Job Discussion Forums

[nickt555]

So I am definitely a Newbie. My situation is this. I have been out of College(BS in Env. Studies Policy and Management) for 2+years. I have been working at my current position for 2+ years as a GIS(Geographic Information Systems) Analyst at an Engineering Consulting Firm.

I want to go to China and teach English as well as practice Bagua (internal form of Kung Fu similar to Tai Chi). I've wanted to do this for awhile.

I posted a message on the China Jobs board about which TESOL organization to go through to get certified
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=721264#721264

The only person who replied mentioned that you can get TESOL in Beijing(I want to be in Beijing) and then look for a job once I was there.

Ok so my question or topic of conversation for this post is what is better getting TESOL certified in the States or in the country you wish to teach English in. There is an Oxford Seminar certification in my town at the end of this month and I am still trying to figure out if I should join.

So what is the consensus here?? Should I go to Beijing and get certified then look for a job while I am there or should I get certified here then look for a job??

Does anyone know if there will be Visa issues if I go there for a course then stay longer to teach?

Anyone have exceptional good luck with any particular certification organization they would like to share(US or abroad), especially those with good job placements......

[Justin Trullinger]

There are going to be a lot of people on here in a bit, with strong opinions about doing it where you are or overseas.

Do a search, and you'll see a lot of the opinions already.

Personally, I don't have strong feelings- there can be advantages either way.

But I would be careful about Oxford Seminars. I don't know which of their courses you are considering- but many of them simply don't meet the standards that "hirers" are looking for.

If it's a choice between Oxford Seminards where you are now, or SIT, Trinity, or CELTA (the biggies imo, and with decent names) in Beijing, I'd start packing.

But you should know now- there is no "TESOL" accrediting body. THis means that the acronym itself is NO guarantee of anything in particular. If you want to get a course that's worth your time and hard earned $$, research the individual course you're considering. Don't assume "if it says TESOL, it must all be the same." Nothing could be further from the truth.

Trinity certificates say "TESOL" and are amongst the most widely known and respected certs in the world.

SOme online courses, weeklong, and weekend courses have the same 5 letters on their certs.

But an employer who's worth his or her salt is going to know which cert is which.


Best,
Justin

[nickt555]

Ok...but how realistic is it to assume that I can get a job in China while getting my certification from an accredited school?