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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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 Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:12 am Post subject: |
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[quote="spiral78"]
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TESOL is an acronym for 'teaching English as a Second/Other Language' - it is not a recognised institution or group. There is no indication on the website above who actually created or runs the program in question (upon a very cursory reading). |
TESOL is also the name of a very well-known organization for TESOL professionals, which is based in the US and has branches worldwide. Here's a link to its website: http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp . |
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Dragonlady
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 1:59 am Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| TESOL is also the name of a very well-known organization for TESOL professionals, which is based in the US and has branches worldwide. Here's a link to its website: http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp . |
Oh, my my my... another American who believes the excited states of American means global.
Read the fine print. Nothing more than another reason to send fine folks in the USA $95.
DL |
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Dragonlady
Joined: 10 May 2004
Posts: 720
Location: Chillinfernow, Canada
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:16 am Post subject: |
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delete
Last edited by Dragonlady on Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| TESOL is also the name of a very well-known organization for TESOL professionals, which is based in the US and has branches worldwide. |
I did have a quick look at the website. It really doesn't state in any obvious way at least anything that makes it credible. Further, I've been in EFL for nearly 15 years now in Europe and North America, and I haven't heard of it, so I'm not so sure about 'very' well-known, though obviously I'm only one person......but I've been active in the field in general and in teacher training for a long time..... |
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| I did have a quick look at the website. It really doesn't state in any obvious way at least anything that makes it credible. |
Did you see the About TESOL tab at the top of the page? They discuss their history, mission, etc. They also have their annual reports posted. Check out the Issues tab. In one of them, they state that certificates like theirs are a gateway, and that people who want to make a long-term career of it should pursue an MA. That's a very reasonable approach, and certainly not what you'd expect of an organization that's all about selling its wares. They seem to be quite conscientious and probably a good source of ESL/EFL information. I don't mean to be their cheerleader, but I think they're worth a deeper look.
I understand that people who want to teach in Europe would be better off with a CELTA. But if you're going someplace like Japan, where certificates are more about the teacher's initiative and usually not a job requirement, the TESOL Core Certificate looks like a good option for somebody who's undecided about TEFL as a long-term career.
By the way, they've changed their name to TESOL International Association and seem to use TESOL as a nickname (sometimes confusing, but beside the point). |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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| But if you're going someplace like Japan, where certificates are more about the teacher's initiative and usually not a job requirement, |
Basically, for a new teacher who's going somewhere certification is not required, this one may work OK. As would no certification at all, not that I'm advocating that approach.
It wouldn't be recognized in Canada at the private language school level (or any other) either, without the practicuum; it's not only Europe where it wouldn't be acceptable.
Basically without the hands-on teaching practice which is supervised, it's simply not credible in many places. |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| spiral78 wrote: |
TESOL is an acronym for 'teaching English as a Second/Other Language' - it is not a recognised institution or group. There is no indication on the website above who actually created or runs the program in question (upon a very cursory reading). |
TESOL is also the name of a very well-known organization for TESOL professionals, which is based in the US and has branches worldwide. Here's a link to its website: http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp . |
Yes, TESOL is THE organization supporting career EFL/ESL professionals in the US. It promotes collaboration, professional development, research, community, and so forth. It organizes an annual national convention as well as a number of regional conferences, sustains two professional publications, and maintains a couple of useful data-bases. While it is well-respected, and fairly well-known (in the field,) I would say that its membership is pretty heavily weighted toward serious career professionals with advanced qualifications.
I doubt that Isla Guapa meant to suggest some US-centric version of global TEFL reality, as one earlier poster seemed to think. However, the fact remains that the US is one of the two countries that the largest number of EFL teachers call home.
Off-hand I can't recall the locations of international branches, but I do know that France has an active organization.
'
Last edited by AGoodStory on Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:08 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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ok. point taken. (ignore this comment. it is in context in the next message)
Last edited by coledavis on Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:10 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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coledavis
Joined: 21 Jun 2003
Posts: 1838
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| tttompatz wrote: |
| coledavis wrote: |
This is a bit of a metaphysical argument. You can't claim to be globally accredited because global accreditation systems don't exist. Well, this is sort of the case with all educational systems, not just TEFL. We don't strictly know, in strictly logical terms, that Oxford or Harvard degrees are worth having. If I was a Frenchman or an Indonesian, there would be nothing that would strictly say that these universities, or Cambridge or Princeton or Yale are any good.
