Job Discussion Forums

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject:

Sorry fella, don't know all your details but on the face of it it looks like you are setting yourself up for a fall, or at least a very rough tumble. First up, as has been said, you are simply throwing your money away on your course of choice. Next up, your teaching career plans sound more like an escape to farther, greener hills than anything else. That never really works out...

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

A very little bad luck in a place far from family, friends, or even contacts who speak your native language......

can become big bad luck.

Particularly if one hasn't the funds to get him/herself out of it.

Have witnessed this (sadly, on multiple occasions) myself.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 9:45 pm Post subject:

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Im going to agree with Justin, do NOT take an i-i course. As he has clearly stated, it is really just a con to part you from your money.

I have first hand experience of using i-i, and I made a similar decision to the one you are about to take. I took their course due to restraints in time and money. It really does not represent value, and it is more often than not, unreocognised.

Added to that, it doesnt actually teach very much of value at all. If you just wanted to 'learn' something, buying a book for $20 called 'Learning Teaching' by Jim Scrivener would be a better bet.

Another thing with i-i is the course timings are off to say the least. I completed mine in around 25% of the time stated...so a 100 hour course should be completed in around 25 hours by anyone with some common sense. And you cant fail a module either ... it just gets sent back with errors corrected, and the 'tutor' will then open the next module for you regardless.

And when I arrived at my first paid job, certificate in hand, I was given a house share with another guy who had no qualification at all ... which kinda told me that that employer didnt need my cert after all. The kind of employer who will accept you with an i-i cert, will 99% of the time accept you anyway.

It really is just a waste of money, and is something I would delete from my CV now...it doesnt add any value at all, and would possibly make me look less attractive as an employee.

If you are definately going this route, than opt for the single cheapest option they have...perhaps a 40 hour cert. Although this is also a waste of money, it is the cheapest way to get a certificate sent to you.....a 40 hour course will cost a lot less, and for the reasons explained above, has the same value as any other cert they offer.

18 months after taking an i-i, I did complete a Trinity...and I really regret not doing it sooner. The 18 months teaching I had before then was wasted time really, I didnt develop much other than bad habits, and my students suffered too.

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 9:40 pm Post subject:

Nick's post says it all. And he knows.

I'll summarize the advice you've gotten so far.

i to i is not a cert, it's a con.

Your best option is getting a real cert. This is particularly significant as you don't have a bachelor's degree, which is a pre-req in some of the countries you might consider teaching in.

If you really won't get a real cert, then go without, and work where you can work without.

At least then, you're only ripping off your students, rather than getting ripped off yourself.

Doing the i to i cert would be getting ripped off, then ripping off your students.

Up to you. But I think Nick really said a mouthful when he said:

idiggs · Joined: 04 Feb 2010 Posts: 47 Location: Ecuador La Costa

I appreciate the advice, guys. I got two years of teaching experience so I don't think I will be ripping my (future) students off.

Will I be ripping myself off? You say I will. I trust the majority of you are veterans so I won't say no more.

However, if I do well, I will let you all know. If I fall on my face, I will tell you that you were right. I have no shame in my game. I am a humble man who is not afraid to admit his mistakes.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:30 pm Post subject:

Perhaps you might consider this course instead?

**********************************************************

Become a Driving Instructor!!!!

Yes you too can be a driving instructor in just 2 weeks. Can't stump up the readies? Don't have the time? No problem with our online course. Just sign on the dotted line and in two weeks you'll be a respected driving instructor with a credential recognised by all our associate members. No need for your own vehicle, we have a simulation model. No need for real learner drivers either - we do peer-testing! In fact, no need for you to have a licence yourself or even the ability to drive, as all our online tutors are specially trained to take care of that for you.

Put yourself in the driving seat for a change! Sign up now!

****************************************************

Not quite 'A Modest Proposal', but you get the satirical point. Don't waste your apparently really hard-earned cash on a pile of nothing like an online ESL course. You are bound to crash, even with two years' prior teaching experience. There will be no 'growing from there'.