Job Discussion Forums

[nickkembel]

I am registered to take TEFL International's PELT course this spring in Bangkok. I have done some research on this website and others, and must admit that I have found more bad reviews than good, but have still managed to contact very few people who have actually taken the course.

Has anybody taken the course more recently? What was your experience like?

I am just worried, but it does seem that the few people who had (really) bad things to say about it had all taken the course some time ago, so I am hoping things have improved.

I also contacted the company for specific details, such as the starting time, length and location of the 'internship', and the wages, and other specifics like this, and the info I received was very ambiguous and did not always correlate to the info posted on their website (for example, 400-500 $ per month wage on the website, vs. less than 250$ per month according to someone I spoke with).

Thanks for your input.

[kenkannif]

Do their 'proper' course would be my advice.

I think they pay you like 15,000 Baht a month???

[Bruce]

The PELT is very much a proper course. Admittedly we had to work through some kinks in the beginning because the PELT is a very different way of taking a course. However, with over 160 hours of training 6 hours of Observed Teaching Practice and approximately 100 hours of unobserved teaching it is certainly AT LEAST a proper course.

Suman has been the Lead Trainer now for the past six months and things have been running very smoothly. If you want to contact some of the recent participants just Email me and I will put you in touch with a dozen or so.

Bruce

[kenkannif]

Sorry I just meant it wouldn't really be accepted worldwide as a 'proper' course. AUA for example (a so so school) don't accept it from what I can gather due to lack of classroom hours. Kuwait won't accept it either will they?

You don't have 100 hours class time do you??? Rather 4 or 5 days and then loads of DVD's? So in that sense in the 'fussier' countries there's no way it would be comparable to the CELTA or other 'established' TEFL/TESOL courses and thus wouldn't be accepted? Also the 100 hours unobserved teaching is basically a job.

Certainly 'enough' for Thailand though, I won't disagree with that.

[clock]

I agree with kenkannif

What credentials do the trainers have? Are they DELTA certified?
There are so many dodgy teacher training courses around these days and it's a worry that many people take these courses not realising that apart from the less picky countries, it will be recognised as a low-quality course. Even Thailand is beginning to wake up to the fact that some courses are MUCH better than others. Just try getting a job anywhere in Europe (with the possible exception of Moldova!!) with this course.
15000 a month is pitiful pay.

[kenkannif]

I'm not speaking about the trainers, but to say it's comparable to their full time 'proper' course isn't really fair.

[Bruce]

The PELT is really MORE than a proper course. I know the Head Person at AUA has a problem with it but it is more than a normal cert course. It is new and different, so there is bound to be a few people complaining about wanting things the old way.

Instead of sitting in a classroom you watch others sitting in a classroom on DVD. THere is a drawback--you cannot participate and ask questions. But you can watch the DVD multiple times.

All assignments are exactly the same as a regular course.

Trainers are often world famous... better than a regular course.

There is full Observed Teaching Practice.

And there is lots of extra unobserved hours.

If anyone can explain how it is not as good as a regular ourse, please let me know. I want details, not just generalities.

[kenkannif]

I assume because it doesn't adhere to the 'standard' 100 hours class time that is thought of as the international norm. Like I said Kuwait also won't accept it, so it's not just AUA and a 'grudge'.

The problem is most employers won't need to 'prove' why it isn't a 'proper' course, rather the graduates will need to 'prove' why it is.

So while I personally don't think it is as good as a 'proper' course that's not really the point...it's whether it's accepted as being better than a 'proper' course...which I think you and your grads will struggle to do....but better than no training at all.

So you'd say that this is as good as if not better than your full time 'proper' course? I think that's a bit unfair on your full time grads personally.

Watching a DVD is vastly different from being taught by a trainer....if it was that easy and DVD were that effective....there'd be no need for EFL teachers....DVDs would just be used. So it really doesn't add up.


You offer a good full time course though!

[Bruce]

First of all, where is the evidence that Kuwait does not accept this certificate? Can you give me some contact info?

Diane Larson Freeman said in a recent interview that the one thing we know about Teacher Training is that we learn more through TEACHING than anywhere else. That is the point of PELT.

There is also a five-day face-to-face training that includes most of the actual TEACHER TRAINING that you study in a course.

Do you REALLY need to be in a classroom paying someone else to study Language Awareness? That is about 20 hours of any Cert program. What about Foreign Language Experience? That is usually 5 more hours. You see where I am going here. While it is nice to study in a group, it simply is not necessary for a lot of the things you actually study on a TESOL certificate course.

[Welshguy]

I guess if you are going to commit your time and resources to gaining certification my advice would be to go for the one that covers all your bases for you. Whatever the relative merits of either it appears to me that your potential problem lies in the brand awareness and acceptability of say a PELTA vs a CELTA with the latter seemingly winning out on that score. As for AUA , would that they could be so choosey!!!!

W

[Bruce]

Well I hope people do not think I am saying that four-week courses are bad or unnecessary. After all, TEFL International offers four-weel courses in nearly 20 centers around the world! We are, in fact, the largest TESOL course provider in the world and are behind only CELTA in number of Certificates issued per year (thats right, we've passed Trinity). Most people should take a four-week course. But some people, especially experienced teachers, simply do not need to. THe PELT course is perfect for them. And considering it does really meet all international standards and is signed by David Nunan it should be recognized by everyone, AUA included. Their DOS just has a personal problem....

[Henry_Cowell]

[clock]

[Bruce]

Our course in Plymouth has been operating for well over a year now and we have yet to receive a complaint about lack of acceptability.

Growing from one center to 17 in six years certainly is not proof of quality. However, it certainly does show acceptability. Of course, if we were not a quality course we certainly have a hard time attracting students...

[Henry_Cowell]