Job Discussion Forums

teflsweet · Joined: 28 Apr 2008 Posts: 20

which one of these certs is held in the highest esteem?

this is similar to my first post, but i wanted to make sure that i had this specific question answered. sorry.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject:

CELTA is the Cambridge owned acronym.

TEFL and TESOL are public domain acronyms used to refer English teaching certifications. BEcause they aren't owned by anybody, they get stuck to a lot of certs. Some are good, some aren't.

Rather than compare acronyms, you need to do your research and consider specific courses- look into course providers, rather than letters.

What you want is an on site course, at least four weeks long, with onsite, real observed teaching practice. Courses should be at least 120 hours long, at least 6 hours practice teaching. Trainers should be experienced teachers (more than 5 years?) with post graduate qualifications. Should be accredited by a real educational organisation, such as a university, which has other programs. (Many of your dodgy cert programs invent organisations, then accredit themselves. avoid them. )

In my opinion, Trinity TESOL, SIT TESOL, and CELTA are the most reliable names worldwide. Certainly, there are other good courses, but for a reliable course, wherever you take it, I can only speak for those three.

Best,
Justin

PS- Not unbiased. I'm an SIT TESOL trainer. BUt check the reviews of graduates!

orinlouis · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 31

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:42 pm Post subject:

I think if you use the search feature a little, you'll find some of your answers; if you can't, I or someone else will do a little searching when we have a free moment and paste links. But quickly-

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

orinlouis,

I have a TESL certificate through a university that cost around $3000 and included a minimum of 10 hours teaching and 50 hours observation/volunteering. My supervisor has 20 years experience.

Even with that, I find being a new teacher being a major struggle! What will a $200 online certificate teach you!?

orinlouis · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 31

Taught ESL full-time at a private school for half of a year.
Taught ESL private lessons for nearly 10 years.
Subbed for 2 years.
Taught English, writing and rhetoric at the college level for 2 years.
Bachelor's and Master's in English.

Not suggesting I'm anywhere near your high caliber; also not saying I wouldn't benefit from a $3K degree. If I had my choice, I'd live off savings and study for the LSAT. Fact is, I can't get a job teaching here in the states, since there aren't any. I can't even get a job at McDonald's right now. I'm broke and running out of options.

Like MANY others out there, YES, I am in it for the money. I do enjoy traveling, and I do have a tough skin. Don't expect to get rich, but do expect to live better than I am here (I JUST WANT WORK). My first choice would be to work here, but since there is NO work here, I must do what I can to eat and sleep inside.

I have no time to go for the best.

I have time only to go for the best that will take me now.

My question is this:

Is a $200 degree COMPLETELY worthless, or is there any reason to get one? No, I do not expect the best students, to work at the most reputable university (or any university), or be paid the greatest amount a noob can expect. I only wonder: Does ANY reason to pay the $200 and get this extra certificate exist? Many places require one. Surely, they will choose you over me. But does this certificate (cheap and crappy as it is) open up other jobs not available to me now?

Thank you for your help. Very much appreciated.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Quite a lot will depend on what region(s) of the world you are thinking of going to.

In Europe, I can say that your 200-dollar cert will not open doors at all.

In some other regions, perhaps...but the general standard is the 100+ hour on-site course including supervised teaching practice on actual students, with feedback from experienced teacher trainers. I see from your self-description that you have some experience, but not that you've been in a situation to receive input on your teaching from qualified teachers or trainers.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

orinlouis--

You've taught at a university and you have an MA in English. You might not need a TEFL certificate at all with that background. Normally I encourage people to get the cert., but you may be past it by now--which isn't to say that you couldn't learn anything (my understanding of English MAs is that they are literature-based, which won't help at all in the classroom, and teaching rhetoric is quite different from teaching basic speaking skills, etc....), and maybe your teaching style won't translate well into an EFL environment, but I'd bet that with your current qualifications you could get job offers even without a TEFL certificate.

d

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:51 pm Post subject:

IMO, a $200 cert doesn't open doors anyplace that I know of. Nor should it.

But with your experience and degrees, you might not need a cert some places. (I still think you'd benefit, and perhaps offer more to your students. But if, as you say, you're in it strictly for the money, I'd skip the cert and start applying in Korea.)

Best,
Justin

PS- vocabulary check: the teaching qualifications we're talking about are certificates- degrees are way different.

orinlouis · Joined: 13 Apr 2008 Posts: 31

Pleasantly surprised with your answers.

Very helpful.

Best wishes,

O