Job Discussion Forums

[krista08]

Hi guys,
I have been looking through a lot of the posts and been doing a bit of research but now I seem to be more confused than before.

I am 22 years old from Vancouver B.C and will be graduating in August with a BA in International Studies. I really want to go abroad and teach English for a year or two (either in Asia -China, Japan, Korea, or Thailand or in Africa- open to anywhere really as long as there is a market, and its safe). I have been considering taking the CELTA course in Vancouver in September but I am wondering if it is really worth the $2500 investment. I can take Oxford Seminars for $1000 but have not read too many good things about the course on here. It seems as if the market is flooded, and one cannot expect much in the way of a job with my credentials. It is not important for me to save up a lot of money while I am abroad as I don't have any debts or commitments at home, but I do need to be able to sustain myself.. (don't need to go out every day of the week- but like to go out every once in awhile, to a pub, movie, out for dinner etc.) I don't need to live in Tokyo or Seoul, but I do want to live in a city where I can meet other people, and where there are things to do..so living in some rural farmland town would be definitely out of the question for me. Lastly, I only plan to teach English for a year or two, but I also want to keep my options open, in the case that I really love it and decide to extend my time abroad.

Any thoughts/help would be appreciated!!

Thank you

Krista

[Sashadroogie]

From the point of view of your future students, it'll most certainly be worth it for them. Get the CELTA.

[krista08]

Yes, I understand what you are saying, and of course I want to be efficient at what I am doing. However, I guess my question was asking more how big the discrepancy is between CELTA and other courses like Oxford, TEFL, etc.

Thanks.

[Chancellor]

[microbabe]

Yes, CELTA or TRINITY is really worth it. These seem to be the two "proper" ones. Once you have it no one can take it away from you. My other half did his about 15 yrs ago and only move into EFL in the last five years. I need to get mine ( old story, funds allowing!!),I am managing with out it, but it does open more doors especially since it it the starting qualification. It makes life easier. I have a colleague who has an equivalent and is doing OK but is stuck for options and moving to other schools/ countries.

[Chancellor]

[microbabe]

[/quote]It isn't that they're the "proper" ones, it's that they're the brand names (you can add SIT to that list). Your comment is like saying that "If you didn't go to Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, or Yale, then you didn't go to university."[/quote]

No, I am not saying that, But if you get a qualification from Joe Bloggs University/School it could / would make job hunting difficult. SIT can be added to the list like you said. However from what I have seen it seems that CELTA/ Trinity are recognized more in Europe than SIT. I do know that the rest of the world is different and things can vary from country to country.

[Justin Trullinger]

[krista08]

Thanks for your replies. My concern is really whether or not CELTA is worth the investment if its only for short term.. and if there is anything similar and cheaper. Any suggestions as to where the best place to look for a job is for someone of my background? (as in total Newbie)

Thanks

Krista

[scintillatestar]

First - I don't think the entire ESL market is flooded. Some countries may have fewer jobs than others, but I had no problem getting multiple job offers within a few weeks. Having said that, I did do the CELTA. It was expensive, but absolutely worth it. One very easy place to get a job with a CELTA is Vietnam. Many of the jobs offered are with centers that also offer CELTA courses (ILA, Apollo, Language Link), so they require that certificate or its equivalent (ie. SIT). This weeds out a lot of applicants who do not have those credentials.

Still, as a native North American with a B.A., you should be able to get a position in a country like China or Korea. There are a lot of jobs in both of those countries. EPIK, for example, only requires a B.A. In general, the pay is better in Korea, but there are some higher paying jobs in China too.

Sometimes, countries (ie. Turkey) do require "a TEFL certificate" for your visa. I have not done the Oxford Seminars course, but from what I understand, it probably wouldn't have more utility than a cheaper online course. So, if you need some sort of certificate for a visa and do not want to take the CELTA/Trinity/SIT, I would go for the cheapest course possible. Also - Oxford Seminars is not affiliated with Oxford University. My guess is that the company chose that name to sound more prestigious, especially since there's the "Cambridge CELTA" - which actually is granted through Cambridge University.

Hope this helps!

[santi84]

Do you plan on returning to Canada?

As long as your certificate (whichever one you choose) is recognized by TESL Canada, go for it:
http://www.tesl.ca/Secondary_Navigation/TESL_Canada_Recognized_Teacher_Training_Programs/Recognized_Teacher_Training_Programs.htm

Although you may decide not to teach after a year or two, it would be beneficial to have a TESL Canada certification in addition to your BA in International Studies. The job market in Canada is a bit rough so having that little extra will help.

[Stephen Jones]

CELTA. Trinity TESOL, and now SIT are the only courses people know about. So why pay the same for another course nobody does.

There are courses that cost less; that is because they offer less. The minimum is four weeks full-time, with a class of around a dozen having two tutors and an exterior examiner. That costs more or less the price of the CELTA.

[krista08]

Thank you kindly for all of your responses! I really appreciate it. The more that I ask and the more that I read it really seems like CELTA is the best way to go.

Cheers
Krista

[Chancellor]

[Justin Trullinger]