Job Discussion Forums

[kitt]

Hi All,
I need some advice on getting started.....There is a lot of info on TEFL/TESOL/CELTA/etc. certificates on the web. Almost too much. And most of it is conflicting. I'm not sure what to believe. Or even where to start. And which is ads and which is fact....

[i]About Me: 29 years old, Female, American, BA in Art History, Washington State Resident. Have 6 years of French (haven't used it in six years either), 2 years of German (also not used lately). Will be travelling/living with boyfriend of 6 years.

Countries I would like to teach in: Spain, Mexico, Netherlands, Italy?, Czech Republic, Poland, France?. I am not really interested in Japan/Korea/China.

I don't know if this is a long term lifelong plan yet. I don't think I will know until I actually start teaching. I want to get a cert that is internationally recognized though, and will allow me to seek the most teaching jobs in the most number of countries possible.

QUESTION 1: Which is the better certificate to get (i.e. internationally recognized, opportunity for getting better paying jobs?) I gather the TESOL or CELTA is the degree you want, rather than all of the various TEFL certs out there. And that Cambridge or Trinity program is the best? But, what is really the difference? Is TESOL a Masters?


QUESTION 2: What are the countries where it is hard for Americans with internationally recognized certificates to get teaching jobs and why is this? I have heard Italy is really not possible, nor France. Is this true? If so, why? And which others will I have a hard time getting a legal job in?

QUESTION 3: Open question to anyone who will respond - How long did it take after you earned your certificate before you got your first job? And was it in a country you wanted? Is it typical that housing, or health benefits, or beyond a survival wage is earned in the countries I have mentioned above? How long is a typical teaching contract?

QUESTION 4: Do you have any links that would be helpful in sorting out where to begin with Factual information/FAQ's, procedures on other basic questions on how to start research. I feel like I always end up on a paid advertisement site for a TEFL school.

QUESTION 5: Do you mostly seek your jobs thru online ads, your school where you got your certificate, or pro-active searches?

Thanks for any and all help! (-and sorry if these are questions you have heard a million times-)

[Spinoza]

[kitt]

Thanks for taking the time to respond and all the info-I appreciate it!

[Gregor]

Mostly, I'm kicking in here to back up Spinoza. Pretty much on the mark. I personally, as an employer, prefer the Trinity TESOL, but CELTA is more immediately recognized, if for no other reason than it has a very specific name (i.e. anyone can hand out TEFL or TESOL certificates, but only Cambridge can do the CELTA).

The only place I have ever looked for and taken jobs is from Dave's ESL Cafe. I am not kidding. Dave's rocks. There are other places that I have looked, but Dave's has come through for me every time. I've taken a few jobs that were personally handed to me, and now that I've been at this for a while, I have some contacts. I don't need Dave's that much anymore. But I still have a look, and it's a great source.

I found a job immediately after earning my TEFL (which was neither Trinity NOR Cambridge, by the way). Most places that offer courses have job placement help, and if you're not too picky, you can find work almost immediately, I would think. And my post was in exactly the country I wanted, but you have to keep your expectations low. I wanted Mexico because that's where I did my TEFL course and I wanted a Spanish-speaking country. I didn't make much money, but I was able to have beers and pay my rent and feed myself. That was IT for my prerequisites.

You should be able to do Poland and Mexico fairly easily. Mexico was my first post, and there's tons of work. You won't make a lot of money, but I recommend it highly for the quality of life. Poland I don't know, except that you can still get in there. Europe? Forget it. Not legally, anyway. if you are dead set, you can find work if you go there and don't mind working illegally.

One more note on Mexico - if you want to get a job there online, you have to take what you can get. Once in the country, it's moronically easy to find work. Latin Americans prefer to hire face to face, that's all. There's work, but it's for the people who can show up to be interviewed.

[Justin Trullinger]

I'm in Ecuador, and here, Trinity and Celta run about hand in hand. I never had problems with my (Trinity) cert when I was in Europe, either. In terms of course content, they're too similar to call, at least as far as I know. A friend who recently did both (don't ask me why, he's a journalist ) said he found the Cambridge to be a little more "la di da," which I guess I would expect from Cambridge. Trinity has a module on teaching kids, which, last I knew, Cambridge did not. So maybe that weighs in a bit, but frankly, most employers don't know that.

Honestly, as a cert, they're worth about the same. If I were you, I'd be more influenced by location (where do you want to do your cert, and which one is available there) and the reputation of the individual center offering it. These things won't make much difference to employers, but will affect your enjoyment/experience when you do the course.

I got my first job the day after the course, by knocking on doors in Barcelona. But it was "under the table," as I am American. It's rather hard to get a visa for anywhere in the EU, if you are not either highly qualified, or a citizen of a member state. So if you're interested in legality, of the countries you've mentioned, I'd head for Mexico!

Justin

[kitt]

Thanks for the info Justin!.....Can I get an inch and take a mile?: How was your experience in Barcelona working under the table? Were you able to make enough to keep a roof over your head and support yourself? What would you say is the biggest downside of working under the table? The pay, or hours, or lack of a contract? Thanks for your time.

[kitt]

Thanks Gregor! (Especially for the Mexico tips...)