Job Discussion Forums

herzog · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 26 Location: Spain

Ah, that face! Confused

Sorry, it wasn't directed at you. It's just that Thailand isn't my first choice. But, as I search the web, it's looking more and more like the most practical solution for me. My issue is that I may not be able to do a full year commitment. I may have to return to Europe late next spring. If it was up to me, I'd settle for the long haul somewhere to get a lot of experience, but it may not be possible this time around.

Paulusmack · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Posts: 19

Just a few observations from what I've read on this site about online tesol certs. The real weakness appears to be the lack of a practicum and that many schools won't recognize them. Most negativity seems to come from those folks who have done a "real" cert. Congrats, you are real boyscouts.
The bottom line is whether you can find gainful employment in the country you desire to work in with this (less-than-perfect) program and that you are prepared to offer your students a decent product. As far as putting down online certs because of the price, why not just pay the $4k many American unis charge for theirs? That might make your cert even more genuine. As far as the practicum issue goes, perhaps one could offer classroom experience in lieu of it. While the CELTA or Trinity tesol may be the cream of the crop, it is simply arrogance to look down your nose at someone with an online cert, especially those offered by reputable institutes worldwide. And BTW, does a CELTA really put more pay in your pocket?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Littlebird · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 82 Location: UK

How can you get a TESOL qualification without getting online ? I have looked at CELTAs in my area and unfortunately they are too expensive and take up too much time. I would have to give up work for 3 months which is impossible. On the issue of practicuum a CELTA only includes 10 hours teaching so why are people saying a valid certificate needs 120 hours teaching ?

I have found a qualification called ontesol which seems very difficult, has a lot of exams and 10 hours practicuum. There are loads of assignments and quizzes and it looks quite rigourous. Apparently it is Canada's answer to a CELTA. Has anyone come accross it ? Does anyone have an opinion on i-to-i ? Their very short courses look like a joke to me.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks SAM

SydGirl2 · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 50

Most of the information I have looked at about TESOL /CELTA courses, specifies at least 100 hours of TUITION and at least 6 hours of OBSERVED TEACHING PRACTICE (with real students, not teaching peers). 120 hours of teaching practice is not the usual thing.

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

Littlebird, no online course is 'Canada's answer to the CELTA.' The Canadian government does NOT recognize any course that does not include an observed teaching practicuum. You can check the websites for the courses that are recognized in Canada. Online ones aren't.

Littlebird · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 82 Location: UK

Spiral

I said the course included 10 hours teaching real students. You pay $200 canadian dollars extra for this. So I don't see how this is less than a CELTA. I have read the contents list and it is very thorough and rigourous. Quite daunting in fact. www.ontesol.com

SAM

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Littlebird - As well as holding a Trinity cert...I also took two i-i online certs about two years ago. They were enough to get me work at the time, and they are still sufficient to get entry level work in summer schools in my hometown in the UK.

There is something to be learnt from them, but they probably arent worth the money as they arent always recognised, and dont offer teaching practice.

You mentioned something above about 120 hours being the standard? That normally refers to course length which includes teaching practice, not 120 hours of teaching practice.

Chancellor

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:20 pm Post subject:

I don't look down my nose at anybody. It's not about that.

But the question is, do most online certs prepare you to offer value to students? There may be some that do- what was your course, chancellor?

I'm not opposed to distance learning.

But few online certs have instructors rigorously qualified. Few offer real teaching practice. Very few have any selection procedure that goes further than the possession of the course fee.

If they have these things, great. But most don't. And that leads to a "teacher" looking for their first job, having received advice from people with questionable quals, who will be teaching for the first time with paying students in that job.

Many employers will be understandably to stake their reputation on this- why should they pay you to try it out, when, if it isn't good, they suffer. Most of us know that first classes have a way of spiraling out of control. If you spiral out of control with paying students, you're being unfair to those students, and hurting your employer organisation.

Best,
Justin

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Anyone done the ontesol.com course? HOw do it compare to other TEFL courses?

Chancellor · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject:

Chancellor · Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: