Job Discussion Forums

DoubleDutch · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 51 Location: China

I consider myself to be a traveller and have lived in several European countries. Now I want to see more of the world, especially Asia. I look at TEFL as a good way to combine my love of learning (esp. foreign cultures) with my love of teaching. Passing on (some of) my knowledge and so help others has always been a big part of job satisfaction for me.

I've narrowed down my search to China - not that China could be considered narrow, I know... Wink

Now that I want to get started on TEFL, of course I want to be well-prepared. So I'm looking for an on-site course (CELTA or equivalent content). To my surprise there seem to be few courses based in China. Are there any that people can recommend?

Or should I consider going to say Vietnam or Thailand instead to get the certification and then go to China? I have limited financial reserves, so at this point I'd rather save on the extra flight, visa, etc. and use that money as a safety net while I get started in a new job in a country far away from home. Cool

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

Why not work for awhile and then get your certificate? The experience would no doubt help make the course go a bit easier. I know my teaching experience made my recent TEFL course go smoother.

DoubleDutch · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 51 Location: China

Mostly to have an extra ace up my sleeve when looking for a job, as I am not a native speaker. I am a Dutchman (hence my nick) but with a native level of English.

I do have teaching experience, so I have that part covered. I did some private lessons for Greek students to help them prepare for their Cambridge Proficiency (CPE) exam. Also I was a teacher in middle-school/high-school in Holland for 3 years (but in an unrelated subject).

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

You'll be fine dude.. Trust me.. the difference in pay between a person with a cert and a person without one is minuscule.

MOD EDIT

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

CELTA is virtually unheard of in large swaths of China; however, you might discover that China is not to your taste. In other countries, CELTA could be very useful. As for China, the CELTA model, requiring individual participation, is impractical for classes of 50-60 students.

DoubleDutch · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 51 Location: China

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

They do have a Celta course in Beijing through language links.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

The suggestion to work to get experience and then get certification is simply moronic.

If you are not an actual teacher and expect to do the job semi-professionally, then go get your necessary certifications before even going within breathing room of a classroom.

Adeem · Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject:

The summer course in Shanghai was pretty good, though pretty pricey as well. Can vouch that the people there are professional and the atmosphere is good. Took it last year.

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

I'm neither a rook nor a "dancing monkey"

I don't sing and dance, play some guitar, lug around the same backpack I carried clothes in upon arrival, and I don't play Chinese hackey-sack.

I teach - plain and simple.

My comments were based on the fact that the original poster inquired into a training course (in other words, the whole point of the topic) and you chose to comment on it - thus, so did I.

If a job the OP wants actually requires a certification of some kind then it is relevant. If he teaches somewhere that doesn't require on and chooses not to get one, then so-be-it.

It is also moronic for anyone without a proper education and/or training to be teaching ANYONE.

We're not all people who can't get a job in our own countries or are running from something (such as a criminal background).

If you are happy being a dancing monkey, I'm sure there is some Broadway show you can join.

Sugar Magnolia · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 233

Your classes are probably boring too and your students don't like you.

I recommend www.onlinetefl.com = "i-to-i" TEFL certificate. Bridge Linguatic seems good as well.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

It's only the weak you feel the need to attack the individual rather than the actual topic. I feel sad for the humiliation such an attitude must bring in this situation.

An online certification in no way teaches you how to teach, your in-class method, or anything. They are nothing more than the most 'scam-y" of certifications.

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

Despite saunwhatever it is raging sense of superiority I'll concede that an online course is quite possible the biggest waste of time ever.

And I'm hardly a backpacker either, I've been teaching English for 4 years now without a qualification other than my miserly BA in Anthropology.

You do not need a CELTA, Smelta, or whatever it is to teach. You do need to be professional in appearance, creative, and very confident in yourself and the material you are presenting.

If you can do this already without a cert then don't bother unless you need one to get a cozy job. If these skills aren't yours then I'd suggest either finding something else to do or giving a course or two a whirl.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

Still another example of low-self-esteem that it takes to anonymously attack the individual rather than the issue.