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jhere1
Joined: 09 Jun 2011
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 10:36 pm Post subject: Tesol or Tefl - which is better? |
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Hi
I am new here. Just finished my online Tesol training and have the option of getting a Tesol or Tefl certificate. I will also have a 4 yr college degree in 2 yrs. At that time, I will look for a job abroad. I am from the US.
Does anyone know which cert is more desirable to employers? Does it depend on the country or does it not matter at all?
Thanks... |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 11:24 pm Post subject: |
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TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language (in countries where English is not the main language).
It won't matter to potential employers.
However, the fact that your cert is from an online provider might matter, depending where you want to go to teach.
The problem is that online courses usually do not provide the component employers consider key: supervised teaching practice with actual students.
Online certs are accepted in much of Asia, and a few other places. Not everywhere. Not North America, Europe, much of Latin America, not in the Middle East.
Where do you hope to go to work? |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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TESOL or TEFL?
It won't matter.
Your degree gets you the work visa in most places that an American can work abroad.
The vast majority of employers (in places where an American can legally work) don't care whether or not you have a cert as long as you can get the work visa and/or work permits.
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| The vast majority of employers (in places where an American can legally work) don't care whether or not you have a cert as long as you can get the work visa and/or work permits. |
US citizens can legally work in most of the 'new' EU member countries, and a cert is indeed essentially required on this competitive job market, simply because almost every newbie on the market has a CELTA or equivalent, and anything less puts a candidate at a huge disadvantage.
The cert is also important if the OP wants to teach inside the US: reasons, the same as above. |
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markcmc
Joined: 18 Jan 2010
Posts: 262
Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:45 am Post subject: |
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| For all practical purposes TEFL & TESOL mean the same thing. As Spiral said, having a CELTA (or CertTESOL) does matter in some parts of the world. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:57 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
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| The vast majority of employers (in places where an American can legally work) don't care whether or not you have a cert as long as you can get the work visa and/or work permits. |
US citizens can legally work in most of the 'new' EU member countries, and a cert is indeed essentially required on this competitive job market, simply because almost every newbie on the market has a CELTA or equivalent, and anything less puts a candidate at a huge disadvantage.
The cert is also important if the OP wants to teach inside the US: reasons, the same as above. |
The OP HAS an on-line cert. He is 2 years away from his degree (what in is unknown).
The cert is meaningless. The degree gets him the interview and visa.
75% of the planet that IS open to him WON'T care about his cert as long as he has the degree so unless (2 years from now) he is aiming for the new EU countries AND they haven't changed the visa rules THEN he may want to get a real cert or just pick another country.
The SAME will hold true in the US. With the GLUT of unemployed teachers looking for ANY work the cert is also meaningless.
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:24 am Post subject: |
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Look, certs aren't necessarily needed in Asia.
I agree that that's true. Well, I take the word of the Asia experts on it - I've never worked there and have no wish to.
But I have spent fourteen plus years in Europe and North America as a teacher. Certs ARE required in both regions, and are also generally agreed to be needed in much of Latin America, the Middle East, Australia/NZ, and the UK. The country-specific forums below bear this out.
This statement:
| Quote: |
| The vast majority of employers (in places where an American can legally work) don't care whether or not you have a cert |
needs to be qualified. It's not true as it's worded here. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
Look, certs aren't necessarily needed in Asia.
I agree that that's true. Well, I take the word of the Asia experts on it - I've never worked there and have no wish to.
But I have spent fourteen plus years in Europe and North America as a teacher. Certs ARE required in both regions, and are also generally agreed to be needed in much of Latin America, the Middle East, Australia/NZ, and the UK. The country-specific forums below bear this out.
This statement:
| Quote: |
| The vast majority of employers (in places where an American can legally work) don't care whether or not you have a cert |
needs to be qualified. It's not true as it's worded here. |
OK... it needs to be qualified....
The vast majority of employers (in places where an American can legally work as an ESL/EFL teacher) don't care whether or not you have a TESOL/TEFL/TESL cert. provided you have a degree or valid teaching credentials (and an on-line cert is neither of these).
