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Emalaith
Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 2:37 pm Post subject: Non-native and thinking about TEFL... chances? |
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Hello to you all,
I want to embark on the TEFL journey and for the past month I am doing some research in the forums regarding certification and jobs. But I think I let my expectations run wild, not considering the "native speaker" thing.
I am from Greece and I have a university degree unrelated to languages, but I am proficient in English and I want to live abroad and I like teaching. But the countries I am considering -Japan and Asia in general- require holders of passports from english-speaking countries, so as to get working visas for the teachers.
So, if I get CELTA certified here in Greece, my only chances of teaching will be in European countries?
My main question I guess, is "is the CELTA worth the money if someone is not sure if he wants to follow tefl as a carreer?"
Another question is whether it's better to get your TEFL certification in your country, or in the country you want to teach in. I know some Spanish and could get the CELTA in Spain, but again - will it be worth the money if after the course I want to go to another country?
Lastly... TEFL international appeals to me, as a way to live in an Asian country for some time. But as a European citizen, I get the idea that it won't be of much value in Europe when I get back, and I would be better off in Europe holding a CELTA paper than a TEFL international certificate.
Any input would be greatly appreciated! |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Non-native and thinking about TEFL... chances? |
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| Emalaith wrote: |
Hello to you all,
I want to embark on the TEFL journey and for the past month I am doing some research in the forums regarding certification and jobs. But I think I let my expectations run wild, not considering the "native speaker" thing.
I am from Greece and I have a university degree unrelated to languages, but I am proficient in English and I want to live abroad and I like teaching. But the countries I am considering -Japan and Asia in general- require holders of passports from english-speaking countries, so as to get working visas for the teachers.
So, if I get CELTA certified here in Greece, my only chances of teaching will be in European countries?
My main question I guess, is "is the CELTA worth the money if someone is not sure if he wants to follow tefl as a carreer?"
Another question is whether it's better to get your TEFL certification in your country, or in the country you want to teach in. I know some Spanish and could get the CELTA in Spain, but again - will it be worth the money if after the course I want to go to another country?
Lastly... TEFL international appeals to me, as a way to live in an Asian country for some time. But as a European citizen, I get the idea that it won't be of much value in Europe when I get back, and I would be better off in Europe holding a CELTA paper than a TEFL international certificate.
Any input would be greatly appreciated! |
Start by reading related threads like this one: http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=80214
Doesn't TEFL International also have courses in Europe? Their list says they do: http://www.teflcourse.net/ - or maybe you're referring to this TEFL International: http://www.tefllife.com/certificate-course.
Understand that CELTA, Trinity and SIT are brand-name courses and that there are people here on this board (as well as numerous employers apparently) who think that if you didn't succumb to the silliness of only getting a brand-name certification then you're not certified.
In any event, CELTA, Trinity, SIT, TEFL International, etc. are all nothing more than entry-level courses. The "industry standard" is at least 100-120 course hours followed by at least six hours of supervised teaching practice with real ESL/EFL students. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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if you didn't succumb to the silliness of only getting a brand-name certification then you're not certified.
On the European job market (I've been here for 12+ years) the brand names are by far the most effective in terms of getting you job interviews. Whether that's fair, I won't debate - but it's the market reality here.
So, if I get CELTA certified here in Greece, my only chances of teaching will be in European countries?
My main question I guess, is "is the CELTA worth the money if someone is not sure if he wants to follow tefl as a carreer?"
Well, non-native (proficient) European English speakers do have a legit place in the job market in the European region in general. It's good news, I think - that the native-speaker bias is not insurmountable in this region.
So far as your second question, CELTA is an entry-level qualification. If you decide you want to make a career of teaching English, a DELTA or related MA is probably the best way to build a reasonable future. But that's for later - try it out first. |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
if you didn't succumb to the silliness of only getting a brand-name certification then you're not certified.
On the European job market (I've been here for 12+ years) the brand names are by far the most effective in terms of getting you job interviews. Whether that's fair, I won't debate - but it's the market reality here. |
Hence my parenthetical statement "as well as numerous employers apparently." |
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mozzar
Joined: 16 May 2009
Posts: 339
Location: France
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| My academy is desperate for new teachers as we have too much work. We have lots of non-native teachers too but no one can tell. It's actually really useful as it gives them another language to offer. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Come to the Japan forum if you want to discuss Japan. I'll be glad to help you there! |
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Emalaith
Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 10:55 am Post subject: |
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Thank you for the immediate replies 
Chancellor,
yes, TEFL international has courses in Europe. From what I read in these forums it's a sound course, with many opportunities in Asian countries too. But if my main chances for work are in Europe, as a European citizen, I am thinking "why take the "whatever" course and not the most recognizable in European countries (CELTA)" ?
Truth be told, I would like to work in a non-European country, and that's why I am considering TEFL international.
| Quote: |
My academy is desperate for new teachers as we have too much work. We have lots of non-native teachers too but no one can tell. It's actually really useful as it gives them another language to offer. |
mozzar,
interesting input, thank you! What is the best time of the year as hiring new teachers goes? I guess it's September, so if I take that route, I will get the TEFL certificate by August. Does it matter if you take the course in cities like Granada or Seville, as far as employers in Madrid are concerned?
| Quote: |
Well, non-native (proficient) European English speakers do have a legit place in the job market in the European region in general. It's good news, I think - that the native-speaker bias is not insurmountable in this region.
