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Martinaj
Joined: 07 Sep 2014
Posts: 35
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 Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 6:04 am Post subject: Making this a career - what are my options, where to start? |
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So a few years back, I decided to go teach English in China for a year. That was the original plan. I ended up staying there for three and a half years, and I've decided to make a career out of it. I'm working on getting my IDELT right now, and I've got a lot of experience teaching ESL, but very little experience actually navigating the ESL market, so I'm trying to figure out what my options are.
For a start, here is a quick overview of my qualifications/experience: 3.5 years teaching in China, primarily EAP, but with a little bit of EFL tossed in there. Includes some experience teaching AP in preparation for American University. I have a BA in English, and at the end of October, I will have my IDELT certification with additional courses in grammar and custom course design. I'm a native English speaker from the US.
So my question is, with these qualifications, what can I realistically expect when seeking my next job, and what sort of doors are going to be open? How picky can I afford to be? How competitive will this look on a resume? Japan and Hungary are currently at the top of my list of preferred countries, but I have also been pining at times after the Baltic Region, and some days I dare to dream of the Nordic region (I know that's not realistic). I'm thinking about applying to the JET program in October. I definitely don't want to go back to China.
Any pointers or general advice? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:08 am Post subject: Re: Making this a career - what are my options, where to sta |
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| Martinaj wrote: |
So my question is, with these qualifications, what can I realistically expect when seeking my next job, and what sort of doors are going to be open? How picky can I afford to be? How competitive will this look on a resume?
Any pointers or general advice? |
It's unclear what you're asking. Why not simply apply to jobs you're qualified for in your target countries? Additionally, you should visit the country-relevant discussion forums for info on specific employers and/or recruiting practices. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 1:00 pm Post subject: Re: Making this a career - what are my options, where to sta |
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| Martinaj wrote: |
| I'm working on getting my IDELT right now . . . |
Are you doing the online version of IDELT of the face-to-face version? I ask because the latter will open more doors to the former. Though, if you're looking primarily at the JET program, you probably don't really need either. |
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Martinaj
Joined: 07 Sep 2014
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm taking the online version of the IDELT. I'm mosty trying to get an idea of what sort of options I have before I really to zero in on a country. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Martinaj wrote: |
| I'm taking the online version of the IDELT. I'm mosty trying to get an idea of what sort of options I have before I really to zero in on a country. |
Of course. Your best bet would be to follow Nomad's advice and post inquiries to the country-specific forums of your choice.
As far as online certificate programs go, IDELT is certainly one of the better programs. You can even get six-graduate credit hours through the University of Northern Colorado for completing the program which, I think, says something about it's quality.
If you're thinking of TESOL as a long-term career, you may want to be thinking about pursuing a master's degree, which would both enhance your teaching abilities as well as increase your employment options. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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| You can even get six-graduate credit hours through the University of Northern Colorado for completing the program which, I think, says something about it's quality. |
Don't count on it. Check out the following from Bridge's FAQs:Q: "How do I get the college credits for the IDELT Online?"
A: "After completing and passing the IDELT Online, students may be eligible to apply for credit through Bridge’s partnership with the University of Northern Colorado. As UNC is an accredited US university, these credits transfer to most other universities in the USA but it always recommend that students check with their school advisors, deans, or registrars for official confirmation on the option of receiving transfer credit."
........
Q: "Will the IDELT Online certificate have the UNC logo on it, or otherwise mention the possibility for credit through UNC?"
A: "The University of Northern Colorado provides college credit for the course but the certificate itself will come from Bridge. As such, it will not carry the UNC logo or mention the university. However, students who pass the course may be eligible to get college credit from UNC for the course and could get a transcript from the university that would bear their logo." Those are rather ambiguous responses. Additionally, Bridge's 'Accreditation and Affiliations' page states: "The IDELT – BL has been recommended for 3 graduate-level semester hours as an elective or as a teaching practicum in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)." Oddly (or not), UNC isn't even listed as an affiliate on Bridge's site. Moreover, UNC offers its own hybrid Graduate TESOL Certificate (includes requisite field practice), which may be why there's no mention about accepting IDELT credits (nor does IDELT even come up on UNC's website). |
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Martinaj
Joined: 07 Sep 2014
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I had initially called about a CELTA program in Colorado, because I wanted to get more information about the course and make sure that it wasn't going to be mostly redundant with teaching experience. The same campus offered IDELT and more generic TEFL courses, and they said that one of the greatest draws to CELTA (beyond name recognition) was that it provided some in-classroom experience, which is something I already had, and they suggested that I might be better suited to the IDELT online.
Now after having done a little more reading into it (which I probably should have done before I actually signed up), I think they were overhyping it a little, but from what I can understand, it is still a relatively strong, and accredited, online program, maybe one notch down from the CELTA, but definitely above a TEFL. I'm finishing up my sixth week right now, and I'm definitely becoming a better teacher from it. We've been covering the advantages and disadvantages of popular teaching methodologies, different contexts of learners, and are starting to get into units on classroom management and planning. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 12:35 am Post subject: |
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At the end of the day you will have a BA, a 140 hour on-line TEFL cert. and some experience in China
It gets you entry level work in all of Asia.
(Change countries and you go to the bottom of the ladder again. )
Shoot for the JET program in Japan or EPIK in Korea.
Your IDELT may not be sufficient for EPIK since their requirements now include that your TEFL certification include a minimum of 20 hours of "in-class" time but coupled with 3+ years of experience they may accept you.