Those who wish to work as a teacher need to have the qualifications as required within the region they wish to work in. Those requirements vary from country to country.
In ALMOST all cases where the bulk of ESL/EFL work is:
a) an applicant with a degree will be taken over an applicant with no degree and a just TESOL cert.
b) An applicant with a degree and a teaching cert of some kind is preferred over an applicant with a degree no teaching cert.
c) any place that cares about certification won't accept an "on-line cert without an observed teaching practicum" as a valid teaching credential.
An on-line cert is virtually worthless and a CELTA is virtually useless when working with kids (unless the YL module is added) and the LARGE majority of ESL/EFL work (now and in the future) will typically be working WITH KIDS.
In Canada (where I taught before I went overseas) you wouldn't/won't get a (paid) job as an ESL teacher with just a TEFL cert and most certainly not with an on-line one. Perhaps the US has lower standards?
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:08 am Post subject: |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
| The vast majority of employers (in places where an American can legally work as an ESL/EFL teacher) don't care whether or not you have a TESOL/TEFL/TESL cert. provided you have a degree or valid teaching credentials (and an on-line cert is neither of these). |
That's been my experience in Peru, China, and Korea.
Degrees matter. TEFL certs are great, but they're not a deal breaker.
spiral's also right, but it depends on the case. For example, if someone owned their own busienss, but had no degree, they'd have a better chance of getting in over someone who was 20 and had no degree.
Or if visa's weren't an issue. Someone from Britain with no degree would probably be hired over an American with a degree for a job in Spain.
BUT, if all things are igual, the degree holder should win. Isnt' that what we've been telling peopel all along? To get their degree? It not only shows that they are motivated, but also willing to go the extra mile and do the work required.
And I agree with tttompatz. Asia's great  |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 6:57 am Post subject: |
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Leaving aside legal matters to do with visas, most schools in Russia will expect a TEFL cert of some description in addition to a degree. Some don't of course. But even the notorious McSchools all publicly state that this is what they are looking for. Some basic idea of how to teach English is desired, and that is not going to be provided by an unrelated degree alone.
An applicant's CV without one or other of these two qualifications would be seen as being lacking. Dunno about the situation where the bulk of EFL is though. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| Sashadroogie wrote: |
Leaving aside legal matters to do with visas, most schools in Russia will expect a TEFL cert of some description in addition to a degree. Some don't of course. But even the notorious McSchools all publicly state that this is what they are looking for. Some basic idea of how to teach English is desired, and that is not going to be provided by an unrelated degree alone.
An applicant's CV without one or other of these two qualifications would be seen as being lacking. Dunno about the situation where the bulk of EFL is though. |
Mayb e the more the better. A degree and TEFL cert will get you farther than having neither. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| working with kids (unless the YL module is added) and the LARGE majority of ESL/EFL work (now and in the future) will typically be working WITH KIDS |
Again, probably applicable in Asia - but NOT in Europe or North America. If you've taught in Canada, ttom, you know that most entry-level work is with adult immigrants. In Europe, children are normally taught English at their regular schools, by local teachers. Most entry-level TEFL work is for businesspeople, though some work with children is around - it's not the majority.
Applying one's own personal knowledge and experience to the entire world is never accurate or fair to the newbies. It gives a slanted picture. |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003
Posts: 9650
Location: Mexico City
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Most of entry-level EFL work in Latin America is also with adults - businesspeople like you say Spiral, or university-aged students. |
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artemisia
Joined: 04 Nov 2008
Posts: 875
Location: the world
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| a CELTA is virtually useless when working with kids (unless the YL module is added) and the LARGE majority of ESL/EFL work (now and in the future) will typically be working WITH KIDS. |
Not true of ESOL work in the UK, NZ and Australia where a CELTA (or equivalent) is mandatory (and may even be a legal requirement). I'd have thought that'd be true of all English speaking countries given the sheer amount of competition in getting teaching work at all.
