Job Discussion Forums

Intrepido · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Daly City, Ca

I could use some advice. I'm living in the USA and considering moving overseas to teach English. 2 of the countries that appeal to me are Colombia and Poland.

Does it make sense to take the CELTA here in the US, get a few months of experience (hopefully!), and then move overseas? Or does it make more sense to do the CELTA training in the country I want to teach at? I understand it helps to build contacts and gives one some time to become accustomed to the new country.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

It's also better to get certified in the country where you want to start because your practice teaching students will be more representative of the students you'll have when you actually start out. And employers are more likely to actually be familiar with your course provider.

I'd go for the CELTA in-country, if possible.

tedkarma · Posted: Thu Dec 28, 2006 12:24 pm Post subject:

I agree with Spiral.

In the country you intend to teach, most likely, your instructors will know and have connections with the best schools, will know which schools to avoid, and will have lots of experience with the specific problems students in that country have.

It will also allow you to get to know the city or area in which you wish to live, so you don't have to make an immediate commitment.

People will say you will not have time to look around or do anything, possibly true, but I am just saying that you will get some exposure that you would not get back "home" and that exposure will be quite helpful.

Another advantage of studying out of your home country is the great mix of students like yourself that you most likely would not get at home. As a teacher-trainer, I usually had people from all over the world in my classes. It was fun, if nothing else, to get to know the myriad English accents from around the world. You just won�t get that taking a course in the States.