Job Discussion Forums

[jen_blue]

hello,

I've been reading through the threads but still have some questions particular to my situation.

I am keen on doing some travelling/living abroad possibly in the Spanish speaking countries such as Latin America or Mexico and would like to teach english.

I have looked into a range of TEFL courses including the CELTA/TESOL but cant see how I could afford to take a month off work or fit in a full day and evening in college + prep time. I can see this would be well worth it if I was considering a career in this area. So I am looking at short courses which would offer enough experience but so far I havent found any that have good reviews and are more than well presented websites.

I have enquired with my local Foundation University re: volunteering in the english classes as a language assistant and am hopeful.

I graduated from a British university with a degree in Psychology and have UK passport. I have no experience of teaching as such but do have pastoral experience with children. I am 28 and female.

Thanks for any advice,
Jenny

[tttompatz]

A 30 day certification is hardly a career program. It simply prepares you for a gap year or 3.

Most of the terms you will see (TEFL/TESL/TESOL) are largely synonymous and others (like CELTA, SIT, Trinity) are simply brand names of those 30 day courses.

As to whether or not to take a course and which course to take will largely be determined by your target age group and type of teaching you will do.

CELTA (just as an example) means Certification in English Language Teaching to Adults). Not much use if you will be doing kindergarten classes but virtually a requirement if you will be entering EFL teaching adults in a language center.

All that said however, the simple fact that you have a degree and a UK passport will pretty much assure that you can find work in Central America, even without the TESOL certification.

.

[naturegirl321]

YOu could always just study on your own and then work for a year and then do the course. Online ones are available, CELTA will be rolling out one that's partly online and partly face to face, so you might want to consider that. Purely online ones aren't usually as good as face to face ones, unless they include teaching practice.

[AGoodStory]

[jen_blue]

hi,

Thanks for your replies, they have given me some food for thought.

You're right that a 30 day course isnt a career option but at over �1,000 its expensive if its not going to further me in the area I really want to work longterm in.

I have never taught before but was a group leader at Camp Beaumont where I found that I most enjoyed dealing with the 8-11 year olds of all all the age groups (5-13 years). I would however, be willing to consider whatever was available.

Its cost mainly that has meant that I am looking at short courses; the sites I have looked at seem to involve a lot of online tuition then 2 days in a hotel for a face to face company but I am strugglng to find one that is recommended as offering a decent level of teaching. I am not a hugely confident person so need to know my stuff to be able to present it
confidently to others - I am of course studying on my own.

So far I have looked at a company called Cactus who seemed to have a nicely presented website but then had no contact available and the reviews were dicey. International TEFL had similar issues.

Who did you all train with?

Thanks

Jenny

[spiral78]

Honestly, two days of on-site training is insufficient regardless. CELTA and the equivalent 30-day courses include at least ten hours of supervised teaching practice with real students. Less than this is short-changing the trainee, and ultimately the students.

Another consideration is that if 1,000 quid is a lot for you, your teach abroad options are also limited. It's seriously not recommended to go abroad without a sufficient financial cushion. What's 'sufficient' depend substantially on where you are going, and I am not a Latin America expert, but do keep in mind that there are up-front costs in any move abroad, and that a little bad luck can easily go a long way when one is far from home and support systems.

If you are really strapped for cash, think again. It's far better to wait, save up, and do it properly and safely than to go on a financial shoestring. This may not be what you are contemplating, but 1,000 for a training course isn't actually out of line in terms of qualifying for a major move abroad.....

[Sashadroogie]

Sadly the CELTYL (the cert for Young Learners) is no longer available in its own right. It would have been just the ticket for you.

I think, however, that if you get the CELTA proper, you can also get the Extension for YLs. But how soon afterwards I don't know. Naturally, this costs more again on top of the basic 1000 quid. Here's a link:

https://www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org/ts/teachingqualifications/CELTYL

Costs may be too steep for you. Can't advise on where to find the time for any such course. But as Spiral has said, in terms of delivering a value for money lesson to the students, you'll need to find some way. But forget weekend courses, or online ones. Complete waste of your money, whatever the price.

Also, it is usually not a good idea to travel without having at least some financial reserves. In an emergency situation, you'll need to be able to scrape together the funds to fly home at least. So perhaps Spiral is right again and you should hang fire until you are in a better position?

[Chris Westergaard]

You need training that involves being teaching and being observed doing so. Most of the lectures on any course are worth nothing - nothing at all - if you don't actually get teaching practice in the mix. A week long course with teaching practice is more effective than a year long course without any. If time is tight, find a way for your to actually get training/practice/experience in the classroom

[fluffyhamster]

Most of the lectures/input are worth little or nothing simply because they are badly thought-out and delivered. A good lecture can suggest a helluva lot in terms of practical use and application. As can good books - I mean, if money is tight then just get some books and put the cash you'll save towards flights and accomodation set-up in places that require little more than a degree for work visa purposes. Note that I recommending that you do some serious reading though - it will be quite difficult to teach WELL without giving things a fair bit of thought if not formal study! (Not that I think CELTAs etc are anywhere near formal enough). I've posted quite a few times over the years with recommended reading suggestions - try searching for terms like 'grammar AND book' and 'celta AND grammar' with me as author.

[jen_blue]

Hello,

Thank you everyone for the advice. I think you are right; I do need to do some formal training but its such an minefield. I cant afford �1,000 and having done some research have come across this provider.

http://www.tefltraining.co.uk/tefl-courses.html

I have been looking at the 140 hour part online course, which seems to involve teaching practise. The level is more expensive but could well be worth it?

Has anyone else trained with these?

Jen

[Xie Lin]

[nellytraveller]

[naturegirl321]

[Prof.Gringo]

[nellytraveller]

cheers nature girl.