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Medi85
Joined: 04 Feb 2011 Posts: 4
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 9:16 am Post subject: Looking to start a career in teaching english abroad |
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I would like to teach English in Turkey, preferably in Istanbul. However, I do not have my teaching certificate, nor do I have any teaching experience. Therefore, I am unsure where to start and how I can make this ambition of mine a reality. I received my Master degree in October and have some work experience with NGO's.
I currently live and work in Sarajevo, and I don't think I can get my teaching certificate here. Would an online TEFL course be my only option at this point?
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
P.S. I am a native english speaker (grew up in the U.S.) |
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Chaplin
Joined: 06 Oct 2010 Posts: 28
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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I'm afraid you won't be able to teach legally in Turkey without some sort of TEFL qualification. There are places to do this in Istanbul, ITI being one of the more respected training centres. Online courses are also accepted but the quality does tend to be hit and miss. i to i is one of the more well known sites. |
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Medi85
Joined: 04 Feb 2011 Posts: 4
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Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2011 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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What are my chances of landing a job with no experience in teaching? Most of the job positions with schools that I've seen so far ask for at least 1 or 2 years of teaching experience. Does my Master degree put me at a higher advantage of landing a job?
So, with no teaching experience, would it be more advisable to take the CELTA or TEFL course, or it doesn't matter? |
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bulgogiboy

Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:27 am Post subject: |
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Medi85 wrote: |
What are my chances of landing a job with no experience in teaching? Most of the job positions with schools that I've seen so far ask for at least 1 or 2 years of teaching experience. Does my Master degree put me at a higher advantage of landing a job?
So, with no teaching experience, would it be more advisable to take the CELTA or TEFL course, or it doesn't matter? |
You can get a job without teaching experience. Bear in mind however, that you will be competing with others who are far more experienced/qualified so it might take quite a few applications.
I assume your master's degree is unrelated to teaching? I am in the same boat with my master's, and I can't say it has had much of an impact on my job applications. The only way it might have a positive effect is if it is relevant to the type of English you are going to be teaching, for example a business degree. For bog-standard language school jobs however, I wouldn't put much hope in it increasing your chances of success. If your degrees are in any way loosely related to ESL, such as English lit, then this can only help you.
The CELTA ,or the Trinity College Certificate, are the two most prestigious, and I would advise you choose one of them. CELTA is the most widely recognised one. |
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coffeespoonman
Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 512 Location: At my computer...
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:25 am Post subject: |
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Celta, definitely. It's the most widely accepted and carries the most weight.
Your MA will help your applications in the future if you choose to go the university teaching route. However, you should probably do a year at a language school just to get some experience before you try to break into the university circuit.
You'll be able to get a job with no teaching experience, but you may need to do part time work at a couple of different schools to earn enough to live at first. |
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Chaplin
Joined: 06 Oct 2010 Posts: 28
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:48 am Post subject: |
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Trinity or CELTA are the most respected certs. However, any TEFL cert will do for most language schools. I wouldn't worry about your lack of experience as there are always language schools looking for teachers - especially in Istanbul. |
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Medi85
Joined: 04 Feb 2011 Posts: 4
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Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice. Can anyone provide me with some schools that offer the CELTA course? |
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clarke501
Joined: 18 Feb 2011 Posts: 44
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Wolfy1322
Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Posts: 7
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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Will language schools really take on those with no experiecne and just a 20 hour TEFL Cert?
I only ask as I'm in the same kind of boat, though without the Masters. |
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