Job Discussion Forums

[weshh1]

Hi,

Background: I'm 24, I have been a teaching assistant and substitute teacher here in the US for the past couple years. I have been considering CELTA for a while but have decided now is as good of time as any to go for it.

What I'm looking for: Advice/input on which direction I should go for my CELTA.

Ecuador (Casa Cacique in Montañita):
Pros-
*5 weeks
*Accommodations look good. Nice looking small beach town within walking distance.
* Cheaper to fly to from the US.
* The meals they provide are good (Maybe)

Cons-
* Not as lucrative job market in South America. Not as many jobs either it seems.
* Seems like its run by Southern Cross. From what I gather they may not have as big of a network as International House.
* If I decide to teach in Asia right after completing CELTA..... well.... I'm in South America.

Thailand:
(International House: Chiang Mai or Bangkok)
Pros-
*Thailand is a place I have been interested in visiting and teaching.
*I will complete course in the East so traveling to another Asian country for work is cheaper.
* International House is a larger and more connected organization. Better job opportunities (maybe?)
*More work in Thailand and Asia.
*More lucrative than S. America.

Cons-
*Flight to Thailand is expensive
*Chiang Mai location is more isolated (but looks very nice)
*Bangkok location may be a bit distracting if the work load is as intense as everyone says




So there it is, I'm not sure which direction to go. My main concerns are:

~Am I losing out on opportunities by not getting my CELTA through International House?
~What type of ~6 month (short term) teaching positions are available in Thailand and Ecuador/ S. America? When are the start dates for these positions?
*****Has anyone gone through one of these CELTA programs? Any experience or insight is very welcome!

[suphanburi]

If you are looking as Asia then the only thing that matters is having a degree. It is a visa requirement in most countries now and will be a visa requirement in ALL countries after 2015 (AEC integration).

IF you have a degree then head for Thailand. Asia beckons. Be careful with your timing. The winter holidays at home are a BAD time to be looking for work in Asia. The BEST time for Thailand is to have your CELTA finished and be looking for work in April.

School starts in March in Korea.
School starts in April in Japan.
School starts in May in Thailand.

If you do not have a degree then head for Central America where it won't usually be an issue.

.

[HLJHLJ]

In terms of the actual course it doesn't matter which center you choose, a CELTA is a CELTA wherever you do it. So decide where you want to work first, and then take the course there.

[SunShan]

I wouldn't be too concerned about how nice each area is. The CELTA is so intensive you won't have much time to appreciate the scenery. I once thought about a TEFL course in Koh Samui, Thailand. Then I realised it would be horrible being there and not relaxing, exploring the island, mingling with locals, eating where I want and partying etc etc. Sacrilege!!!

[golsa]

It's true that all CELTA courses are held to the same minimum standards, but that doesn't mean all CELTA courses are the same.

I did my CELTA at IH because they started the entire idea of short course teacher training and, as an organization, have far more experience doing short course training than anyone else. I've been quite satisfied with the decision as doing an IH CELTA pushed me into learning how to teach without a book.

I know that employers only expect an entry level CELTA holder to be able to teach from a book competently, but the IH CELTA course required us to do more than only using pages from a textbook. The trainers didn't even have us use the standard issue CELTA Course Trainee Book, but they did use excerpts from it. The lesson was pretty clear: good teachers adapt the book for their students.

I agree with others that you'll be too busy to enjoy the location during the course. Go with the best course you can find and don't worry about the location too much (unless you want to work in the country).

[HLJHLJ]

Any course which only, or even primarily, taught you to just teach straight from a book wouldn't meet the minimum standards for a CELTA. In any case, none of the 3 courses the OP is considering takes that approach, so it's not something s/he needs to be worried about.

[weshh1]

Thanks for the replies (and start dates for asian countries!). I do have my bachelors degree in Psychology.

I must admit reading how "intense" CELTA is.... is a bit intimidating. I'm a good student and I do what it takes to succeed but I'm not the most organized. The 5 week at Ecuador is definitely a plus in my book.

I remember reading on here that Thailand has a 2nd hiring season around October, is that correct?

If so, taking the CELTA in september might be a good option.


Keep the advice and input flowing!

[suphanburi]

There is a bit of a bump in Oct (schools finding replacements for teachers who were fired or quit after the first semester).

It is NOTHING LIKE the feeding frenzy that is April (right after Songkran) for job hunters however.

.

[SunShan]

[weshh1]

Thanks Suphan and Sunshan!!

I may look for that bump in October or it may be a good idea to wait till the frenzy! I would like having as many options as possible when applying and deciding where to work in Thailand.


Glad to hear it wasn't to grueling for you Sun.

I'm a college educated native english speaker but I'm not particularly skilled in grammer other than basics. Hopefully it won't be too much of a challenge for me.

[johnslat]

Dear weshh1,

Well, just in case you have a CELTA trainer who's a stickler - you might want to remember this :

"Hopefully it won't be too much of a challenge for me."

"Avoid Conflict by Avoiding Hopefully

For some reason, to many language sticklers, starting a sentence with "hopefully" has become a mark of ignorance. It really grates on people's nerves. It's not as bad as using literally for emphasis when you mean “figuratively" or saying someone graduated college, but it won't help you win friends or influence people.*

I am hopeful that starting a sentence with hopefully will become more acceptable in the future. In fact, many language experts have come around on starting a sentence with hopefully. The response ranges from an enthusiastic "fully standard" at Dictionary.com to a resigned "lost cause" from Bryan Garner, author of Garner's Modern American Usage."

http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/starting-a-sentence-with-hopefully

Regards,
John

[kpjf]

[weshh1]