Job Discussion Forums

mackayscanland · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 39

Well, it's time for a 4 week tefl course! I am finishing up my Junior year in college. I'm 48 and have surfed here for 2+ years. Yes, I did my homework and figured out that I need a degree, (and mine is associated to teaching english), so I've been full-time since and I'm getting close! I have the time to take a cert. course this summer and have been searching for one. My country of preference is China! There is a tefl course during the summer at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and would like your thoughts. I feel I could make some contacts at the University level by doing it with them. Any and all information is greatly appreciated and I'm always open on suggestions.! If you have any Q's for me, feel free to ask!

Mackay "Mac" Scanland

p.s. I'm easy to find on face book

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

if you're doing a degree related to teaching you don't need any tefl cert. the tefl courses are geared to people with no teacher training whatsoever so I can't see that you'd get any benefit out of it. Get your degree, save your money, get a job in China and enjoy your time here.

mackayscanland · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 39

Thanks for the reply Cleric! I've been wondering this for a while and wasn't sure if the government had stipulations for this or not.

sainthood · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 12:10 pm Post subject:

This might be just my personal opinion (though I would suspect that many others here will share it), but DON'T do your TEFL in China (*see below)

For that matter, don't do just ANY TEFL course, no matter what it looks like.

You know it'll be about 4 weeks fulltime, so do the CELTA or Trinity. Anything else, and well, you may just end up having to do either of them anyway! It will save a lot of time and trouble... after all, you do a no-name TEFL, no matter how great it may be, will mean each and every time you apply for a job, you'll need to "defend" your certificate.

How many times do you see CELTA/Trinity as a pre-req? You say you have it, your done. You say you have something else... you need to explain it! Or, worse, never find out why they didn't bother to get back to you.

Dodgey TEFL's are everywhere... and more so in the land of knock-offs!

(*FTR, there are 2 places in China that I know of that do the CELTA... I don't know about either of them, but given that Cambridge Uni actually have accredited them might be worth something...)

mackayscanland · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 39

I was looking at this as a via for future contacts. After further review, I think I'm going to research this a little more. Could do the San Diego CELTA (about 45 minutes away) but what fun would that be?!
I want to do this out of country over the summer.
P.S. for all the lookers out there, post something! The view/post ratio could be a little better!

More info on me.

I will graduate in early 2012 with a Bachelor's in ELL studies from Ashford University (Ok, so I'm on the 30 year plan.)
I have an A.O.S. degree from Le Cordon Bleu Schools-Culinary Arts
(very minor professional work during school and externship,) I just love to cook and decided to get the degree.
2 state contractor's licenses-Plumbing & HVAC and 26 years in the trades,
Semi-retired, (it's a younger person sport), and I'm not crawling through attics or underneath sinks anymore, whew!
EMT (because I had kids, never worked it, but it's priceless to know!)
Single Dad-16 year old son will travel with me
I'm 48 years old
Native Southern California with around 4 or 5 stamps in my passport
All backgrounds completed with paperwork in hand
(California CoC credential)

Anyway, thanks again for everyone's help!!!

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Probably tend to agree with sainthood. Do the course at home, its not meant to be fun ... save the fun until you get to China, or wherever. I did my course at home, and dont regret it at all. Makes the whole thing less stressful and who wants to be in a fun new country yet stuck at home writing assignments etc.

mackayscanland · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 39

Fun is relative, I've had my head in a toilet (professionally) for the last 25+ years, ESL is fun, albeit tough, always try to put yourself in another's shoes analytically.

Now the question, with current posts, is cert/no cert due to my degree choice
which is basically 36 in-major credits in TESOL standards and EDU(CELTA on steroids) or do companies still value the cert w/ the english teaching degree?
yes/no?

sainthood · Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:56 am Post subject:

Oh, change what I said (a little!!!)

In Shanghai, Uni of Shanghai has joined up with University of Technology Sydney (as in, "And the winner is...", in Australia), to run courses, and has the CELTA in July/August.

PM me if you're interested (I am... I should be going to it Very Happy

)

Josef K · Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 2:41 pm Post subject:

DO NOT do your CELTA in China, it is way more costly then neighboring countries like Vietnam and Thailand - and not half the fun.

I am doing the Trinity certTESOL in Bali this July - more expensive then CELTA but its BALI!!!!!

mackayscanland · Joined: 15 Mar 2009 Posts: 39

After further investigation, I found this to be true as well! Thanks.
And, I agree, it's BALI! I believe I'm just going to start my master's degree
immediately following graduation.
(1 more year until I graduate,whew!)