Job Discussion Forums

[laurakay]

It states on the i-to-i site that it specialises in postings for Poland, China, South Korea, Turkey and Thailand. I would like to know if the i-to-i Telf Cert for any other country, or would taking a 4 week course open more countries up for me to work in.
Thanks

[paulmanser]

Get a 4 week TESOL/TEFL cert deffinately. I did mine with INTESOL International and would do it again as it was just amazing. i to i cert is ok for introduction or to do their piad placement or just for the sake of having a quick TEFL cert. I'm thinking of going through i to i myself.

[Kodak]

While I do most definately plan to get a CERTA at some point in the future, I just graduated and can no way afford the �1000+ price tag to do it here in the UK right now.

I'm doing the �200 40 hour weekend + GAM i-to-i course in Newcastle, UK at the end of July not because it's a recognised cert but because it's cheap and it opens a few doors. Also, it will give me some experiecne, no matter how small, and let me know a little about what to expect. I've had no teaching or TEFL experience at all and I figure this place it a start.

Seeing as how I want to be in Turkey anyway I figure I've got nothing to lose (execpt 40 hours of my life and �200 precious punds )

[Topo Gigo]

i-to-i arrange paid and up-paid teaching placements in these countries, but you have to pay (~�500) and do their on-line course. I considered doing this, but have decided against it as looking around on this forum, it seems you can get jobs in these countries fairly easily by applying to adverts here, and doing a bit of homework. It seems that the main requirement for most countries is simply having a degree, although there can be ways around that.
The on-line course is ok, but there is no actual teaching practice unless you go on their weekend residential course too. I'm taking it as I don't have time to go away for 4 weeks, but I didn't want to go with nothing (as it turns out, I don't really need that even as I have been offered a place with NOVA - yey i think ! - it may be somethingto fall back on if nova doesn't work out, but I want to stay in Japan).

If you have no teaching experience, enough time and money, and want to get a teaching job that isn't a Japanese converstion school, the 4 week course is probably a good idea - however, if you just want a taster (another reason I didn't fork out for a 4 week course was what if I decide I don't like teaching?) the i-to-i course could be a good option. Kodak's idea is probably a good one - get more qualifications as you go along.
If you don't have a degree, your best bet is probably deciding on a country you want to go to then seeing if one is required, or if there is a way round it.

[Chancellor]

I-to-i is a good way to get some TEFL training and an entry level TEFL position somewhere but I would certainly take any opportunity available to supplement it with additional training.

[Eva Pilot]

I did the i-to-i course, the online study, practical and GAM, and it was really helpful, not in actually getting me my job, but giving me some great skills to help me with the job.

[orangiey]

Come to China! No degree/TEFL/CELTA/expereince needed. (except in Bejing/Shanghai).
I did it! (Got CELTA after and employers never even saw it). Get some experience here,money and then move on. I did my CELTA at Shanghai university last summer.