Job Discussion Forums

JBrown · Joined: 27 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: US

I am new to the forums and am looking for advice at teaching overseas. I am from the USA and have a BA and MA from an accredited institution. I worked as a GTA for my English department for 4 semesters: 3 1-on-1 tutoring with mainly international students and teaching classes in cases of instructor absences, and 1 research based. I have no other teaching experience. So my question is: Would it be worth it for me to get a CELTA? I am pretty sure I have the funds lined up to attend the one in Denver in Jan, but I am not sure if I really need to spend the $2,500+$1,500 (living expenses) to get it. Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated!

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

Quite a lot depends where in the world you want to go to teach. Different regions require different types of certification.

Give us a bit more info, and we'll be able to help better.

JBrown · Joined: 27 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: US

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

Thanks for noticing the schnauzer - I'll tell him. He's monitoring my work anyway just now:-)

As my work today (curriculum development) requires me to be in front of the computer, I'm around frequently - not always the case.

Unfortunately I have no personal experience in either the Middle East or Columbia, so have little to offer on your question! I suggest to get a quick answer on the ME points, you might want to post below on the G. ME board.

My experience is in Europe and Canada, and in neither place is it easy to get jobs that will allow one to pay off student loans, sadly.

What are your BA and MA in? If they are in any way TEFL related, the CELTA is probably not necessary.

JBrown · Joined: 27 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: US

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

In you, I see the love of acronyms that is essential to success in the field of EFL/TEFL/ESL.

But seriously. I have no idea what FHSU is.

As to CELTA, if it's a dollars-and-cents issue -- which is how I tend to look at things -- then it depends partially on how long you plan to teach. If it's only a year or two, I don't know that you'll make back your investment. If it's a longer-term proposition, you might. But it depends on where you go.

CELTA works out financially when either:

A.) It is a requirement in order to work in the place where you want to go.

or

B.) It's not a requirement, but having it earns you significantly higher pay.

To be honest, I don't know a whole lot of places where B.) is true. But I'm sure there are some.

The non-financial element is that CELTA can make you feel more comfortable in the classroom. If you plan to stay in the field for a while, then maybe it's worth it from that perspective, even if it never pays for itself in dollars and cents.

Generally, I would tell you to figure out where you want to go. Then figure out if CELTA is required there, or if it garners significantly higher pay. Do a little equation factoring in how long you plan to stay. Then you'll have your answer.

JBrown · Joined: 27 Nov 2011 Posts: 43 Location: US

tttompatz · Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2011 11:35 pm Post subject:

If I may....

If you have loans to pay off then the only places on your 4 country list that would give you a chance would be the middle east.

With your BA/MA you do not "NEED" a CELTA to teach ESL/EFL anywhere in Asia. Will it help you = maybe. EFL is not English Lit or Language arts. You can however, if you do decide to travel abroad, get your CELTA cheaper than at home. In BKK for example, IH offers the CELTA with a room/board option for about US$2100.

You would not likely land a university position from abroad with just an MA (the notable exception being China).

Boots on the ground you would easily find an ESL position in Asia / SE Asia provided you were here to interview a month or 3 before the start of term in your selected country.

Wages at universities tend to actually pay LESS (net at the end of the day) than k-12 schools or language academies but the class loads are also substantially lower (typically 6-12 hours per week instead of 22 (K-12) or 30 (language academy)).

Another option, if you have loans to pay down, is to look at Korea (we can't really discuss Korea here on the international forums; you need to register on the Korean forums - http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/index.php ). Start with a year in a language school to get your feet on the ground and then transition to a university after you actually know what you are doing (outside of the classroom).

.