Job Discussion Forums

amsantana · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 9 Location: USA

Do you recommend that I get my TEFL certification online now or wait until I am in Spain with a local company? Do they really assist you in finding a job if you complete the certification with them like they advertise? (I have a teaching credential but not in English). Any names of reputable companies? Thanks

expatben · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 4:37 pm Post subject:

Neither. I reccomend that you find a reputiabe training place and then go from there. I don't have a lot of faith in online ESL courses. I was going to do one but I am glad I signed up for a month course. You learn things with a person trainer that you cannot learn online.
Just my thought
Expat

amsantana · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 9 Location: USA

How do you know if a company is reputable? Is there some governing body or association that has a list?

shaws101 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 1

After talking with people in Indonesia, and spending a lot of time reading the posts on this site, I would seriously suggest that you take the above suggestion, and find a reputable company, and study with them, while investigating your opportunites for Employment. I have recently enrolled with TEFL International, the course is to be held in the country I currently reside in, and I have already been in contact with a school in Indonesia, and on completion of the course have a job to go to. This may not suit you, but I will recommend avoiding an online course. A lot of schools will be looking for practical teaching experience, and having this experience ()according to advise gathered) will assist you in your first few scary months of standing at the front of the class.

Hope this helps Laughing

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Zero Hero · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Posts: 944

I would be wary of online TEFL 'certificates', if I were you. The problem with such things is that the countries that require such a qualification do not accept online variants and, obviously, you do not need such a qualification for countries that do not insist on them. Either way, you would appear to lose.

amsantana · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 9 Location: USA

Thank you for your input. I have decided to wait until I get to Spain to find a comany the local companies recognize. But as for teaching experience, I am a credentialed teacher of five years. I assume that would help me.