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vre · Joined: 17 Mar 2004 Posts: 371

Same advice with a few additions.

Swan - Practical English Usage IS a must to help you figure out a few things about grammar. BUY it. It is still my best resource after 8 years teaching. Also, I personally think that the Mr. Harmer book is very reader freindly.

I also have Teaching Practice Handbook by Roger Gower et al. Macmillan This is also very basic and user friendly.

Another tip. Buy or try and lend a few copies of some TEFL course books e.g Cutting Edge or Headway or Lifelines etc.. (only because they are very common). Take an elementary one/ pre intermediate/ intermediate and Upper intermediate. Just have a look at the contents pages to see what they aim to teach, skills and language, kind of topics they teach through, and just browse them to see stages of each lesson. It will give you a general insight into lessons, objectives, that sort of stuff.

Good luck. You will be on a plane in no time!

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

CELTA is an attempt to cram a great deal of information in an extremely short period of time. Not to mention that it is pretty expensive. Ultimately it can't be done and comes very close to being a scam. I hope you're not disappointed.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

Well Shmooj, I see that my screen name is rubbing you the wrong way. Good!

How do you like my avatar?

Let me get my thoughts together while you read my next post.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

First of all, deconstruction is not about negating. Secondly, I said nothing about doing an M.A., which does take time. So read closely and do your homework. But then again doing CELTA or the like is the very definition of NOT doing your homework. Why should you spend three years in books when you can do it in a month with a pamphlet for a textbook and Homer Simpson for a teacher?

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

Well Shmooj, you just figured me out. You deserve a prize! I WAS rejected by CELTA. Can you feel my anger? Twisted Evil

If I were only rejected by a loved one, that I could deal with, but CELTA! How shall I go on?! Laughing

Shmooj old boy (or girl) I have a M.A. in English and a TESL Certificate for which I studied my butt off for two years. I've taught in three continents and presently teach in Canada. I speak four languages no thanks to any teacher.

I do realize that teaching is partly art in which case no formal education is needed: either you know how to do it or you don't. But teaching is also science for which you have to be trained and CELTA and the like will not cut it. It's that simple.

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Deconstructor:

The deal is that some of these folks are really defensive because they only have their little 40 hour certificates. So they go on the offensive to try to tear down folks who have MAs, PhDs and many years of teaching experience at all levels.

I think that someone who needs a grammar book to study the grammar of his/her native language before taking a certificate course really doesn't have much of a chance of being a credible English language teacher.

Deconstructor · Joined: 30 Dec 2003 Posts: 775 Location: Montreal

Moonraven,

I really don't have a problem with people who go for these mini certificate thingies. We all have to survive. My problem is with those who offer them and what one needs to do to get these certificates, which is almost nothing. Why do you think they are considered worthless in all educational institutions, i.e universities, colleges and public schools?

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Most are bold-faced scams. Folks see a chance to make money off a particular market, and they offer a product.

Anything that seems too good to be true almost always is.

I have a problem with folks who go after those certificates when they try to throw their weight (the weight of their certificate) around.

misteradventure · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Posts: 246

At the risk of sounding cynical, I offer this blatant analysis of the value of teaching certifications in general:

For someone who is intrested in teaching professionally and has the resources, the CELTA does little more than provide the EMPLOYER with the certification that the potential employee has been exposed to certain material and practices. Said certificate declares that the holder was able to entertain students (who paid a discounted price, or nothing at all to attend a class) with enough worthwhile material without being violently ejected from the classroom.

For the candidate, it's cheaper than a B. Ed., cheaper than a M. Ed. or MAT. It's certainly cheaper than paying $1,000 on a plane ticket and moving to a country where the employer suddenly decides you are in no position to leave as you won't get reimbursed until AFTER your contract is up...

Oh, and the pay scale just changed. Sorry, friend!

Call me Experienced in the Been There, Done That methodolgy

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

TRCourage · Joined: 04 Jan 2005 Posts: 29

shmooj wrote:

Actually.. I do have one piece of practical advice:
Find out in detail what the tutors want you to do and then do it. Nothing more, nothing less. You will pass.

Try to be too innovative or creative and they will shoot you down in flames. Been there done that.

It's all about jumping through hoops and working within their constraints. While this seems totally unreasonable, what is actually happening is that you are learning to work within constraints that will always apply in real life teaching and are becoming a more adaptable and productive teacher as a result. It can feel very defeating though...

Thank you SO MUCH, Shmooj, for your advice. I have already had the "innovative/creative" teaching course, so it is nice to know how I should approach this one.

I know the month will be grueling, so I am thinking of going abroad for the exam, so I will have the sense of built-in reward time every day when I take a walk or go out to eat. Additionally, I plan to take a vacation nearby before it begins.

I would like to ask (tho I am sure it has been covered elsewhere) about whether the Trinity Cert-TESL course has enough emphasis on both adult and child learners/teaching? I am sure this would be a pretty difficult question to answer if one had not personally experienced both, but needed to ask.

Otherwise, I would prefer the CELTA as I have plenty of experience teaching elementary, and some in junior high and high school (substituting) ---- enough to know that I am dynamite with elementary, but out of my depth with the older kids. But I would most prefer teaching serious adult students and the college bound, in small classes. I feel that life is too short (at my age) to do the parenting stuff for someone else's child as a full-time job. Very Happy

Thanks so much ....
Theresa

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Theresa, the Celta is geared for people who want to terach adults, so I think it should suit you. You may want to plan the holiday after the course. You will need and deserve it.

I agree wholeheartedly with Shmooj, the Celta is a step on the ladder and gives you the tools to become a teacher. It is up to you how you use those tools and only experience can do that.