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cassander
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:26 pm Post subject: Certification/job placement program help |
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I'm a 26 year old college grad who ultimately wants to work for the State Department. They like to hire people who have lived and worked abroad so I've been trying to figure out what sort of work I can do for the next year or two. I've looking into NGOs, the Peace Corps, and a few other places, but it seems like teaching English is the quickest and easiest way to get a job abroad. I'm looking specifically to Latin America. I realize demand is a lot higher in Asia, but I speak decent Spanish and would like to get fluent at it. Most of the jobs seem to require some sort of certification though, so I've been looking into programs that do certification and job placement.
My questions are thus: which types of certification are considered legitimate, and what sort of program should I be looking for? Cambridge CELTA, for example, offers Trinity Certification, TELSOL certificates and diplomas, TEFL certificates and diplomas, and others. How do I figure out which I should take? Also, how meaningful are the "guarantees" they offer about job placement? Lastly, I live in San Francisco and would prefer (unless it's considered a bad idea) to do my certification here rather than abroad. Can anyone recommend a company or program in the area? |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:46 am Post subject: |
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If you want to get in with the State Dept, besides taking the foreign service exam, I think the Peace Corps or Americorps would be good. I've heard that is a great stepping stone to wroking for the govt.
BUt, your questions
CELTA; SIT, and Trinity are the 3 most well known courses.
Guarantees are usually help. They can't really guarantee that you will pass an interview now can they? They could set up X amount of interviews for you. Or offer you a job at their school. China is good for newsbies to start. As is Korea, Mexico, Thailand as well as a handful of other countries.
CELTA might have some courses in the San Fran area. cambridgeesol.org |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:15 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Cambridge CELTA, for example, offers Trinity Certification, TELSOL certificates and diplomas, TEFL certificates and diplomas, and others. How do I figure out which I should take? Also, how meaningful are the "guarantees" they offer about job placement? Lastly, I live in San Francisco and would prefer (unless it's considered a bad idea) to do my certification here rather than abroad. Can anyone recommend a company or program in the area? |
The basic standard for an entry-level course is 120 +/- hours on site, and (key) including supervised teaching practice with real students, and feedback from experienced teacher trainers. CELTA, SIT, and Trinity are the brand names, though there are some generics that also meet the standard. Best not to bother with online or short courses; they don't stand up in many places.
The placement and 'guarantees' are not particularly helpful, except in the case of an organisation that also runs a school (or a chain of them) and hires its own grads.
Basically, what a good training centre will do is to put you in touch with reputable employers. You will still have to do all the real-world stuff: writing an effective CV/resume, lining up and going to interviews, possibly giving demo lessons, and dealing with contract negotiations. Don't count on training centres to do any of this for you!!
Finally, on the question of taking a course in your home country or abroad, I'll throw out some of the reasons to do it in the country where you want to start teaching, just for the record (there can be good reasons to take it at home as well, but two sides of the coin).
Initially, a training centre can be a nice bridge into a new country/culture. They usually arrange for your housing during the course, airport pickup, local orientation, and other logistical details. Your fellow trainees can form your first social network in the country, and your practice teaching students will be really representative of those you'll be working with when you start. Course providers in country (should) have good connections with reptuable employers.
All this can be especially valuable if you are seeking work in a country where it is not common to hire from abroad (I believe that much of LA falls into this category). It can be more difficult to arrive in a country 'cold' and begin a job search, than if you're coming off a course and already have a feel for the country and some direct contacts there. |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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I am normally the opposing voice to Spiral with regard to course location (at a guess we appear together in about 50% of these threads eh Spiral?  )
I wont make a long post listing my reasons, but I will say I took the option of doing the course in my hometown and havent regretted it. I also found it cheaper and a more comfortable course experience for me.
As I mentioned...I did my course with St Giles, and have linked to their website. Seeing as they offer a CELTA in San Francisco, you would be mad not to look into their program. In their UK schools, they are quite happy to invite couse candidates in to discuss the program and watch a class. I cant recommend them enough, and I think their standards are really high. You can expect very experienced course trainers and a very solid learning experience. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:10 pm Post subject: |
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| I am normally the opposing voice to Spiral with regard to course location (at a guess we appear together in about 50% of these threads eh Spiral? ) |
Like I said, I'm happy to be ONE side of the coin:-)
I think the most important distinction in doing a course at home or in-country is what kinds of support employers in 'your' target country provide. If they hire from abroad, and provide logistical support from the airport onwards (such as is often the case in China and other Asian destinations), it's quite possibly best to take the course at home and avoid some of the extra stress.
