Korean Job Discussion Forums

littlefishbigpond · Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Location: Osaka, Japan

Hi,

I"m currently teaching English in Japan. However, i'm looking into doing my TEFL/TESOL course. It's all confusing about which company to choose. (and which course) I"ve been looking at TEFL International (to do the course either in Korea or Thailand) Does anyone have any experience with them or any other companies that i can do the course with for that matter? (www.teflinternational.org.uk)

(It says; All TEFL International TESOL certificate courses worldwide fully meet British Council criteria for employment within the British Council and at British Council accredited language schools) Is this enough or is there anything else i should be looking out for?

I would appreciate any advice/recommendations/experiences that anyone has?? Looking forward to your replies.

Thank you! Wink

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 1:48 am Post subject: Re: TEFL International

Save your money. If you've got the money to spend on TEFL Int'l's courses, it's better spent on a quality CELTA.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I have a BA.

I didn't need the CELTA for my university job. I didn't need a TEFL International certificate for my university job.

I didn't need ANY certification.

You don't need a CELTA (or a certificate from TEFL International) in Korea -- especially if you are going to teach kids. Can you learn something taking the CELTA? You bet. I knock the CELTA a lot, but I like the British Council's website for Task-Based Learning activities.

The rule of thumb I tell people to follow goes something like this:

If you are....

... in Korea for just a year or two, and have no plans to teach elsewhere after, don't bother with any TEFL certification.

... in Korea for 3 to 4 years, plan to move on and teach in another country, or stay working a public school job, get a low-cost, approved TEFL course (many are below $400, and can be done via distance. Just make sure they are over 100 hours). If you plan to move around the world and teach in countries that respect the British system, then get a CELTA. All of these certifications (including the CELTA) are useless in the USA.

... in Korea for 5 or more years, you should get, or make plans to get, some kind of teaching certification or an MA in Education/TESOL. You could get a CELTA, but if you've been teaching for more than 4 years, I'd say it's a waste of money.

Remember, the CELTA costs about US $1,500 to $2,500, depending on where you take it. The full TEFL International course is going to be similiar in price (it was last I checked). Korea is naturally much more expensive for the CELTA. One could almost say they gouge you here (when they even offer it), but maybe it's the extra cost of buildings or something -- who knows. Don't forget to factor in flight costs, housing costs, and lost work costs for up to 5 weeks. Any flight costs you'd save by taking it in Korea are squashed by the high price of taking it here (unless prices have changed that I'm not aware of).

I added it all up, and found that I'd be out over 4 million won if I took the CELTA, counting lost work time. Even at a 100,000 won per hour raise for having it, that will take you more than a few years to recoup the costs at a public school job.

Not worth it, given my situation. Neither is TEFL International.

By the way, CELTA now has a long-term course that you can do over several months. I'm not up to speed on what that entails, so I can't comment. I'm sure you'll pay just as much for the base costs, as if you did the full 5 week CELTA.

Remember: MANY OF THESE CERTIFICATES ARE ONLY ACCREDITED BY THE COMPANIES/GROUPS THEY ARE OFFERED BY.

Would you seek medical care from a doctor who is only a doctor because he passed his own accreditation to become a doctor, and therefore certified himself? Now how about paying that doctor $1,500 to $2,500 for medical care which you don't need, and missing 5 weeks of paid work in the process?

Again, I work at a university, and I didn't need a CELTA or a piece of paper from TEFL International to get my job here. You don't need one to work at a hagwon, either.

littlefishbigpond · Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Location: Osaka, Japan

Thanks very much for your responses.

I should have also said too, that i would like to try to work in Europe. Therefore, this is more the reason i want get the certificate. And, my future career plans are directed towards teaching. (either english/school)
I just thought doing the course would equip me better for classroom teaching? (doing it in Thailand will cost around �890, including accomodation, roughly the same for korea)

Arigato, once again though.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

You want to become a teacher in Europe? Are you Canadian? Why not go to teachers college for a year?

A better investment, IMHO.

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 4:33 am Post subject:

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

littlefishbigpond · Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Location: Osaka, Japan

Im British and the plan is to go back to Uni for a year to get my teaching certificate sometime. However, in the meantime i am interested in teaching English. I am interested in taking the tefl etc course in thailand for a month. I've been researching Korea and i'm aware that i don't need to have any teaching experience. It's just something i want to do and thought that it would benefit me, particularly since i want to teach more in Europe. I'm sorry for posting here, but i cannot post in the other forum's without signing up and i am also interested in Korea, hence the reason.

Cheers ;0

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:11 am Post subject:

Snowmeow · Joined: 03 Oct 2005 Location: pc room

KimchiExplosion · Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Location: Nowhere near Seoul

http://www.teflwatch.org/300/tefl-international-joins-the-hall-of-shame/

I wouldn't touch TEFL International with a ten foot pole.