Job Discussion Forums

VoxiBurchenau · Joined: 19 Jan 2005 Posts: 11

I've been teaching EFL for about two years now w/o a cert. and now want one. I've neither time nor money for a 6wk in-house program, and have experience teaching so I want to get the cert. online. Does anyone know of any reputable companies, or ones I should stay away from? I'm looking into i-to-i and BridgeLinguatec for the moment. Thanks for all your help.

Dynamitestarbuck · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Istanbul

Im doing the i-to-i online certificate, cos like you my time is rather limited. It is a good course .... feedback is always on time etc. The course deals with the basics ... good grammar module etc .... but doesnt involve any practical experience. (doh!)

Its suited to me because i have teaching experience (i did a teaching degree at uni), but have never done tefl before. Of course it doesnt have a practical element, so it is mostly suited to people with teaching experience who want to brush up/get a certificate .... just like you. lol

My experience of them has been good so far .... im really enjoying the course, and am heading out to istanbul in september to work. The only thing that worries me is the lack of practical experience, cos i still dont feel confident to go in front of a class. That wont be a problem for you tho.

In conclusion .... im enjoying the course ... its been a good experience.

M x Very Happy

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Are you Istanbul? If so, then ITI will be doing a CELTA course soon.
(btw dynamitestarbuck, where are you in Edinburgh?)

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

I am not sure if it is the homebrew I had last night or the thought of an ITI TEFL course that has given me the dry heaves.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Come on thrifty 'fess up. You did your dip at ITI.
There are worse things in life than sitting through a session with TG or BN

Dynamitestarbuck · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Istanbul

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

I am indeed. From Trinity. You're from Dalry?.... not a Jambo? Shocked

Dynamitestarbuck · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Istanbul

Haha ... nope ... im originally from somewhere much worse ... Fife. Just moved here when i finished uni. All that football nonsense ... pah!
Ive never been to Trinity ... so are you living here now, or are you in istanbul?

M x

nicoletteines · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Seattle, WA, USA

I really advise against i-to-i. My husband and I originally enrolled in their 60-hr plus placement (around 1,000USD). The material was very low quality, and they lied about our placement. We demanded a refund and reported them to the Better Business Bureau for false advertising because of the placement issues. As far as I can tell, their certificate is only accepted by their affiliated schools (limited supply) anyway.

We enrolled in the London Teacher Training College online Diploma in TESOL, which is a 180 hour course completely online. It is cheaper and the information in the course is actually professional level material. Their graders are very efficient and you receive your grades within a day and can move throughout the course material as you desire.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

That is twice you have been ripped off.

Why not do something that is recognised if you are going to pay good money?

nicoletteines · Joined: 11 Jun 2006 Posts: 9 Location: Seattle, WA, USA

In fact, our interviewers seem impressed with the content depth of our LTTC course. We were about to be turned down by English First because our certification didn't include observed teaching practice, but once we went over our LTTC Module content, they said it was more in-depth than even the CELTA or DELTA and offered a contract as long as we can present an acceptable demo lesson.

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

English First advertises on lamp posts.

Dynamitestarbuck · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Istanbul

Well so far i am happy with my i-to-i course .... i always get good feedback, and on time as well. I emailed a lot of schools in Istanbul and asked about what their requirements are, and was told that experience and a cert are just as good as a cert that includes practical training.

As i said before ... if you have never taught before it might not be the best choice, as the materials are more of an add-on.
For me, i-to-i are a good choice, because moving abroad can be a bit scary, and as im going through them it gives me someone to go back to if things dont work out.

Although people may have low opinions of certain courses, it really doesnt make us (the people about to make the move) feel great about how things are gonna turn out. For those people who are doing the i-to-i course .... for me it has been a good choice. Like every course, there are both good and bad points. I wasnt ready to make the move on my own, and i really value the help and support i have been given so far from i-to-i.

M x

thrifty · Joined: 25 Apr 2006 Posts: 1665 Location: chip van

The schools are not too picky, nothing new there.

Dynamitestarbuck · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Istanbul

Why do you always have to be so negative? Its not making newcomers (who are nervous about taking the plunge) feel too great.

As its getting closer im getting a bit edgy, and your negative comments dont help too much. Im sure there are others in the same boat.

M x