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| Martinaj wrote: |
| I wanted to get more information about the course and make sure that it wasn't going to be mostly redundant with teaching experience. The same campus offered IDELT and more generic TEFL courses, and they said that one of the greatest draws to CELTA (beyond name recognition) was that it provided some in-classroom experience, which is something I already had, and they suggested that I might be better suited to the IDELT online. |
It's not that the CELTA and similar certs offer "some in-classroom practice." It's their inclusion of 6 hours of supervised, observed, and assessed teaching practice with real students that appeals to many employers worldwide---why they're drawn to the brand. So even though you say you have more than 3 years of teaching experience gained from your time in China, if you've never been similarly, formally observed and assessed, no one (including potential employers) can gauge the quality of your teaching experience. In other words, those comprehensive, 120-hour face-to-face TEFL certs (generic and branded) that include supervised teaching practice confirm to potential employers that the cert holder has been sufficiently trained for classroom teaching.
| and wrote: |
| Now after having done a little more reading into it (which I probably should have done before I actually signed up), I think they were overhyping it a little, but from what I can understand, it is still a relatively strong, and accredited, online program, maybe one notch down from the CELTA, but definitely above a TEFL. I'm finishing up my sixth week right now, and I'm definitely becoming a better teacher from it. |
It's good that you're benefitting from the course.
For clarification, TEFL certs are entry-level teaching qualifications and come in all shapes-n-sizes; some are cheapo quickies and/or mediocre to lousy with more of a focus on travel adventures. Other TEFL certs offer better quality because they're comprehensive, standardized, and include that critical supervised teaching with real students. That said, the branded CELTA is essentially a TEFL cert under its hood. Ditto for other brand-name certs like SIT TESOL and Trinity CertTESOL. By the way, be aware the term "accredited" gets overused and is often added just for marketing purposes.
Last edited by nomad soul on Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Martinaj
Joined: 07 Sep 2014
Posts: 35
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 1:20 am Post subject: |
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| Would letters of recommendation from the school I used to work for help in a significant way? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 2:32 am Post subject: |
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Who's to say. And that's if potential employers bother to look at or care about recommendation letters. Frankly, if you were ever formally observed and assessed at your former place(s) of employment and have the observation reports as proof, that would be better than any recommendation letter.
Anyway, this is why it's best to first look at job ads in one's target countries to see what qualifications the better language school or university employers require, and then use that as a guide when choosing degree and/or TEFL cert programs.
By the way, in regard to UNC's Grad TESOL Cert, the following is from their Extended Campus site:
| Quote: |
Certificate Program Transfer Credit Policy
Our graduate certificate programs feature highly specialized learning outcomes determined by our expert faculty. Therefore, to ensure that certificate graduates attain this specialized knowledge, students will need to complete all certificate coursework directly from this UNC program.
.....
Transferring Credit (to UNC's MAT in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education)
Applicable graduate credit with a grade of A or B from an accredited university may be able to be applied towards this academic program. |
That about does it for transferring credits from Bridge's IDELT. Bridge needs to update its website. |
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suphanburi
Joined: 20 Mar 2014
Posts: 916
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 2:39 am Post subject: |
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| Martinaj wrote: |
| Would letters of recommendation from the school I used to work for help in a significant way? |
They would serve to prove your prior experience.
It may not improve your remuneration package but may get you an interview where you otherwise would not (EPIK).
They won't make any difference for most entry level EFL jobs in Asia.
They usually won't make any difference in terms of remuneration (pay & benefits). Your ability to do the job well and/or retain students will be the determining factor.
In most cases, all the employers want is a NES (Native English Speaker) teacher who can get a visa. If you meet the requirements for a visa (usually a BA and the correct passport) then you can get a job (jobs exceed applicants).
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 6:49 am Post subject: |
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| Hungary are currently at the top of my list of preferred countries, but I have also been pining at times after the Baltic Region, and some days I dare to dream of the Nordic region |
BA + online cert + experience in China won't get you anything paid (there's an intern-type program for Hungary for which you pay - they might take you) in any of the regions above. Nordic is out even if you had much stronger quals.
Online cert also won't get a US citizen a job in the parts of Central/Eastern Europe where you can legally work; there are lots of teachers around, 99% have a CELTA or equivalent, and you just wouldn't have anything to compete with, honestly. Unless you add a CELTA or other on-site cert later.
I agree that it's too bad that you didn't do research in advance of committing to a course. As has already been pointed out, you'll be good to go for much of Asia, though. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| Martinaj wrote: |
So a few years back, I decided to go teach English in China for a year. That was the original plan. I ended up staying there for three and a half years, and I've decided to make a career out of it.
....
I'm taking the online version of the IDELT. I'm mosty trying to get an idea of what sort of options I have before I really to zero in on a country. |
Why not check with Bridge to see if there's some way you can add a 20-hour, in-person teaching practice component to your IDELT? (Avoid their 'Specialized Certificate in Guided Teaching Practice'; it's mostly facilitated online and won't fully meet the requirement of supervised teaching with actual students). Otherwise, if you're serious about making TEFL your career, consider eventually doing an MA that entails a semester-long practicum. My degree included an ESOL practical course; it's great not having to worry about misplacing or authenticating separate certificates because the course is on my university transcript. |
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Sashadroogie
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise
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| Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| Which is the uni in Colorado with the rep for being a party college bereft of any learning? Not the one mentioned on this thread, one hopes! |
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