So far as your second question, CELTA is an entry-level qualification. If you decide you want to make a career of teaching English, a DELTA or related MA is probably the best way to build a reasonable future. But that's for later - try it out first. |
spiral78,
thanks, the native requirement got my hopes down for a bit but now I see that not all doors are closed for me! |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Emalaith wrote: |
Thank you for the immediate replies
Chancellor,
yes, TEFL international has courses in Europe. From what I read in these forums it's a sound course, with many opportunities in Asian countries too. But if my main chances for work are in Europe, as a European citizen, I am thinking "why take the "whatever" course and not the most recognizable in European countries (CELTA)"? |
One would think that courses that meet the industry standard and are offered in European countries would be accepted in European countries. There are those who would suggest taking a course (one that meets or exceeds the industry standard of 100-120 course hours and at least six hours of supervised teaching practice with real ESL/EFL students) in the country where you want to teach. There are certainly advantages to that (getting a feel for that country, being able to ask the instructors questions about working/living in that country, making local contacts, etc.) and if you're able to do that then you should consider it. Others might suggest taking a course in your home country, which also has its advantages (e.g. not having to deal with both your coursework and getting along in a foreign country for a month). Whichever way you want to go, figure out what's going to work best for you financially and otherwise. My point, of course, was that some people (including some employers) are enamored with brand names (keep in mind that brand names only get to be brand names by being around long enough to become more familiar to people that other names). Look at different courses, see who accredits them, independently verify that they are, in fact accredited, and verify that the accrediting body is qualified to accredit courses (accrediting doesn't simply mean that a school gets put on some accrediting body's list, it means - at least in part - that the body puts the course through a rigorous external evaluation process and updates that evaluation on a regular basis).
Of course, if you already have a bachelor's degree (okay, bachelor honors in the UK - weird people who choose to have this three-year thing they want to call a bachelor's degree ), and you think you might want to do this as a career, consider skipping these entry-level courses and get a graduate certificate (which is not a master's degree but falls somewhere between a four-year bachelor's and a master's) in TESL. |
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Emalaith
Joined: 05 Apr 2010
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 11:41 am Post subject: |
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Of course, if you already have a bachelor's degree (okay, bachelor honors in the UK - weird people who choose to have this three-year thing they want to call a bachelor's degree Smile ), and you think you might want to do this as a career, consider skipping these entry-level courses and get a graduate certificate (which is not a master's degree but falls somewhere between a four-year bachelor's and a master's) in TESL.
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Chancellor,
you mean a bachelor's degree in teaching, in something related to English like English literature or in whatever subject? My degree is in Physics, and here in the greek universities it's a 4-year thing (no honors included  ) Would I be able to do a MA tesol or a master in teaching english without having to do the entry-level course?
Do you have any idea if I could teach physics in English abroad?  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Emalaith wrote: |
| Do you have any idea if I could teach physics in English abroad? |
Not in Japan with your qualifications. |
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Chancellor
Joined: 31 Oct 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Ji'an, China - if you're willing to send me cigars, I accept donations :)
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Emalaith wrote: |
| Quote: |
Of course, if you already have a bachelor's degree (okay, bachelor honors in the UK - weird people who choose to have this three-year thing they want to call a bachelor's degree Smile ), and you think you might want to do this as a career, consider skipping these entry-level courses and get a graduate certificate (which is not a master's degree but falls somewhere between a four-year bachelor's and a master's) in TESL.
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Chancellor,
you mean a bachelor's degree in teaching, in something related to English like English literature or in whatever subject? My degree is in Physics, and here in the greek universities it's a 4-year thing (no honors included ) |
No, I simply mean a bachelor's degree (which, by the way, many countries require you to have in order to obtain a work visa).
| Quote: |
| Would I be able to do a MA tesol or a master in teaching english without having to do the entry-level course? |
Check with the particular university to see if it will let you do it.
| Quote: |
| Do you have any idea if I could teach physics in English abroad? |
Obtain teacher certification in your home country (teacher certification to teach physics or science, for example), get a few years of experience teaching in your home country and then apply to international schools where English is the language of instruction. |
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mozzar
Joined: 16 May 2009
Posts: 339
Location: France
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Emalaith wrote: |
| Quote: |
My academy is desperate for new teachers as we have too much work. We have lots of non-native teachers too but no one can tell. It's actually really useful as it gives them another language to offer. |
mozzar,
interesting input, thank you! What is the best time of the year as hiring new teachers goes? I guess it's September, so if I take that route, I will get the TEFL certificate by August. Does it matter if you take the course in cities like Granada or Seville, as far as employers in Madrid are concerned? |
September is the best time all said. The start of the school year means all the academies are looking for teachers. Work might be slow trickling in though. |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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Best time of year to look for work may be country-dependent. It is certainly job-specific.
International schools in Japan start their academic years in fall, so they probably look 3-6 months earlier.
Universities and other mainstream schools start theirs in April, so they also look a few months earlier. Unis here will usually start looking in August or so.
Conversation schools seem to have a peak of ads in Feb / March. |
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LinguRing
Joined: 29 Jun 2010
Posts: 10
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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| Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 3:11 am Post subject: |
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| In Japan at least you should be able to find something as a non-native speaker, and being European probably helps. Obviously it will be more difficult with some employers, but I know loads of Europeans working here an doing well, so good luck! |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Chancellor wrote: |
Of course, if you already have a bachelor's degree (okay, bachelor honors in the UK - weird people who choose to have this three-year thing they want to call a bachelor's degree |
Chancellor, I know you love us Brits, but you are even confusing me! We have a 'Bachelors Degree', or a 'Bachelors Degree with Honours'. And yes, they normally take 3 years.
(as opposed to those weird people in the USA who seems to take 33% longer than they actually need in order to finish a program of University study ) |
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