But if you have to go 'there' to seek a job cold - I think it's likely best to use a course as a bridge. |
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cassander
Joined: 07 Apr 2011
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:58 am Post subject: |
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Nick and Siral> Employer support is the big deal for me. I'm not thrilled about shelling out two grand for a course, but I can do it if know for sure i'll be employed afterwards. How was the job support at St. Giles? They seem a bit pricier than what I've seen elsewhere.
Naturegirl> I've actually taken the FS exam and passed it, but didn't make it passed the Qualifications Review Panel, which is why I'm seeking overseas experience. The Peace Corps basically qualifies you for the veterans preference, and I applied to them as well, but botched the interview. I'd reapply, but even if I got in I wouldn't be going anywhere for a year, so I'm looking for something a little quicker. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:39 am Post subject: |
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| cassander wrote: |
| Naturegirl> I've actually taken the FS exam and passed it, but didn't make it passed the Qualifications Review Panel, which is why I'm seeking overseas experience. The Peace Corps basically qualifies you for the veterans preference, and I applied to them as well, but botched the interview. I'd reapply, but even if I got in I wouldn't be going anywhere for a year, so I'm looking for something a little quicker. |
Congrats on p�ssing the FS exam. That's something. I've heard ony 40% pass. Sorry to hear about your PC interview. What happened?
Asia is good and there are daily openings, maybe try there. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| Employer support is the big deal for me. I'm not thrilled about shelling out two grand for a course, but I can do it if know for sure i'll be employed afterwards. |
Employment support?
An important question, then, will be where you think you want to go after the course. You will need to focus on countries that hire from abroad, most likely, meaning Asia.
This is assuming you still prefer to take a course in the States.
Europe is basically very limited for non-European citizens in any case, and good employers there generally do NOT hire from abroad - you have to incur the up-front costs and risks of going there and interviewing in person (and being sure to time that well - it's a tight job market!).
I don't know about Latin America, but I am under the impression that it's more common to go there to find a job than to be hired from abroad, but perhaps someone with more knowledge on that will come along soon. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:44 am Post subject: |
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| latin America, yes, they want you on the ground knocking on doors. Ecuador and Mexico seem to be the places where it's possible to arrange a job beforehand, but it IS still harder than say, Asia. |
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Scott R
Joined: 21 Jan 2011
Posts: 59
Location: Rangsit Thailand
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 12:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Check with UC San Francisco. Most of the University of California campuses have a 240 hour TEFL certificate that is WASC accredited. Many also have a 27 hour teaching practicum. |
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nickpellatt
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1522
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| cassander wrote: |
| Nick and Siral> Employer support is the big deal for me. I'm not thrilled about shelling out two grand for a course, but I can do it if know for sure i'll be employed afterwards. How was the job support at St. Giles? They seem a bit pricier than what I've seen elsewhere. |
When I did my course they had arranged for someone from ILA to come and visit us to discuss their recruitment program for Vietnam. It would appear they (ILA) would have recruited course trainees had we been interested.
TBH, in my limited experience, I dont think its hard to find jobs from overseas in the markets I have looked at. It would appear (from the above) Vietnam would be possible. I have been employed in China after applying from the UK, and I signed a contract in Poland that was agreed from overseas. (I didnt take that for personal reasons, although it was agreed and Id bought flights etc)
I would LOVE to work for St Giles, but they are very very hard to get in with, so I dont think you are likely to be employed by them following your course. They have advertised for positions in SF, but they require candidates with really good working experience I believe. I really think they are a top drawer organisation, and offered me a great Trinity course.
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natsume
Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 409
Location: Chongqing, China
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| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Scott R wrote: |
| Check with UC San Francisco. Most of the University of California campuses have a 240 hour TEFL certificate that is WASC accredited. Many also have a 27 hour teaching practicum. |
UCSF is a medical university, so no TESOL cert. there. I received mine from UC Berkeley Extension, and I would highly recommend it. It is essentially the first year course requirements of many MAs. Not sure what you mean by a 27 hour teaching practicum. The observed teaching component of the practicum is (or was) only 4 hours, but I did spend an hour and a half a week with the same class I taught for about 8 weeks, assisting my mentor teacher, prior to my 4 teaching hours. That was highly recommended, but voluntary. (The industry standard is usually 6 observed teaching hours.) |
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Scott R
Joined: 21 Jan 2011
Posts: 59
Location: Rangsit Thailand
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| Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| UCSD just started the practicum this quarter and it is also voluntary. I understand that students in the practicum work with the ELS students at the University. I finished just before it started so I missed it. I think UCSD, Berkley, Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA and Riverside all have the certificate Program. I am not sure about the others, some times the programs are too small to get much mention on the internet. |
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