For the countries I've named, the majority of ESOL classes are for young adults wanting to study in the tertiary sector and for adult emigrants. There may be children's classes but they don't and won't dominate because ESOL is effectively covered in primary and secondary school programmes for international students. English language is taught in schools and universities in Europe, so you'll find the majority of work (if you don't work in those institutions) in TEFL is post university in the business sectors. That's certainly true of Germany. A CELTA is not mandatory there but recognised and given importance. Those with business qualifications and experience will also be valued. The combination is gold. It strikes me that there are equally large amounts of university level work and kid's classes in Korea and China. I think kid's classes dominate in certain countries like Thailand and maybe Japan. I don't see this being an indicator of world trends. While I'd agree online certs are of dubious value, I think it's safe to conclude a CELTA remains as important as it ever was. |
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tttompatz
Joined: 06 Mar 2010
Posts: 1951
Location: Talibon, Bohol, Philippines
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 12:16 am Post subject: |
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| artemisia wrote: |
| Quote: |
| a CELTA is virtually useless when working with kids (unless the YL module is added) and the LARGE majority of ESL/EFL work (now and in the future) will typically be working WITH KIDS. |
Not true of ESOL work in the UK, NZ and Australia where a CELTA (or equivalent) is mandatory (and may even be a legal requirement). I'd have thought that'd be true of all English speaking countries given the sheer amount of competition in getting teaching work at all.
For the countries I've named, the majority of ESOL classes are for young adults wanting to study in the tertiary sector and for adult emigrants. There may be children's classes but they don't and won't dominate because ESOL is effectively covered in primary and secondary school programmes for international students. English language is taught in schools and universities in Europe, so you'll find the majority of work (if you don't work in those institutions) in TEFL is post university in the business sectors. That's certainly true of Germany. A CELTA is not mandatory there but recognised and given importance. Those with business qualifications and experience will also be valued. The combination is gold. It strikes me that there are equally large amounts of university level work and kid's classes in Korea and China. I think kid's classes dominate in certain countries like Thailand and maybe Japan. I don't see this being an indicator of world trends. While I'd agree online certs are of dubious value, I think it's safe to conclude a CELTA remains as important as it ever was. |
What part of young adults and adult immigrants falls into the category of kids?
I have NEVER said getting qualified isn't necessary.
I DO say that people should get the appropriate qualifications for the job they will do and just handing out a blanket endorsement of the CELTA/Trinity and/or SIT TESOL is NOT the correct answer.
.
Now back to reality.
The OP has an on-line tefl/tesol course.
The OP will have by the time he heads abroad, a degree.
He won't get a job in western Europe (he is American).
He won't get a job in the US unless his degree is related or he gets additional qualifications. He won't get a job in Canada.
He can get a job in all of Asia.
He can get a job in all of the Americas south of the Rio Grande.
He can get a job in most of Africa (where Americans can go without getting shot).
He can get a job in most places in Eastern Europe.
Will it matter whether the cert says TESOL or TEFL = NO
and sorry to the OP for the thread hijack
A CELTA is certificate in teaching English to ADULTS.
If you look globally at the ads for "ESL teachers" you will find they fall into 2 categories.
i) teaching adults - qualifications range from a "brand name TESOL cert" to Masters degrees in related subjects (depending on the country). Lots of countries but unless you fall into the "well qualified" category the pay and benefits are not very good (how many ESL teachers in Europe complain about the low wages and difficulties?).
ii) teaching kids which may include anything from private school; K-12 (degree required) to international schools; K-12 (teaching qualifications required) to language academies (degree preferred or required - depending on country). Often steady work, days and usually have decent pay/benefits options.
More and more there is a shift to putting native L2 speakers into the mainstream classroom (Korea, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan being Asian examples) and they absorb far more ESL teachers than all the language academies and universities in Europe and Central/South America combined (collectively last year more than 100,000 (decently paying) positions). Then you can add in the language centers and private Kindergartens and add in another 100,000 positions annually in those 5 countries alone.
Again, back to the bottom line:
If you only have a high school diploma and an anglophone passport then you WILL need the best TESOL cert you can get and your options are severely restricted.
If you have a degree and an anglophone passport you can find work (not always full time or well paid) pretty much anywhere in the developing world (there are exceptions like the EU) and all of Asia.
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