Korean Job Discussion Forums

ucfvgirl · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Location: Bundang

UPDATE: I finally heard back from them and have learned that they discontinued the course, at least for now. Apparently, Asian EFL has recently changed hands and this is why they didn't return my email promptly. At least I finally got an explanation and now I know that I really should look at taking a TESOL or TESL course eslewhere. Good to know.

I am so pissed off right now. I emailed these guys three times and have not received a response to my question. According to their website, I do not see a contact phone number anywhere: only a website address.

I didn't want to enroll in their online class until I had my question answered and when I finally decided to enrol anyway, despite not having my question answered, the course is FULL and the next intake isn't until September 2007. This is all well and good, but I am leaving Korea at the end of August. I was hoping to complete the online class this summer.

My question to them was: Can I finish the course in Canada if I don't finish it before the end of the summer, considering it's all online?

I have decided to take my business elsewhere. I find their lack of response unprofessional and completely irritating.

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

You are finding out as many do that some of the programs cannot keep up with the questions people have...Asian EFL is moving towards more of an onsite focus as they are beginning new ventures in South Korea, but their online component usually takes longer than a couple of months to complete...

shifdog · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

If you're doing it online, you need to allocate about 3 months to finish. This is assuming you're doing it part time.

Bear256 · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Location: Anacortes, Washington USA

Why waste 3 months taking a course that you can do in half that time. I took ITTT's course in about 6 weeks and KEI's course in a little less than a month, both in my spare time. Three months AND having to wait two months to even start seems a bit much!

ucfvgirl · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Location: Bundang

I have taken a look at both of these courses: KEI and Asian EFL. They seem very different in their course content. Asian EFL is very academic with a ton of reading and writing and the KEI course doesn't appear to be as indepth.

I can see why it would take a few months to complete the Asian EFL course whereas the KEI course could easily be finished in a month. I am not sure that the KEI course would be as recognized as the Asian EFL course because in my opinion, it seems a bit weak. Those of you that have completed the KEI course, what has it given you in terms of overall competence of TEFL?

Also, it has come to my attention that some say ESL and EFL are pretty much the same thing in terms of meaning. However, the Asian EFL course is a TESOL, which seems to be more accredited. Any thoughts?

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

The course offered by KEI was intentionally designed as an applied program giving people the foundational tools they would need to develop their personal skills as an instructor. It is the same thing being discussed in other programs within education offering a theory-based approach when compared with an applied approach...the recognition of the program is based on the student's understanding and comprehension of content connected to an applied approach...When I spoke with the owner of Asian EFL this spring we talked about this very thing. He told me during that meeting that he felt his program was more academic in nature, but emphasized the fact that an applied approach that is being used by KEI could offer another option for people who may be looking at something other than a theroy-based model of instruction...Thanks for the feedback...it is refreshing to have this discussion...

If your interest in taking a course is for using it as a path to further education , you may have to decide it if will fit the needs you have...With that said, both theory-based and applied programs both have their place...

ucfvgirl · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Location: Bundang

Thanks for clarifying this for me. I have been teaching ESL in Korea for two years already and I am also a high school teacher in Canada. Therefore, I am looking for a course that will give me the qualifications needed to teach ESL in a public school classroom. According to my public school coordinator in Canada, the Asian EFL course does just that. This is why I am not sure that the course offered by KEI will suffice, due to the limited nature of academic reading/writing.

I appreciate all of your time and energy in responding to all of my questions.

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

If you would like I can correspond directly with them and provide the information so there is no question...I would be happy to do that...

Be sure they know KEI is a legally registered and recognized program spuuorted by the Korean government to offer training for people...We can provide the necessary document to them for verification if they need it...Your questions are most welcomed and helpful...This is the type of transparency we wish all programs offering training would provide so there would be less confusion about what is or is not a legitimate training option...Thanks again...

ucfvgirl · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Location: Bundang

UPDATE: I finally heard back from them and they have discontinued the course, at least for now. Apparently, Asian EFL has recently changed hands and this is why they didn't return my email promptly. At least I finally got an explanation and now I know that I really should look at taking a TESOL or TESL course eslewhere. Good to know.

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

That is what I thought was happening, but I have had little contact with LG since our meeting in the spring...I am excited that he has other business opportunities that appear to be going well for him now...