Back to the real world. There is a general acceptance in the world of English as a Second (Foreign) Language [and here we go again: strictly speaking, does such a 'world' exist?] that CELTA and Trinity courses have certain attributes, as regulated by their respective accrediting authorities. They are accepted in most countries that have anything to do with TEFL. And that, as with our assumptions about the sun and moon existing, is about as good as it gets. |
Nothing metaphysical about it.
Decent providers (like CELTA, TRINITY, SIT) don't make untrue claims ("Globally accredited") about their programs and their websites don't read like a travel adventure brochure.
If you go to a course provider and they are making claims like "Globally accredited" or that look more like a travel agents brochure than a school home page then CAVEAT EMPTOR.
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Ok. Point taken. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Dragonlady wrote: |
| Isla Guapa wrote: |
| TESOL is also the name of a very well-known organization for TESOL professionals, which is based in the US and has branches worldwide. Here's a link to its website: http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/index.asp . |
Oh, my my my... another American who believes the excited states of American means global.
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Haven't you ever heard of MEXTESOL, the Mexican branch of this organization? Here's the link: http://www.mextesol.com.mx.
I don�t know what prompted that unnecessary comment about what I believe about the US. I was just trying to provide useful information to readers of this forum. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| AGoodStory wrote: |
Yes, TESOL is THE organization supporting career EFL/ESL professionals in the US. It promotes collaboration, professional development, research, community, and so forth. It organizes an annual national convention as well as a number of regional conferences, sustains two professional publications, and maintains a couple of useful data-bases. While it is well-respected, and fairly well-known (in the field,) I would say that its membership is pretty heavily weighted toward serious career professionals with advanced qualifications.
I doubt that Isla Guapa meant to suggest some US-centric version of global TEFL reality, as one earlier poster seemed to think. However, the fact remains that the US is one of the two countries that the largest number of EFL teachers call home.
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Thanks for your comments, AGoodStory, and your defense of my intentions for posting information about TESOL. |
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Vince
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 559
Location: U.S.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| Basically without the hands-on teaching practice which is supervised, it's simply not credible in many places. |
Option B of the Professional Development Component provides teaching experience. If you can get that experience with a qualified teacher (at least MA and a few years of experience), it probably has potential. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Option B of the Professional Development Component provides teaching experience. If you can get that experience with a qualified teacher (at least MA and a few years of experience), it probably has potential. |
Yes, I agree. In such a case, the teacher would need to be sure that the course practicum component and the total number of hours are clearly described on his/her resume/CV so that potential employers who have never heard of the organization will know immediately that it meets the standards.
By the way, my own original cert was a generic, but did meet the length and practicum requirements - I've never had any problem with its recognition, even in Canada where national standards are relatively strict. I'm by no means against generics in general. |
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Isla Guapa
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 1520
Location: Mexico City o sea La Gran Manzana Mexicana
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FarawayNow
Joined: 28 Apr 2012
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| I am also considering some of the overseas Tesol programs. I would love to take the very best ones offered (Trinity, Celta). But many people simply cannot afford the more expensive courses. It isn't a matter of being able to borrow money, or work more hours to get the money. No, they can't sleep in their parents basements, while they go back to school. They take a short-term course in the country they want to teach in, and have that school help them find a job. Sure, I have looked at google and all the pros and cons. I don't know if I will take a Tesol or not, I am considering it though. As for online programs, people have reasons to take those too. Maybe, they are less expensive. If they live in a tiny town, nowhere any large cities, it might be their only option. Personally, I love to learn. I could easily read a stack of books, and learn as much as I have learned in any college course. But for some reason, employers like pieces of nice paper, with colleges names on them. I have plenty of those already. I have seen plenty of job ads more interested in wanting a Tesol or Tefl teacher, and thinking a bachelor degree or more means nothing. If I get offered a great job, without the Tesol, then I won't take one. But if it is a way to get the proper documents, and get to the country of choice, then that should be an option. |
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