Job Discussion Forums

[jyj]

I'm presently researching my options for obtaining a TEFL certificate.

Wanted to know if anyone is certified in the Business TEFL? And, where I might go to get more information about it....either online resources, schools etc.

Also, would it actually "up" my chances of finding work, without the experience?

In what countries might a Business TEFL certificate be most beneficial?
I'm considering Spain as my first destination.

Any advice would be of great help : )

[sojourner]

jyj,

By a "business TEFL certificate",I take it that you are referring to a certificate indicating that you have successfully completed a course of study in what we ESLers call "Business English" ? If so,I believe that some British Council centres run teaching courses for those who are interested in Business English - check the B.C. website. However,I think that it might be a good idea for you to complete a normal TEFL certificate (eg CELTA or the Trinity College equivalent) programme before starting a Business English teaching course.

Business English is regarded as part of the field known as English for Specific Purposes (ESP !). Some Applied Linguistics and TESOL departments at various unis run courses in ESP.I know for certain that Macquarie University (Sydney,Aust.) runs either an online or distance learning unit in 'Language for Specific Purposes', as part of their Master's in Applied Linguistics programme.It may be possible to enrol in that particular unit as a non-degree student if you are not interested in doing the programme's other units.Check the Macquarie website.

Have you had any office or business experience ? If so,it's possible that some employers might consider you - in fact,some may even prefer teachers who have had some practical experience of the 'real world' of business rather than those who merely possess the relevant paper credential.

I don't know much about the European scene,but many colleges and unis here in China would like their FTs to be able to teach Business English,International Business,Western Culture,etc, as well as the more usual Oral English.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

PM me if you want the titles of some pertinent books.

Regards,

Peter

[jyj]

thanks for your response.

I'm not even quite sure if what you are referring to is similar to the same program that I found....it was however a distance learning program. see below


http://www.global-english.com/certifb.htm

I'm a little overwhelmed with the whole TEFL options (CELTA...DELTA...TESOL, etc.), and finding the most suitable course.

I know that I don't have money to waste, and don't want to invest in something that's not accredited and not accepted universally. I basically want to be as flexible and as marketable as possible.

I have worked in a business/office environment, but my BA is in something completely other than business.

let me know what you think, if you have a minute.

tx!

[sojourner]

jyj,

I had a look at the course you referred to.It appears that it is a combination of a normal TESL training programme + a component involving the teaching of Business English.It's a pity that you can't do the Business English component as a seperate course - and to receive a certificate indicating that you have passed it - that would be ideal !

If you were to enrol in the course in question you would,undoutedly,learn a lot - the tutors appear to be well qualified and experienced.However,I would NOT recommend that you do this course !

In your last posting, you indicated that you wanted to do a course that is universally recognised,marketable,etc.Therefore,you should seriously consider enrolling in a CELTA or Trinity College TESOL certificate course.Both of these programmes cover roughly the same sort of ground and are very intensive.They do not make you into an instant ESL expert - but they'll provide you with the 'basics'.It appears,from what I've read,that reputable schools in Europe prefer that their prospective teachers have had some basic,but high quality, training - and the proof of such is either a CELTA or Trinity certificate.Of the two,CELTA is the most well-known.Of course,there may be other courses that may also be well- structured,rigorous,etc - but they are not as well known as CELTA and Trinity - so,brand-name recognition is important in the world of ESL !

It doesn't matter where you undergo your (CELTA or Trinity) training - both programmes follow their same respective curriculum - as well as,in each case,being subject to some external oversight of their instructors' qualifications,experience, teaching approaches,etc.Also,both programmes are recognised by reputable employers because the training of each involves considerable classroom experience with REAL ESL students - something that online/distance learning courses, such as the one run by Global-English,DON'T provide.

You mentioned something about the cost of undergoing training. Yes,I'm fully aware that CELTA/Trinity training in the UK,Nth America and Australia may appear to be quite prohibitive - however,you should treat the cost of such quality training as an investment ! But,rather than undergoing such training in the aforementioned three areas,you may well find that such courses may be considerably cheaper in other countries.Many Australians prefer to do their CELTA training in Bangkok.Also,I believe many people are doing CELTA and Trinity training in central and eastern European countries - considerably cheaper,it appears,than doing it in the UK ! Check some of the recent postings to the various Dave's sites on the subject of ESL training
in Hungary,Poland,Czech Republic,etc. I remember,vaguely,that someone recently mentioned that CELTA/Trinity training can be undertaken,relatively cheaply,in Spain.Do a search.

You also mentioned DELTA.This is a , sort of ,'advanced' CELTA.To do it, you need a CELTA plus the equivalent of two years f/t teaching experience.

