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Classroom type vs. Distance learning
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antonics



Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:11 pm    Post subject: Classroom type vs. Distance learning Reply with quote
Hi,

Am about to take TESOL class soonest and am inclined to take distance learning instead of classroom type because there were some delays in the start of the classroom type of training owing to the fact that there were some students who backed out of the program leaving me alone which was not cost-effective for the school. (I hope they return my 50% downpayment!!!). I was able to locate a school within the Philippines which discouraged me from taking their classroom type of training for the same reason. I am about to embark on the distance learning but want to know the pros and cons. Distance leaning is much more affordable, i know, but what about the total scenario? Will i have less of a chance of getting a job because the TESOL certificate will reflect "distance learning"? The distance learning school accredited by ACTDEC will grant me associate teacher in TESOL. Will that already qualify me to teach abroad? Appreciate anyone who can clarify the picture. Best regards.
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ls650



Joined: 10 May 2003
Posts: 3484
Location: British Columbia
PostPosted: Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Classroom type vs. Distance learning Reply with quote
antonics wrote:
Will i have less of a chance of getting a job because the TESOL certificate will reflect "distance learning"?

What kind of job are you looking for? Any school willing to accept a generic TEFL certificate isn't likely to ask if it is distance or not.

Personally I would recommend a classroom-based course simply to gain experience teaching real students.
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Justin Trullinger



Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 3110
Location: Seoul, South Korea and Myanmar for a bit
PostPosted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
When hiring teachers, I might accept a "generic TEFL qualification," as there are a lot of them around. But I would research exactly what the course involved.

A good course has:
Highly qualified trainers
at least 100 hours of classroom time
observed teaching practice (6 hours minimum, but more is good)

There are not many online courses that meet any of these requirements, let alone all of them.

I would only consider hiring the holder of an online cert that didn't meet these requirements if the teacher had other experience and qualifications. For example, I have a teacher working for me now (and she rocks!) who has an online cert. As she also has a degree in education, and several years classroom experience, I would have hired her, certificate or no certificate. But if she only had the online qualification, she'd have never made it to the interview stage.


Best,
Justin
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Chancellor



Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
PostPosted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:35 pm    Post subject: Re: Classroom type vs. Distance learning Reply with quote
ls650 wrote:
antonics wrote:
Will i have less of a chance of getting a job because the TESOL certificate will reflect "distance learning"?

What kind of job are you looking for? Any school willing to accept a generic TEFL certificate isn't likely to ask if it is distance or not.

Personally I would recommend a classroom-based course simply to gain experience teaching real students.
Obviously a distance TEFL course isn't going to be able to provide a teaching practicum but I can't see why it would make any difference whether one learned the rest of it by sitting in a classroom or sitting at home in front of your own computer. Obviously, since teacher training just isn't complete without a real teaching practicum, one should seek out opportunities (after getting the online training) to put that training to work in a classroom through volunteer teaching or by taking in something like i-to-i's onsite advanced courses in Spain and Thailand.

As for course content, here's the online course content from i-to-i:

Module 1 (2-3 hrs approx) : Student Motivation, Teacher Roles & EFL Methodology
Module 2 (6-8 hrs approx) : Grammar Awareness
Module 3 (3-4 hrs approx) : Classroom Management & Student Levels
Module 4 (6-8 hrs approx) : How to teach Grammar
Module 5 (4-5 hrs approx) : How to teach Vocabulary
Module 6 (3-4 hrs approx) : Observe & analyse a teacher in action (on DVD ROM)
Module 7 (1-2 hrs approx) : How to teach Speaking and Writing Skills
Module 8 (4-5 hrs approx) : How to teach Reading and Listening Skills
Module 9 (5-6 hrs approx) : Games & Lesson Planning
Module 10 (1hr approx) : Information & Resources

Additional modules also available for purchase (these are optional):
Young Learners (5 hrs approx) : Designed specifically for those who expect to teach young learners (6 - 12 year olds) overseas.
Business English (6 hrs approx) : Designed to help you teach to those who wish to develop their communication skills for business or professional purposes.
Teaching with Limited Resources (4 hrs approx) : has been developed to assist teachers who do not have access to modern equipment, adequate course materials and other teaching aids or for teachers who work or expect to work in developing countries.

There's also a 20-hour grammar awareness module that is not online but, instead, is a workbook that one must complete and send in to be graded.
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Chancellor



Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
PostPosted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Justin Trullinger wrote:
A good course has:

at least 100 hours of classroom time

Since online courses are done online, how do you imagine such courses would include classroom time?
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
PostPosted: Tue Aug 01, 2006 10:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Module 7 (1-2 hrs approx) : How to teach Speaking and Writing Skills
Module 8 (4-5 hrs approx) : How to teach Reading and Listening Skills

Interesting disparity in the number of hours allotted for these, let alone the grouping (speaking and writing? reading and listening?).

Oh, heck, an hour to tell someone everything there is to know about teaching Speaking, and then coffee, followed by another 60 minutes for training on Writing. Yeah, that'll about do. Gimme a break.
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Calories



Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 361
Location: Chinese Food Hell
PostPosted: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Dude, don't worry about it. You'll probably be fine with that. Do which ever course you feel you want to do. A lot of people on this board are upitity about their teaching qualifications because a lot of people on this board don't have any. Like me! Er, I mean, I got the oxford seminar which is way less work than that course. Got me a job no problem. Besides, if you get yourself a job as an "oral english teacher" then you don't need to worry at all.
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