Job Discussion Forums

jcaulkins · Joined: 20 Dec 2004 Posts: 9

I am planning to go to Japan this summer to teach. I have completed my MA in linguistics, but dont have TESOL certification. Has anyone completed this program? http://www.globaltefl.org

I would like some feedback or recommendations on obtaining the best type of certification.

waygukgaijinhaole · Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 11:32 pm Post subject:

You might not need a cert since you have the MA. I suppose it would be a plus, though.

I did not complete the specific course you listed. However, SIT is probably the best-know, non-CELTA you can do in the US. CELTA is the most widely known, but hard to find in the States. Most jobs say they want CELTA or equivalent...pretty much any 120 hr course will do, from what I gather. (Others will disagree, I'm sure.) I did a 4-week, 120 hr TESOL cert at a different school(Transworld, PM me if you want details), that's similar to the SIT program. It taught me lots I didn't know, but also covered a bunch of stuff I already knew, having taught for 2 years before taking it. Still, I'm glad I did it, just for my own teaching style and effectiveness. Also, the job I'm starting in a week required a certificate. Hope that helps.

alfred_utton · Joined: 23 Dec 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Costa Rica

I did my TESOL certification at the SIT site here in Costa Rica and was very pleased with the program. The instruction I received was first rate, the trainers were wonderful people and excellent instructors. The course topics were well structured with apparent applications to teaching. Being able to do practice teaching with actual ESL students was very helpful becasue I was able to try out things that I�d learned in class.

I really learned a lot in the course and now I have a huge body of information and a network of people to use for resources as I search for work in SJ. I am certain I will continue to use these resources when I find employment and begin teaching.

Although I think the SIT training is fairly similar in content where ever you get it, I recommend the program I did because the people were great. The director, Mary Scholl, is a wonderful person. She�s very knowledgabe and nurturing, kinda a den mother on steriods. The other trainers, Susan and Louisa, were also great. Apart from the great education I received as a participant in the program, I�d also recommend doing it there because of the excellent support staff. Housing, food, and laundry were all included in the package. The food was great and everything was done well.