Korean Job Discussion Forums

changwonteacher · Joined: 05 Jan 2007

Anybody done a Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners? I've seen some online courses on the net, but don't know if they are worth the money. I have a CELTA, but no young learner training. Without a practical component, I don' t see how much value it can be: I could just read some books (can anyone recommend any good books?) The ad for the online course says it will help you to get a better job, but with the amount of jobs teaching children available, I reckon getting a job teaching kids is pretty easy anyway. Any thoughts?

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

There are some options which will soon be avaiable for people wanting 100% online study in Korea...I sent you a PM regarding theis information...

Dome Vans · Guest

Satin · Joined: 26 Oct 2006 Location: Texas

Dome Vans wrote:

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

The comments of Satin are more in line with the current thinking regarding online training...The thoughts regarding getting a certificate if it is not actually going to prove to be useful for the OP are also excellent...I would say there are a number of reasons to enhance your professional qualifications, but it is not always necessary to spend money on a program that will give you little in terms of useful results...Contrary to what some have posted on this forum, there are very legitimate and valuable programs that are offered online and are very high quality in terms of delivery and content...finding a quality program takes time and research so people don't get ripped off...

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

Maybe it's just me but I find it strange that TEFL in general is not aimed at teaching young learners. I have looked at jobs in South America, Asia, Eastern Europe and Africa and they have been overwhelmingly jobs teaching students instead of adults.

Why isn't TEFL training aimed at the biggest market and greatest need?

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

The whole of the TEFL/TESOL/TESL/CELTA (et.al.) training industry was created because there was a need for it Internationally, and it is a big money maker...The creation and inclusion of TEYL (Teaching English to Young Learners), BE (Business English) and other courses was created for the purpose of making more money when people have completed their initial training...It is how getting repeat customers in business works...Here is a poor example, but an example nonetheless...If I own a lawn chair company and sell you a high quality lawn chair, it is in my interest to immediately work on a new and improved model of the lawn chair so you will come back and buy it if you liked the first one...

In a market that is often driven by cost, people see paying big bucks to get an add-on certificate to teach young learners a benefit...So, they will spend the money to receive that training regardless of cost...Programs offering quality instruction have been few and faw between, because the international market has no real system of checks and balances...The companies boasting accreditation, are often the people who set up the agency who accredits them...Others are working with major universities and actually operate their programs through the auspices of those universities...This creates a problem, because there is usually some financial arrangement with a university which in the end adds to the cost of the training...

So, there are a number of new companies now beginning to surface that offer students high quality training, onsite and online for much less money...How are they able to do this? Simply because they have organized and registered with the government of the country where they are located...