Job Discussion Forums

orbit720 · Joined: 04 Feb 2014 Posts: 13

I have over three years of teaching experience in South Korea and I'm looking to teach somewhere new. Preferably, somewhere in the middle east. However, a lot of jobs I see requires some sort of certificate.

Right now the LoveTEFL 120HR online class is only 99 pounds which is pretty cheap but is it a waist of time? Will it help me at all with obtaining a position in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, or other parts of Asia, ie. Malaysia?

Any input will be greatly appreciated.

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 381

Waste of time for two reasons:

1. Online. Everybody that hires teachers in KSA hates anything on a CV that was obtained via the Internet.

2. It will help you in the classroom if you get over here; not a lot, but it will help.

I went to Phuket, Thailand for a five week, 120 hour TEFL/TESOL (I also got two, 50-hour "add-ons" while I was there). I kind of turned my nose up at the idea at first because I thought I wasn't going to get anything out of it, but a much needed piece of paper. Gee, I sound like my Saudi students.

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

LoveTEFL doesn't sound highly credible on a CV in a competitive job market. Waste.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Rather screams "SCAM" doesn't it? They take your $99 and you get pretty much nothing. (because that job described doesn't exist for you)

If you are serious about teaching in the Middle East - especially in the Gulf, get a CELTA (or one of the other 2 mentioned) or even better an MA.

VS

SENTINEL33 · Joined: 19 Jan 2014 Posts: 112 Location: Bahrain

Remember this:

1. Most employers/contractors in the Gulf will not ask you if your certificate was obtained online or not. So unless you volunteer the information, or unless the word "online" or "distance" appears on your certifcate, they won't know (and don't want to know).

2. Most employers in the Gulf will most likely NOT investigage the legitimacy of the institution that issued your certificate. They don't have the time or the know-how or the funds needed to accomplish this.

Besides, what is a "legitimate" institution? The fact is 90% of TEFL certificates are questionable as are the issuing institutions.....yet their "graduates" man most of the academic establishment in the Gulf (which is why they're such scandalous, disfunctional and dismal failures).

My advice? I'm not giving any. You decide.

(My question is: how could you have possibly "taught" in Korea for 3 years without any teaching credentials? Do they just hire you based on where you were born or something? The whole TEFL field is such a Potemkin venture....I don't know how I ended up in it).

johnslat · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 12:35 pm Post subject:

Dear Sentinel33,

"So unless you volunteer the information, or unless the word "online" or "distance" appears on your certifcate, they won't know (and don't want to know)."

Well, unless the time spent getting that certificate coincided with a period on your resume/CV when you were abroad.

In addition, the "better," direct-hire places will usually check.

Regards,
John

sicklyman · Joined: 02 Feb 2013 Posts: 930

if you're in South Korea, get to the British Council in Jongro-gu in Seoul and do their CELTA. It is (or at least was) excellent.

If you are serious about TEFL and want to be taken seriously, that is the only course worth doing.

Otherwise, you will be throwing your cash to the dogs and then will later be eaten by them yourself at schools you later work at.