Job Discussion Forums

[sher_not_the_singer]

I have been looking for this answer and I am pretty sure it's somewhere here and I cannot find it. Can someone tell me if I cannot get the CELTA certification, which one is the next best thing that I an take online? I have a bachelor's degree and I have been teaching ESL for 3 years now at a public high school. So the experience is there, I just need to get the right international certification that will get my foot in the door.

[naturegirl321]

Online certs aren't any good unless they have a practical teaching component. Usually, Trinity, SIT and CELTA are good. Other courses are as well, just make sure they have 120 hours and 6 teaching students.

[sher_not_the_singer]

Ohh I already have 7 years of teaching ESL experience so maybe i could fit into a different category? I don't know the right answer that is why I am asking.

[naturegirl321]

Where do you want to work?
kindergarten
primary
seconday
university
intl school
language school

Different requirements for different places. If you want to go to a school, intl school, I mean, then you're set. Just start going to job fairs. If you-re looking at a primary, kindergarten, or secondary job, or a language school one, try doing some TEFL courses. For university, you might need an MA.

[sher_not_the_singer]

Well How do I find where the job fairs are? I want to teach Secondary or Adult education.

[spiral78]

The rationale behind taking a recognized, on-site course that includes supervised teaching practice, with feedback from experienced teacher trainers is that......

even if you've been doing the job for a while, potential employers have no way to know if you've been doing it WELL - without the 'voucher' from experienced teacher trainers.

Ideally, you could consider taking the plunge, saving up, and taking an on-site course in the country where you want to start teaching. There are lots of advantages to this - training centres arrange for lots of logistics like airport pickup, your housing during the course, and local orientation. They can give you invaluable leads to reputable local employers, and you can be sure your cert will be recognised by them.
Your practice teaching students will really be representative of the ones you'll be working with when you start - this will likely be VERY different from your US experience.

Ultimately, if you have a recognised certification with the above supervised teaching element PLUS your previous experience, you'll likely end up near the top of the hiring heap in the private language school market most anywhere.

[naturegirl321]