Job Discussion Forums

[Alasdair87]

Hello,

I'm an almost complete newbie to language teaching, so I'd like a few answers to some pretty basic questions. Apologies if this duplicates someone else's query - I've had a look through the forum and there doesn't seem to any other posters in exactly my position.

I graduated about a month ago with a degree in history, and I've been working in a summer school in Cambridge, England, for the last 5 weeks. I've had a good time, and I'm thinking about doing a CELTA with a view to working in Spain or France. Could you tell me:

1. I've been recommended CELTA as the qualification to do - would people agree? Also, my boss suggested International House in London as the place to go to do that course - could anyone suggest other places to investigate?

2. I have little experience of teaching, but I've done a pretty decent job at this summer school (with 14-17 year olds) and people seem to think I could be a good teacher. How hard though will it be to find a job without experience (either in the UK or in Western Europe)? And what kind of rate of pay could I expect?

3. I'd want to teach English abroad in order to allow myself to learn the language of the country I'm in, but some people have suggested to me that as an English teacher you'll spend all your time speaking English and make little progress with the local language. What would you guys think?

Any answers would be extremely useful - it's quite a bit of money for the CELTA, and I'm just nor sure whether it's worth it for me. Thanks!

[Glenski]

Can't answer you specifically for #1 and #2, other than to say yours is not a unique situation.

As for #3, making the time to study the local language requires a lot of self-discipline. It's not impossible, of course, but you have to sit down and imagine the scenarios.

1. Local friends want to do things with you. English may or may not be spoken well, but you want to make friends.

2. Foreign co-workers want you to go out with them. English is spoken, so you feel comfortable with it.

3. It's a foreign land, and you probably chose it due to some cultural interests. So, in your off time you are drawn to sightseeing.

It's entirely up to you to choose the moments to isolate yourself to study. That will mean ignoring the 3 items above to a large degree, depending on how fast you learn. Book learning itself is not a guarantee you can learn the language, either, so you may want to engage a tutor, but that will still mean not meeting your friends or coworkers and not sightseeing a couple of times a week. Your call.

[naturegirl321]

1. Depends on where you want to teach. Go to Cambridge ESOL to find out where all the CELTA courses are.

2. If you have no work permit or EU passport, it'll be hard in the old EU countries, the newer ones might be a bit, but not much, easier. Pay, I'd say about 700 to 1000 usd a month. Housing will be your biggest expense.

3. Teaching English is NOT the best way to learn the language. You'll be in an English bubble. And your co workers will want to practise their English on you

[nickpellatt]

The two main course programs are Trinity and CELTA, although there are also other course providers that offer similar programs. Trinity and CELTA are probably the most recognisable names though. The key issue with a course is that it offers 120 hours training including a minimum of 6 hours observed teaching practice. Thats the industry minimum ... so when you see online and weekend courses, well.....they dont really cut it.

IH may be good as a course provider because Im sure they have schools in Spain (and possibly France) so placement could be easier after the course. The jury is probably out on IH as an employer though ... lots of people on the forum would advise against going to work for them due to salary and hours ... each to their own though. Working lots of hours (which IH jobs will ask of you) wont leave lots of time for language study though.

Where do you live now? Perhaps you dont need to go to London to take a course? Are their language schools or colleges in your hometown that offer the course? I live in little old Eastbourne and there are 3 places that offer the course local to me .... I ended up doing a Trinity certificate with St Giles (who also have a place in London).

Lots of people may suggest it would be better to take the course in the country you want to teach. I have never been a fan of this because the course can be difficult and stressfull, and I feel taking it at home, with a support network to make the process easier, is a wise move.

There is a thread on this page called 'CELTA course dropout' or similar that is worth reading ... it covers a recent experience for a CELTA trainee, and his experience in taking the course in another country may be worth reading.