tell you that they have a book with a list of schools they give to people once they complete the course.
Their website:

http://www.teflinstitute.com/

VladJR87 · Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 87 Location: Moscow RU

There is not really any reason not to do the CELTA. If you are set on St. Petersburg what I would really recommend myself is heading to Moscow (or even local to where you live) and get your CELTA. While there start applying for teaching jobs in St. Petersburg. Seems the legit schools are going to want to get you a work permit right away anyway (which means a trip back to the states), and at the best case scenario you are going back within a couple months anyway...

I was in a similar boat and did not find any true CELTA in St. Petersburg, and decided it was worth going to Moscow to get the CELTA as it is so much more widely recognized.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

jdsolo · Joined: 10 Feb 2011 Posts: 5

What if I have one year of teaching in Korea and an online TEFL certificate? How certain is it that I would be able to find a job in Moscow?

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Uncertain. The online certificate is not respected. Also, from what I hear, the teaching methods often used in Korea are probably not acceptable in Russia.
Although a year's teachng experience is clearly better than nothing, I'm not sure how much better.

hansend4 · Joined: 24 Nov 2010 Posts: 5

VladJR87 · Joined: 06 Jul 2010 Posts: 87 Location: Moscow RU

Houston · Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Posts: 44

If you want to save money, you can do the CELTA in Budapest or Prague, both of which are much cheaper than Moscow. It won't affect your hiring prospects in Russia.