Job Discussion Forums

tekra · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Brisbane, Australia

Can experienced TEFL teachers recommend specific TEFL qualifications for older Newbies who don't have a degree, and are wanting to teach in China?

tanuki · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 47

Said it before on this board: the best TEFL quals (for most places, that is):

a pulse.

Bonus qualification: being caucasian

Heck, anyone'd think I were cynical or something Laughing

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

The Cambridge CELTA and Trinity Certificate (CTESOL) are the most widely recognised entry level TEFL qualifications. Both include opportunities to observe qualified teachers and at least 6 hours of observed teaching practice.

tekra · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Brisbane, Australia

Thanks tanuki. I used to play guitar and keyboard in bands, and was thinking to use music and singing as a way of developing confidence and pronunciation skills. Seems you might agree.

I agree that CELTA is probably the academic choice, stillnosheep, but haven't yet found a course in Beijing that offers accomodation and job assistance as well - looking for a package deal since I've never been there before.

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:36 am Post subject:

tekra · Joined: 15 Jul 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Brisbane, Australia

Thanks for that, tedkarma. You've vindicated some long-standing suspicions of mine, and I'll look up Zuhai even though I'm probably committed to Beijing. Cool

newgabe · Joined: 13 Nov 2006 Posts: 18 Location: Australia

You could also do a course here in Brisbane. I am just doing a Teach International course that combines in class and online sections. It was pretty rushed, but it was a sound introduction with good teachers. There are other ones as well, but one reason I chose it was that it also has a good forum of its own for graduates and students. It didn;t seem to be any more expensive than the one you are thinking of in China.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

The Boland school www.boland-china.com also has a course in Suzhou. I did their course in the Czech Rep and found it to be very good. You'll learn grammar, teaching vocab, etc. Also it's got 148 hours and about 12, I think, of teaching and it's done in 4.5 weeks.