Job Discussion Forums

[Passport_Princess]

Has anyone taken this course? If so, how was it? Did it help secure employment abroad?

[tttompatz]

[aviator1x1]

How about a MA in TESL at a Cal State University? For about the same cost of a cert. from UCLA you can get a Master's in English or Linguistics with a focus in TESL. I actually considered UCLA 's cert. program but after doing the math, the MA is just a bit more expensive. Just a suggestion.
Cheers!

[Passport_Princess]

I have a BA in journalism and a MA in communications. I was thinking about the MA route but unfortunately, I don't have enough time (I'd like to move within the next several months).

[nomad soul]

Passport Princess, in terms of content, the program appears to cover the basics of TESOL and includes a practicum component. However, the only issue I see is that all four of the practice teaching courses offered for this TESL certificate are online like the rest of the program. Employers generally prefer practice teaching that entails supervised/observed teaching with real students. Therefore, you may want to check with the program's advisor for info about the logistics of the practicums offered.

[Passport_Princess]

Just checked with the advisor and the practicums are online as well.

[timmayyyyy]

Passport_Princess, are you going to do the program? I too am thinking about it. I wonder if it's worth the fairly high cost, and whether international employers would consider it much more substantial than online cheap certificates.

[Passport_Princess]

I don't think I will do the program. It's actually a series of online classes and you don't gain real-life teaching experience in the program. International employers will frown upon those drawbacks of the program so I will have to look for something else.

[spiral78]

I think you've made a good decision - the supervised teaching practice with real students is the key element of CELTA and equivalent reputable entry-level certifications. How can a practicum be online??!!

[Passport_Princess]

Do you happen to know of any other reputable, entry-level programs aside from CELTA? I would love to go through CELTA but you can't have a full-time job and complete their program at the same time.

[spiral78]

Where do you want to teach? If it's somewhere 'abroad' from where you are, why not take a course in the country where you want to start? There are quite a few reasons this can be a good option, particularly if you're looking at a country/countries where jobs aren't usually found from abroad.

Training centres usually arrange for logistical support such as airport pickup and housing during the course, and local orientation. Your practice teaching students will be really representative of those you'll be working with when you start, and your fellow trainees can form your first social network. Training centres can give you invaluable info regarding reputable local employers, and you can be sure your cert will be recognised in the region.

If you want to work in North America, then you are basically looking at CELTA, Trinity, or SIT as entry-level certs.

To be honest, you can't really work full time and complete ANY worthwhile cert. It's 'only' 30 days, and that's a VERY short time to pack in an intro to the approaches and methods used in second language learning.....

[EFLeducator]

[Scott R]

I am surprised that UCLA is online. I did the TEFL program last year at UCSD and it was 100% in class. It was a good program and a practicum is now available. It is about 2/3 of the masters program which was only taught at a private university in San Diego and I could not afford it at the time. A good program at San Diego but long and hard and about $3,000 US.