Job Discussion Forums

callan_rowe · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 3

Hi everyone, my name is Callan, I have recently completed a degree in Film and Television but have no teaching qualifications currently. I may be staying in Thailand for a month or so this year and was wondering if anybody had any comments on doing CELTA there. I was looking into doing it here in Australia but it is significantly more expensive.

My rough plan at the moment is to get CELTA in Bangkok in November then go traveling for a few months before returning home in February where i will work for another 6 months or so(perhaps in ESL, or in a non related field) to save in order to teach overseas somewhere.

Any suggestions on a good place to teach overseas, or if such a long gap between getting CELTA and teaching will effect my employment prospects.

Chancellor

callan_rowe · Joined: 03 Jun 2009 Posts: 3

what about CELTA. does that very from country to country?

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Ill chip in and suggest you should carefully consider advantages and disadvantages of doing the course in another country. Those who suggest its a good idea to do it 'in-country', normally do so on the basis that it enables you to make local contacts for securing the all important first contract after graduation. Judging from your post, that is something you will be doing ... so you will lose what is arguably one of the major reasons for studying 'in-country'.

Of course, I dont know the costs of doing the course in your home country. For many people, studying at home means they have fewer overheads, especially those who live with other family members. Another big advantage means a support network that makes studying and completing the course easier. Even if you took the course in your home country, but away from your home town, you would still have the familiarity of language, food and culture which may make the difficult study periods and assignments easier to cope with.

A browse through this (and other) forums will quickly reveal that many people comment that the CELTA or similar courses are intensive and difficult and are often very very stressful. Whilst it is true there is quite a large workload, I also feel this may be compounded by living in another country and culture, and experiencing all the difficulties (and excitement) of language / food / climate / etc.

Taking the course in another country almost always means finding accomodation and incurrring living costs that MAY be avoided in some circumstances if taking the course in your home country. Your own personal circumstances will dictate whether this is applicable to you or not.

I completed my Trinity course in my hometown, whilst staying with my parents. This meant I had a strong support network, and few worries or concerns outside the course. This meant I found the course enjoyable, and passed quite easily.

I dont feel I could have done this if I had taken this course in another country, without that support network and with the challenges and temptations of another culture around me.

Only you can answer some of those points of course, but I do feel people really need to think long and hard about where they take their course. Many course providers do promote the advantages about studying in country ... but there are also many pitfalls to this in my opinion, and in my experience as a recent trainee, and newbie teacher

Chancellor · Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 1:50 pm Post subject:

spanglish · Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that

I agree with nick. I found it quite difficult to do the CELTA in a foreign country and have to worry about transportation, lack of access to resources and private study areas and even accommodation issues.

Certainly there are some advantages to taking a course in-country (like getting practice on students and learn what works/doesn't work in the classroom with that particular culture/1st language), but it didn't help my job prospects. I am a little more educated about the opportunities, though.