Job Discussion Forums

[Nilofer]

Guys,

Would an online TESL course suffice as a qualification to teach in Costa Rica? If so, any recommendations for a decent one?

I have some experience giving private tutorials to a bunch of teenagers, would I need to provide proof of teaching experience to prospective employers/schools?

Thanks

[Rooster_2006]

I don't think most employers respect an online TEFL anywhere. If I were hiring for an English school, I'd automatically throw all the online TEFL candidates out unless they were qualified otherwise, considering how little work and actual, real-life practice one requires. An online TEFL may help you get past visa formalities, but since it doesn't usually include supervised lessons, it's completely theory with no practice. I recommend CELTA. Everyone recognizes CELTA because it's from Cambridge University and you teach nine supervised lessons, after which you are peer- and teacher-evaluated, and your lessons are evaluated "to standard," "not to standard," and if you're really good "above standard."

Once you have a TEFL certification with teaching practice, there are reputable online certifications, but these should only be undertaken after making sure your teaching method is sound. The DELTA can be taken online. I'd expect the MA TESOL can be, as well. However, these are theory classes -- the first thing you need to do well in a classroom is hands-on practice, which the online TEFL certificate mills almost never offer.

[teachwrite]

[ZiaSan]

Well, I am doing the BridgeTefl online cert right now and it's totally helpful so far. I have a tutor correcting my essays along the way and video tutorials to visually support the theories. It has a LOT of theory and 2 essays to do after each module! I don't think it's worthless at all...it's complete..not easy and a lot less costy!

I have a lot of animation background as it was my job for the past 3 years so all I was missing was the teaching tips and tricks!
Hope it'll be good enough for a job here

[jprimm]

I completed the Bridge Lingua-tec program (teflonline) and had no problem at all getting a job in Costa Rica. I had 5 job offers immediately. As far as face to face experience I had done a fair amount of volunteer teaching in the United States. I also believe that my business background was certainly more valuable as a point of reference, I was and am teaching business executives, than any CELTA, etc course. It is my opinion, that the best learning is really on the job and many schools will give you the Cambridge books to follow, also not a favorite of mine. Plus the price is right for the Bridge program!!

[OleLarssen]