Job Discussion Forums

Xine · Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

This question is less about Celta vs Global, etc and more about how to evaluate a school. I'm looking at UET in PV and ITTO in GDL (both Mexico) but am not sure what criteria I should use to evaluate them.

Thanks!

joshua2004 · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:12 pm Post subject:

Do you already have a bachelors or masters degree? Or is this an option available to you?

Xine · Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

I have a bachelors (but not in education). At this point, I'm living in Mexico and do not intend to purse a Masters right now. If I return to the States and or stay here for a length of time and decide to stick with teaching, I will want to pursue a master's.

joshua2004 · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:14 pm Post subject:

Then you don't need a English teaching certificate in order to find and land a job. Go out there and find a decent paying job and get your feet wet! Experience is the best teacher. That and a good book. I personally read a lot of Stephen Krashen. http://www.sdkrashen.com/main.php3

There is no accepted evaluation criteria for English teaching certificate schools.

Cdaniels · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 3:15 am Post subject: another agenda?

Are you writing a guide book or something, Xine? There's no apparent reason for you to consider either one, let alone trying to "evaluate" both of them. You might want to try Englishschoolwatch.org if you're determined to continue to research this.

Xine · Joined: 03 Jul 2005 Posts: 4

Sure you don't need a certificate. But I've been told that the better schools look for experience and/or certification. Which makes logical sense to me.

I do have experience and it was very useful. But I think a combination of education and experience is better than just plain experience. You can struggle through something and learn on the job but a little training on something can also put you leaps and bounds ahead in something you want to do. Maybe all the ESL students should just jump in and forget about classes too?!

I think it's really strange that someone would ask if I'm writing a guidebook because I'm trying to evaluate a good TEFL training program. Isn't this board about education?

Cdaniels · Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 4:14 pm Post subject: I'm such a mean s.o.b!

OK, for different perspectives, check out this thread:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=31851&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
My beef (yeah, you rightly detect an attitude) is your asking for information that is highly speculative, very likely to change over time, and not very helpful to others. This board is indeed about education, but your question invites gossip and hearsay, not good info about education. For the record, I'm highly suspicious of UET from just their website. The US flag on the homepage (WTF?), with little reference to the costs, (one flat fee?) ITTO looks better, but if you are really concerned about the quality of one school over another, go to a CELTA school, period. The fact that you can't see how the CELTA vs Trinity debate applies to the consideration and evaluation of schools in general also bothers me. I wasted so much time on such inconsequential matters, and it gets under my skin to see someone do the same thing.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Why not hit this from the other side of the coin? Go ask employers and schools about the courses you are considering. Let them be the judge.

joshua2004 · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:38 pm Post subject: