Job Discussion Forums

[grizzlies03]

Hello,

I am from Canada, but I plan to move to China soon. I want to get an online tefl or tesol certificate. Which one is better? Is there any good online certificate course you could recommend to me? Is it better to get one from a Canadian school or does it not matter?

Thanks

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

It would be better to spend a lot of money and spend a year or so to get something that would allow you to teach ESL in Canada, but if you never intend on teaching ESL in Canada (or you have looked into the awesomeness that is trying to have a career teaching ESL in Canada and therefore know the availablity of full-time career minded jobs), then IMHO it would be better to save yourself some money and just go get some books on teaching English from the linguistics section of a large bookstore or the bookstore at a university or college that has an English teaching programme.

You'll learn at least as much as a distance certificate programme and save a lot of money. If you just want a certificate to be able to put it on your resume, then unless you go with the CELTA (about $1000CDN in Toronto) then you're looking at getting something that most employers won't have heard of. That doesn't mean you won't get a job, because many, many people do get jobs from quick certificates- which is good because a lot of them are more about EFL job hunting strategies than actually teaching.

You learn by doing. If there isn't a practicum to back up theories introduced in a programme, then you aren't "doing" it, you are learning about it.

[Sekhmet]

My advice would be to completely forget the idea. Online courses, however good they might be at teaching methodology and other technical aspects, really aren't worth anything when it comes down to it.
The main reason is, how do you know you're going to enjoy teaching until you actually do it?? The teaching practice is the most important part of any training course, and if you don't have that, it's pretty much worthless.
In China, it is possible to get a job with an online certificate, especially if you have a Bachelors. But those schools have poor working conditions and low pay. If you look into the big companies (eg. EF), they all request TEFL certificates with a minimum of 6 hours observed teaching practice. Why? Because without it, you're no better off than if you followed Gambate's suggestion with the books.
Spend a little extra time and money, and go take a recognised course. That way, when you find out you hate teaching, you won't be halfway across the world with 11 and a half months of a 12 month contract left.....

[Guy Courchesne]

Definitely good advice

[Sekhmet]

Thanks!!!!