To sum up: if you have your heart set on teaching Business English, I think that it would be a very good idea for you to enrol in a basic,but high quality, course of general ESL teaching - one that is recognised
internationally because of the curriculum involved,especially pertaining to actual classroom teaching experience.In other words,consider a CELTA or Trinity course,especially the former ! Regarding skills relating specifically to the teaching of Business English,shop around at various language teaching centres,such as Global-English,for a 'top-up' to your basic
CELTA/Trinity training.But, DON'T do your basic ESL training at such places ! You mentioned that you have had some office experience.When re-writing your CV,you may wish to indicate the basic office skills that you picked up,eg: letter/report writing,telephone negotiation/sales,etc.

Over the past couple of years,I have commented, at length, on CELTA training,etc,on Dave's Teacher Training Forum,as well as other forums,under the name "sojourner" - do an archives check.

Please feel free to pm me should you have any other queries.

Regards,

Peter

[Ludwig]

If I were you, unless you intend to be teaching online, I would not take - and I do mean 'take', no one is yet to fail such a 'course') - an online certificate.

[AsiaTraveller]

jyj,

sojourner has given you excellent advice.

Just ignore our Herr Ludwig. He feels that he must respond nastily to most new posters here. I imagine that his aging p*nis drips sarcasm.

[Jetgirly]

On the topic of Business English... I have a brand-spanking new BA in English from a Canadian University. During my studies I completed the Business Option, but it does not appear on my diploma because only the Faculty of Social Sciences (not Humanities) recognizes it. In other words, I took a bunch of English classes PLUS

- Macro and Micro Economics
- Financial and Management Accounting for Specialists
- Management Finance
- Introduction to Marketing
- Introduction to Business
- Organizational Behaviour
- Business Law for Strategic Decision Makers
- Computer Science for Business Students

Would those courses prepare me to teach Business English (if I also took the CELTA)? I recognize that there are courses in Professional Writing (my university offered a minor in it), but I haven't taken them. I do have experience working in corporate environments as well...

[sojourner]

Jetgirly,

You are,indeed,very fortunate in having dual Canadian-German citizenship ! Employers in EU countries will always give you preference over most other ESL teachers who happen to hail from the US and the Commonwealth.

Is it the EU where you wish to teach ? I have never taught there,but in most language - and business ? - schools, I'd imagine that they would be looking for teachers who could teach students the basic things about English-language business communication,eg: letter writing,telephone etiquette (sp?),etc.If you get a job in the secondary school sector,I'd imagine that you MAY also be required to teach topics relating to the more intricate aspects of commercial intercourse,such as basic EU cross-border purchase orders,etc.But I'm just guessing here - why don't you contact some of the major English language centres and business colleges,and possibly the "supply teaching" departments of the state-run secondary teaching authorities in order to ascertain their requirements ?

If, after some time as a Business English teacher at a language/business school, you happen to develop a real taste for that sort of work,you may wish to consider going upmarket a bit,such as working as a Business English instructor at a large European corporation - but there,you may be expected to also hold,possibly,an MBA,along with some postgraduate diplomas in either adult education or TESL . Do you envisage staying in the ESL game for a number of years ? If so,you may eventually have to consider obtaining some additional academic qualifications if you wish to get some decent work - I don't consider that there are too many decent long-term career prospects in the language school sector.

But for the short term, as I suggested to another poster to this thread,it might be a good idea to shop around at the major language centres to see if they run any short courses in Business English teaching.Otherwise,make sure that your CV indicates your basic office experience,such as letter writing,sales,etc.

If you're interested in China,you would have very little difficulty in finding a job teaching Business English at a univerity.In fact,with the economics/finance/management subjects that you referred to in your posting,a university here would also probably get you to teach related subjects such as International Trade,International Finance,etc ! However,by "universities", I'm not referring to the sorts of institutions we are familiar with in Nth America,UK,Australia,and NZ.Rather,the academic standards of most Chinese universities would probably be no higher than the standards of Australia's TAFE colleges,which I believe are the equivalent to Canadian/US community colleges.There are,of course,some very good Chinese universities,such as the University of Beijing - where the required qualifications of teachers would probably be on par with those in US/Canada/Aust,viz PhDs,or at the very least, good Masters' degrees.But for teaching at most other unis (the vast majority,it would appear !) a BA + CELTA would probably suffice.

When applying for jobs,make sure that prospective employers see a copy of your official academic record (listing all of the subjects you took at uni),and not just a copy of your degree.

Good luck with your forthcoming CELTA training !

Peter