Job Discussion Forums

littlesarah53 · Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 4 Location: London

Has anyone had any experience of the distance learning course offered by huntesl.com?
It seems to be one of the better online courses - 120 hours, and with the option of doing a week long residential course to gain actual teaching practice.
I am working full time at the moment, and trying to decide whether I should try to do the TEFL course now in my own time, or wait until I am ready to go abroad, then take a 4 week intensive course, and hope that I can find a job relatively quickly.
I think personally that I would probably be more focused and learn more from an intensive course, but I would really like to start getting involved asap, and by doing the online option i get the chance of trying out the course before I leave my present job, and I can judge if it really is something I want to do.
So- do I jump in with both feet and take a chance, or shall I be more reserved and cautious?
Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

bluffer · Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:17 am Post subject:

A bit more info about you might be useful.

Whats your academic background? Have you got a degree? Where do you want to end up?

Have your local colleges got a part time CELTA / TESOL course instead of a 4 week full time one? This would let you work and study.

I am very cagey about online courses. They are notoriously difficult to judge for quality, feedback is also sometimes an issue. Also they can not be accepted as easily as the likes of a residential course CELTA / TESOL.

Sekhmet · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 329 Location: Alexandria, Egypt

Huntesl.com does not provide distance EFL courses. They're actually provided by INTESOL. INTESOL actually seems to be a very reputable company, with support from the British Council, and accredited by the London Teachers Board (or something like that!!)
I've been doing a whole bunch of research on this - there are very few decent online courses, but surprisingly they do exist. INTESOL seems to be one of them. They offer an optional week for observed teaching practice, and with that it seems to be quite good. I would be very cautious of doing the course if they didn't offer that!!
I don't like online courses. I think they're a waste of time. But INTESOL does seems to be the best of them. Doesn't Hunt do an onsite course? CELTA?? Maybe thats still the better bet.

Chad · Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Canada

(off topic)

Thats a slightly morbid avatar you got there Oz