Job Discussion Forums

teach67301 · Joined: 15 Mar 2011 Posts: 1

I am a primary teacher with 25+ years experience and a MS in elementary education. I plan on retiring next year. I have been researching which certificate I need and am debating between the intensive 4 week classes that are located no where near me or another option that offered 3 weeks of online course work and 1 week on class work for your "teaching" time and finishing your face to face classtime. Here is the link to that one: htp://eslcertificates.com/

I'm wanting advice on if the latter one on 3 week online and 1 week class time is reputable. I have tried researching and found nothing. Or if I should stick to a 4 week in class time.

I would like to maybe work in the Emerites, Eastern EU or South America / Latin America.

Thank you.
Tresa

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Why not consider getting a certification in the location where you want to start teaching? There are some advantages:

A training centre can be a helpful bridge into a new country/culture. They usually help with logistics like airport pickup, arrange for accomodation during the course, and provide local orientation. Your fellow trainees can form your first social group in the country, and your practice teaching students will be really representative of those you'll work with when you start. A training centre can give you invaluable info regarding reputable local employers.

So far as the regions you mention, I can only speak to E.Europe - as most people on the job market have a CELTA or equivalent here, any online course will be a disadvantage - particularly as the majority of the teaching market is with adults and not children. Keep in mind that, in many countries, language teachers at regular state schools (for grades 1-12/13) are mostly comprised of locals.

To make the transition to teaching adults (and language as versus content) successfully, you'll definitely need some real practice with adults and the approaches and methods that are effective in language learning - it's not at all the same as teaching content subjects in the student's L1.

Good luck!