Job Discussion Forums

fat-elvis · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 24

I'm considering teaching in Korea, and it looks like having a certificate can help as far as pay. I don't really have the time and especially money for a real-life course, but I've noticed there are online courses that are cheaper but offer 100 hour classes plus teaching experience at a local ESL school or whatever. This is one such TEFL course I found. Would it make any difference as far as how the certificate is viewed by an employer?

Also, I've looked into it, but I still don't understand the difference between TEFL and TESOL, and which is better to have?

thanks.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

It's a decent cert. Where are you planning to go? SOme places prefer just a BA and native teacher. YOu could teach for a year, then get a cert.

fat-elvis · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 24

Well I saw the stickied thread about Korea posts so I don't want to get banned or anything Smile

, but I'm mostly interested in teaching in Seoul. I've been on the fence between choosing Japan or Korea for some time, and money is the only thing keeping me from choosing Japan. I don't know about schools in Japan, but it looks as though having a cert can help boost your pay a bit in Korea. I just don't have the time or money to do a full-blown live class.

Any other reputable 100+ hour online courses? Any way of telling whether one is "official" or not?

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:59 pm Post subject:

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

TESOL stands for Teaching English to SPeakers of other Languages.

So as far as terms go, they mean about the same thing. As far as qualifications go: Use of either acronym is controlled by NO overall governing body. If I want to open my own course, I can create "Justin's Extremely Good Teaching Course," and put TESOL, or TEFL, or both on the cert, and I don't have to answer to anybody about it.

So for practical purposes, the acronym doesn't mean much- what means a lot is: The course content. And the seriousness and reputation of the organisations which offer and accredit it.

There are some extremely good courses that use TESOL or TEFL. (I work on the SIT TESOL course, and it's great!) But you need to understand that the letters, by themselves, tell you nothing about the course they're attached to.

The course you list looks pretty good for an online course- I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of online cert courses, and would always prefer to hire a teacher with a presencial as opposed to distance cert, but as far as distance certs go, that one looks good.

Best,
Justin

Chancellor · Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: Online TEFL/TESOL courses?

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:46 am Post subject:

Having spent six years in Korea - I can tell that the great majority of schools really don't care if you ever took a TEFL course or not - and it will not likely affect your wages.

All that said - probably the best inexpensive (FREE) online TEFL training programs is at: www.TEFLBootCamp.com

Read that - go through all of it - and you will have roughly the equivalent of of a 120 hour course - of course - without the supervised teaching practice. How do I know? It's what I used to teach as a teacher trainer - but vastly improved from what was imposed on me by the TEFL school where I worked.

One of the few things in this world that is actually FREE.

fat-elvis · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 24

Thank you. Smile

tedkarma · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:51 pm Post subject:

Do get yourself some semi-formal training once you can afford it - particularly if you intend to stay in TEFL for more than a year or so.

Observed teaching practice really does help.

Chancellor · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: Online TEFL/TESOL courses?

Julieanne · Joined: 18 Mar 2004 Posts: 120

TEFL and TESOL are just different acronyms.
The best TEFL online course is http://www.serioustefl.com
The modules are excellent and fun but best of all they have a placement service that actually works included.
Oh it is inexpensive too.

Chancellor · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:05 am Post subject:

davidde · Joined: 06 May 2010 Posts: 9

This thread is a couple of years old......... Any additional thoughts in mid 2010?

Which is the best(most recognized) online program by employers?
TEFLbootcamp
SeriousTEFL
Others?

Before some one states the obvious that a live, in person, on site 120+ hour course with practicum is really a base line to start from.... I agree.... I will take a live course in Asia before beginning to work.

But to get my foot in a few more doors, would it make sense to have some English Teaching Certificate as I make inquires now.

FoundWaldo · Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 47

I would recommend taking the TEFL/TESOL course. Having a TEFL certification will pay for itself and more if you are planning to teach in South Korea (as long as you take a 100+ hour course. It doesn't matter if it's online or on location).

Cheer!

davidde · Joined: 06 May 2010 Posts: 9

Found Waldo,
Thank you for the insight. I want to obtain the best fit for me and deliver a quality service at the same time.

Where in Korea are you?(basically.... Where's Waldo?) What age are your students? Did you go for a "live" course with practicum or online(and which one)?

Thanks,
Dave

FoundWaldo · Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 47

I'm actually back in the States now, but I taught for the EPIK program in Korea for two years. I was located just outside of Seoul.

I took the i-to-i online 100 hour TEFL course. At the time it was $400, not sure what it is now. I took it because the EPIK salary for first-year teachers with a TEFL certificate was 2.0 million won/month versus 1.8 million without TEFL. Over the course of a year that difference paid for the TEFL course plus an additional $1200 USD.

The course itself is pretty straightforward and I definitely felt better prepared once I arrived in Korea to start teaching.

Hope that helps!