Job Discussion Forums

[pema]

I read alot of postings discussing the benefits of TEFL certification.

Are online certifications useful in the job market??

I also see numerous online courses for $200-$300. Is an online certification helpful for hiring or increased salary.

I am considering

http://www.bridgelinguatec.com/

Any other grads of Bridge out there?

I have BS and MBA with uni teaching experience but little TEFL experience.

Your replies are appreciated.

[naturegirl321]

If they have 100 hours, they're ok. However, it's best to have atleast 6 hours of real teaching. I konw that ACTDEC has this option.

Or simply play up the teaching experience that you have. DO you have a PGCE or PGDE or QTS? If you do, that's a plus.

It's not necessary to have a TEFL cert. It's useful, but just because you don't have it doesn't mean that you won't get a job.

A lot depends on where you want to go. Asia, the Middle East, Latin America? Everyone has different requirements. Tell us more about where you want to do and your teaching experience so that we can help you.

[pema]

Thanks for the post naturegirld321.

I am interested in SE Asia esp. Cambodia and Vietnam. I am very interested in the buddhist roots of these countries. I am an American and would like to feel that I have done something to undue the tragedy of our foreign policy in these places.

I am living in Sweden now so it is not so easy for me to get CELTA certification here or other onsite TEFL training.

With online TEFL being so available and cheap it almost seems to me that an employer could fairly ask why I did not even take the time to do on online course.

My BS and MBA are in Global Management and so I am also interested in teaching courses in those areas as well if that background would be more useful.

[naturegirl321]

I really don't think that you will need a TEFL cert for those places. But I think it's difficult to find a job in Cambodia. HAven't seen many posts for jobs there. That being said, there is a Cambodia forum here, so you can start making contacts.

I guess an online course is a good place to start and then if after a year you want to continue teaching you can do an onsite course. Maybe your employeer would offer to pay for part of it.

[Justin Trullinger]

In class. More expensive, I know, but a lot more credible.

Best,
Justin

[tedkarma]

Generally the thought is that any training is better than no training - so an online program is better than nothing.

They aren't usually accepted by schools that want a "real" TEFL certification though. However, your experience and education may well overrule the requirement. It just depends on the person reviewing your resume.

But . . . a good 100 hour program with six hours of observed teaching practice will probably give you much better idea of the challenges ahead and how to meet them.

[Jameso]

Like Justin, I think in class training is given far more credibility by employers. This is mainly down to the genuine teaching practice element. You mentioned that you live in Sweden. Do any of the countries that you would like to teach in have courses running in them. That would give you a good feel for the country and provide you with a recognised qualification at the end of it. I know its expensive for the training courses, but without TP I don't think a course has much value. Not just for the CV, but also for your own confidence when you walk in front of a class for the first time. As we all know, students can smell fear

Good luck

[pema]

I appreciate all of your replies. Thank you!