Job Discussion Forums

[popey]

hi, ive recently completed my biology degree in england and im not looking on relocating to the netherlands where i wish to teach english, preferably to teenagers (however i realsie this may not be possible).

i have been advised to take a tefl course but after doing some research i got myself even more confused.

what type of course should i do, one at a college or one via the internet. i want to relacate asap, so an internet one would be faster and more convenient for me. however i dont know if they are as good or whether to trust them.

secondly i have orun various lengths in courses, from 20 -120 hours, but they still seem to cover the same stuff. will my emplyer be aware of how much time and effort has gone into the course.

any help would be very much appreciated, thank you

lorna

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Why don't you do a CELTA? I think that's what employers in Western Europe would expect, and it's the most common qualification in Europe.

[popey]

ok, but from what i have found there is little difference (apart from how they are assessed) between a CELTA and a TESOL. and they both sould be recognised.

[Varvian]

CELTA and TESOL are both recognized however CELTA is geared towards teaching English as a foreign language. TESOL is geared more towards teaching immigrants to an English speaking country. I live in the US, and here CELTA and TEFL are the quickie one month courses and TESOL is a 2 year master's program, so there is a world of difference with the degrees.

I've been doing a lot of research lately on TEFL certificates because this is something I would like to do after I graduate from university. Here are some things I've learned.

1. You can do an online TEFL course however it does not give you the teaching practice that physically enrolling in a school would give you. Also personally, I've always learned more from a teacher than reading in a book.

2. CELTA is considered to be the best TEFL certificate you can get because it has an excellent reputation and is a accredited by a well known organization. However CELTA tends to be a little more expensive than other TEFL certificates, but the extra money is well worth it.

3. There are a ton of TEFL certifcates that require 120 hours of lessons and about 8-10 hours of practice teaching. Those should be your minimum requirements in a TEFL certificate program, becuase anything less and you either won't be prepared enough or your future employers will not recognize it as credible. They will know the difference between a 50 hour course and a 120 or 130 hour course.

4. Even if you decide not to get a CELTA, go with a school that is accredited by an outside organization and preferably one that also owns an English language school. I've heard your experience is better and your teaching practice is closer to the real thing.

5. If it is doable, I would suggest going to a school that is in a non-English speaking country. For example there are many programs in Prague and a few in Poland. Their currency's exchange rate is favorable to the US dollar and would be even more favorable to the pound. Rent for one month in Prague is around $300. If you brought about $1,500 in savings with you, you would have a very comfortable standard of living, not to mention a little money to tide you over until you get your first paycheck. Also some of the schools in Eastern Europe will guarantee you a job in Eastern Europe if you are a native speaker, posses a bachelor's (4 year) degree from a US or UK university, and are over 21. The reason why I suggest this route is because living in a country where you do not speak the language will give you insight as to how your students feel when you speak in English to them for long periods of time. Also if you want to relocate ASAP doing a program in a different country would definitely give you that. Some of the internet courses are intended for part time study of a few months. Also some schools hold a job fair when the course ends so you will definitely find work quickly.

6. Teaching in the Netherlands? I'm assuming you are a UK citizen. I've never come across any programs or even job postings for the Netherlands. The job postings I have found so far are for either Eastern Europe or Asia. But as a UK citizen it would be easier for you to find a job in the Netherlands or Western Europe than it would be for me. But honestly, I would suggest going to either the Czech Rep. or Poland, get your TEFL certificate in a 4 week course, teach in an Eastern Europe for a year or two and then go to the Netherlands with a certificate in hand and experience under your belt.

7. As far as teaching teenagers go, with the TEFL field you have to open to teaching just about any group. I'm not sure if teaching teens would fall under adults or young learners. But do not be surprised if employers in the Netherlands require a YL (young learners) extension on your CELTA degree.