Job Discussion Forums

[-Stu-]

Hey folks

I'm currently working as a TEFL teacher in Chile after spending the last few years working as an operations and staff development manager for a medium-sized company in the UK. I have a degree and a post-graduate diploma, however I would like to take a TEFL course.

Now my problem is that I neither have the time nor money to do a 4-week on-site TEFL course, plus I live in a country that does not have any schools offering the CELTA qualification.

So my question is how valuable would an online course be? I'm interested in taking the course to aid my current teaching and, perhaps, to provide me with the opportunity to seek employment in other countries.

I have read so many negative things about online courses that I'm inclined to think that I'd be wasting my time and money.

Any advice is appreciated

[ls650]

I think for someone with your qualifications and education, an online TEFL would be of no help to you as a teacher.

I think it's possible that you might encounter a situation where the employer wants it, however. For example, at the school I currently work for, the employer asks for both a university degree _and_ a TEFL or teaching certificate of some kind.

Personally I would recommend you take a TEFL course with a classroom component so that you can have observation comments from an experienced teacher-trainer.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Hi Stu


Most people will tell you not to bother with an online course.

If you decide to ignore them here are 2 worth considering.


First; Jeff Mohamed's course. He's Joint Chief Assessor for CELTA

courses in the US and Mexico. He's also well known in the field

and contributes to the Teacher Training Forum here @ Dave's.


After completion of the basic foundation coursework,

you can opt for a 25 hour 'practice teaching' component,

which greatly enhances the value of the cert, imho.

This is done via video, as follows:

"Participants are required to plan and videotape six lessons given to classes of EFL students and to submit the plans and tapes for critiquing and evaluation. People who are currently teaching EFL can use their existing classes for practice teaching purposes. Other people have to arrange to teach (perhaps on a volunteer basis) six hours of EFL classes over a period of several weeks. The content of some of the lessons is specified by English International."


Jeff doesn't have the slickest webpage in the world,

but I believe there's quality in the course itself &

I've read positive comments from people.


reposted from his webpage:

"We offer three distance courses that lead to different levels of TEFL certification. The programs are designed by EI director Jeff Mohamed, who personally tutors each participant and provides individualized job search help."


Here's the link: http://www.english-international.com/



And here's one more in your neck of the woods which offers

an internship option after completion of the coursework:


http://www.innovative-english.com/tefl-online.htm



For additional online options (including distance MA TESOL programs)

you can head over to the General Asia, Thailand or Russia & CIS Forums,

click on The Master Index 'sticky post' and then scroll down towards the bottom.