Job Discussion Forums

[Kiwiguy]

Hi there,

Can some people please let me know their thoughts on which course offers the better long term security.
ie which course has better standings when applying for jobs? is one broader reaching, better recognised etc etc??
Is their much of a difference in the two courses??

Look fwd to some info.

Thanks
G

[Cdaniels]

Get a Master's degree in TESOL. That will give you much better opportunites and better job security than any certificate.

For a certificate, it might be better to look into the individual schools rather than which certificate they offer.

[Justin Trullinger]

In any case, the two certs you mention are so similar in content, prestige, and cost, that the center that offers them may be the only way to choose between them.

Justin

[Kiwiguy]

Thanks guys,

Ive been accepted into the TESOL course and have just applied to the CELTA one, both in Spain. So will see what happens. A bit more research and hopefully some more opinions on here will help my decision....

[Guy Courchesne]

If all things are considered equal, perhaps you should ask some local employers which is preferred, working on the assumption that you want to stay in Spain to teach.

[Chris_Crossley]

I got my Trinity Certificate in TESOL four years ago and I have worked with some people who have got the CELTA. I know that, in China, it is pretty much a case of it being no matter which of these two you have, though the fact is that the "A" in CELTA stands for "adults". If you are interested in teaching children, you could top up your CELTA with a CELTYL, the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Young Learners, provided that you can find some school which offers it to trainees and, perhaps more importantly, another school which recognises it as a legit qualification so you can teach the youngsters.

Cdaniels has suggested getting a Master's degree in TESOL, yet that would assume that Kiwiguy has a bachelor's degree. I am aware that the University of Liverpool (UK), for example, does offer a 1-year full-time MA in TESOL for those people who have a bachelor's yet very little or else no teaching experience, yet it might not be worth taking a whole year out of your working life in order to do one, especially as one has to have the money for the tuition fees: GBP 3,010 if you have been living within the EU over the past three years, GBP 7,800 if you have not (2005-06).

Even 3,000 quid would be a heavy price to pay for a qualification that would, in my view, hardly get you further than a CELTA or a Trinity Certificate in that respect. If someone were to offer an MA in TESOL as a qualification, I would certainly look at how much teaching experience the applicant had. If none at all, then I would not place him or her in any higher position within a school just because he or she had obtained a postgraduate degree. They would be starting on the same level playing field as the others.

One might as well save up money for an MA in Education (Applied Linguistics), which usually requires applicants to have at least two years of teaching experience. Indeed, I have just started mine, albeit with the Open University (UK) rather than Liverpool, which also offers it on a full-time (1-year) and part-time (2-year) basis. Mine, however, is on a distance learning (also called e-learning nowadays) basis, since I am still living and working in China.

[Kiwiguy]

Good idea to contact employers, on the International House website all employeers seek CELTA, but I presume thats because IH is tied up with Cambridge.
Im more into teaching adults than children.... will probably tend towards business as well.

[Gregor]

Mr. Crossley (it WAS you this time, wasn't it??) pointed out what I wanted to - the CELTA focuses on adults. The other one does, too, but it doesn't specify it, and many providers of the Trinity College, London cert. will do more about children (which is often the bread and butter of this career choice) than a CELTA is likely to. That alone would make it a preference for me.

I can add one thing - as a DoS, I hire a lot of teachers, and it has been my experience that Trinity COllege certificate holders seem to be better prepared for the real life job. This may not have anything to do with the certificate course and everything to do with the course provider. And it's no guarentee that you will do well, anyway - I've had to sack one teacher of each (i.e. I've had to sack a CELTA holder and I've had to sack a Trinity cert. holder). (That said, you'll probably be fine.)
So. I haven't done any scientific studies, but with my particular experience, I would tend to lean toward Trinity certificate holders. The course they describe sounds harder and more comprehensive than the course that CELTA holders describe (I have neither, but my certificate was based on the CELTA). I wouldn't turn either of them away, though. Both good programs. It mostly depends on what you put into it.

[Mark Loyd]

[ls650]

Mark Loyd, optimist.

[Justin Trullinger]

Well, at least you got some genuine responses, OP.

And, dear, dear Mr Loyd. I always enjoy your insightful comments. Sometimes I wonder if you're trying to antagonize me. Then I realize that it's not me, you seem to be trying to antagonize everybody in this profession. (See, I'm playing nice. I've just called it a "profession," because I know that's one of your favourites...)

So why do I rise to the bait? An imponderable I suppose, unless I find time to see a shrink.

But I still feel the need to mention two things. One, I am a real teacher, as are my colleagues. Two, you could not pay me enough to do it in my home country.

Take care now,
Justin

[Cdaniels]

Chris Crossley's advice about teaching experience makes sense, but certainly MEd's from the US do not require two years teaching experience (although I assume teaching of some type is part of most curriculums) I really have little idea what a MA in TESOL involves, (I guess it wasn't a very genuine response! ) I assumed there would be as much, if not more, teaching required. As for Mark Loyd, obviously, the "gargle" has dimmed his brain!

[Kiwiguy]

HI all, some good posts there. Thanks very much.
But im still undecided. Interesting comment about the children side of things being the bread and butter. That certainly makes one think....

Mr Loyld, want a negative shite you are! Firstly If I was seeking a career to make money it most certainly would not be teaching, there are more things in life than money... yes it is a nescessary evil that we all must live with but for me the whole TEFL is about life experience not getting rich...

I have a phone interview with Cambridge on Tues so will be interesting to discuss their course with them. I have to say I found the Trinity College lacking in depth. Even down to the application process between the two, Cambridge is far more involved and even thought provoking...

[Guy Courchesne]

It's common for those over in China to work with kids, but I'm not sure it would be the same in Spain, again, on the assumption you want to teach there. Maybe check on that in the Spain forum...here in Mexico, those coming through a TEFL or CELTA course are unlikely to teach kids, unless you are tutoring.

Don't mind Mr. Loyd. He's sitting happy on a big pile of cash in the desert I believe...in the mecca of teaching abroad. We could always tease him with camel jokes.