Korean Job Discussion Forums

widespread123 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007

I am traveling in Malaysia and Thailand in February and March and have signed up for the TOEFL Phuket course in April. It is a 4-week course with classroom observation. The problem is that I may not plan to work again in Korea. My top choices at the moment are Turkey and Vietnam. Will my TOEFL be accepted? Am I doing myself a major disservice by taking this TOEFL as compared to the CELTA? I know they are not exactly the same course but is the TOEFL looked down on at all compared to having a CELTA? Thanks.

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

TOEFL?

Do you mean TEFL?
The TOEFL (test of English as a foreign language) is for non-native speakers. It's usually required for foreign students who want to enter universities in English speaking countries and so forth...

If you're doing TEFL on site, it's not a waste of time but it should include 100 hours at the minimum.
CELTA is better, from what I understand, but perhaps more expensive and probably much more demanding.

widespread123 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007

I'm sorry. I meant TEFL.

Colorado · Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:46 pm Post subject:

I asked myself those same questions before taking the TEFL in Thailand three years ago. I've never regretted it.
And there's nothing stopping you from taking a CELTA course at a later date if you still think you need one.

jadarite · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 12:55 am Post subject:

Please let us know if we should do it too or just "phuket". LOL, sorry, I just had to.

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

Is this the CELTA program?

If you take anything -- take that. Don't do TEFL International. Take the CELTA.

You have to ask yourself if you really need it. To determine that, find out what teachers IN THOSE COUNTRIES YOU ARE GOING TO have to say. Also, find out what several schools require.

As for Korea, please refer to this, which I posted elsewhere:

widespread123 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007

widespread123 · Joined: 12 Jun 2007

One more thing: It should be noted that the main reason I am taking the TEFL over the CELTA course is simply because the schedule works out best for my friend (who I am meeting there to take the course with) and I while traveling in Thailand/Vietnam. The price is almost the same and the length is the same. I would feel bad for bailing on my friend but if it is a big enough hinderance in the future, I will have to make the decision to bail and go with the CELTA.

Truth be told, I don't want to be taking any of these stupid classes, they sound boring and not worthwhile and I would rather save my money and sit on the beach in Phuket than stress about my studies but I do want to continue in another country in the future. Such is life.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

If your future plans include any teaching in European countries, only CELTA will do. They don't think TEFL is the equivalant of CELTA. If you're only going to be teaching in Asia, TEFL will do. Don't know about Turkey. My friend who taught there had a CELTA.

Tony_Balony · Joined: 12 Apr 2007

CELTA = real deal.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

What company are you going with?

TEFL could mean anything from Somchais corner shop to a half arsed ECC course.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

The CELTA is for teaching adults. Many TEFL's seem to train teachers to teach English through 'games'. The CELTA doesn't train teachers to use games - it's geared toward teaching English in a more serious way. Therefore, the CELTA is required if you want to teach in Europe or the Middle East (and some Korean universities).

In Korea, any online, cheapie, 100 hours TEFl cert. will get you a job, or a public service pay rise. Many Korean employers don't know (or can't distinquish between) the CELTA or TEFL. However, a TEFL won't necessarily get you a K. uni job. (Many Korean uni's ask for a CELTA.)

fancypants · Joined: 22 May 2005

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

Having taken a TEFL and a CELTA Course, I can now say with confidence that the CELTA is acknowledged as being the de facto qualification if you wish to make a career in EFL Teaching (adult or child).

The CELTA is intensive and not everyone can pass it but if you do well, it can open doors for you. When I had a TEFL qualification, it looked good on paper but it really didn't provide that essential critical analysis that you need if you want to improve as a teacher. Meanwhile, the TEFL is good as an introductory course but it doesn't really focus on the fundamentals of teaching.

If you do the CELTA you then have options in the future to do the DELTA (free if you work for the British Council), become an English Examiner (IELTS, BULATS, CPE, etc etc).

Thus, do the CELTA and forget about the TEFL as the TEFL is just for newbies and it really isn't recognised, as mentioned before, outside of Korea. So if you want to work in the EU or Saudi Arabia DO the CELTA.

Any questions, then don't hesitate to PM me.

kiwiliz · Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Location: New Zealand

Okay. TEFL training establishments are usually run by private individuals and the quality of the course can vary.

CELTA courses are also a franchise and can vary depending on who is running them.

TEFL online courses are crap and only recognised in Korea as worth anything, but they do get yo a pay rise here.

In judging a school...DO NOT go for any that guarantee you a job at the completion of the course. How do they know if you are any good or not?

And ask if they fail people. The TEFL school I went to failed students if they did not come up to par.

And now to remedy the last bit of erroneous information given.....TEFL certificates, not the online but the 100 hour courses with supervised teaching practice...ARE recognised in Europe. Many job advertisements ask for the CELTA OR THE EQUIVALENT.

Ofcourse if you want to go further in this business...get a diploma later and you won't need to rely on your initial certificate.