Job Discussion Forums

[chicka]

I was wondering if anyone has done an on-line TESL course. Are there any that are worth doing? Also, does EMB recognize such courses? Any info would be much appreciated!

[ChrisRose]

Re: Online TEFL course


The quality between online programmes varies considerably;

1) Will you learn anythign useful. Yes, but nothing you can't already learn from the library or Internet.

2) Will the EMB recognise it. NO, only courses which meet guidlines will be considered. The most relivant guidline being a teaching practicum; "Having observed teaching practise of at least 6 hours."

With regards to face to face course providers, apart from the growing number of course providers I strongly reccommend you eqnuire which courses are available from local universities.

Chris

[chicka]

Chris. I appreciate the info. Since I teach full-time, I was hoping to get around having to go to class but it seem that's the best route. Thanks again.

[ChrisRose]

There are a myriad of excellent short courses available in HK.

Check out the courses at HKU SPACE or CUHK SBS. You may find something of interest there.

Also the OU HK offer some teaching practicums as part for thier B.Ed and PGCE programmes.

Other than consider a 1 month cert. with teachign practise. Whilst it might be a reasonable amoutn of time and perhaps money, it may be benifical to have the acceptable bits of paper for the EMB.

The cost of doing either a CELTA or Trinity Cert. in HK can be more that the total cost fo doing the same programe overseas.

[chicka]

I'm actually in Korea and planning on heading to HK at some point. The on-site courses here are pretty pricey so I guess have to do some more research on courses here.

[briandwest]

Chris,
Where have you come across the 6 hours observation requirement?
The standard Letter of Appointment (contract) simply states:
"[You are required to obtain a Teaching of English as a Foreign Language or a Teaching of English as a Second Language (TEFL/TESL) qualification at least at certificate level within the first Contract of your employment at your own expenses and in your own spare time. If you fail to obtain the qualification required within the specified time, you may not be re-employed as a NET upon the completion of the first Contract.]"

and I have never come across the 6 hours thing in any official documents since I became a PNET.
I'd love to find out more as I completed the i-to-i TEFL to meet this criteria, on the recommendation of 2 other PNETs, and it has been oked by the Qualificaitons Assessment Authority.

[Lao Wai]

Briandwest,

The requirements for the TESL cert. stated by another poster do exist. There is an EMB circular which states the criteria, which includes so many hours of supervised practicum. However, the feeling I get is that as long as you have a piece of paper that says TESL on it, they won't push the issue.

I'm a PNET who will soon be into my second year of my contract. I'm a qualified teacher from Canada who has taught ESL in Asia for 3 years and did a TESL class in my education degree. The fact that the EMB expects me to get a TESL certificate is laughable. I say this because the EMB will accept a person with a BA + TESL cert as a PNET. Yet, I have had 15 weeks of a supervised practicum duing my Ed. degree, have read countless education articles, etc. I think it's a little insulting is all. So, if I can help it, I won't be doing a TESL course if they expect me to to an expensive one like Oxford, etc. If the EMB would accept an online cert. like 'i to i', I would probably do it. The only thing I'm concerned about is that I might not get my gratuity (no one has said this, but you never know). My principal told me she won't bug me about getting the cert. as long as the EMB doesn't bug her about it.

So Briandwest, the online certificate was ok'd by the EMB? Is this the 60 hour online course? Also, are there any PNETS out there who did not get the certificate? What was the result? Thanks.

[Honky Nick]

Myself and about 5 other NETs that I know all did online certificates and they were all approved by the EMB.

[ChrisRose]

The EMB guidliens on TEFL / TESL

They are form an EMB curicular, I have a hard copy someehere and will post the link for you.

Chris

[ChrisRose]

http://www.emb.gov.hk/UtilityManager/circular/upload/EMBC/EMBC03012E.PDF

I beleive there is a 2005 update to the above, I shall check later.


My appologies, I might have been confussing the IATA and BATIQ guidlines, they both have soem variance on the amoutn and types of TP; e.g.

the number of hours of obseerved TP, peer to peer and number of hours of externally moderated TP.

[hkteach]

I'm a NET in my fourth year and I don't have a TEFL/TESOL qualification and don't intend to get one. I told my principal this when I renewed my contract and he said he wouldn't make a fuss about it. Nobody has asked me to get one and I don't expect that this will happen.

EMB statement on qualifications is quite ambiguous but if you have an education degree and recognised teaching qualification you don't need an extra EFL qualification. High echelon EMB folk have stated this.
If you fulfil those requirements, don't rush out and get TEFL. There are many long-serving NETs here without it.

[briandwest]

Cheers for the link, Chris.