Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sligo]

I am in my second year in Korea, and the topic of moving on has come up in conversations. I am English, and with the free movement of labour laws in Europe, i can pretty much get a job in any EU country without an fuss. so, i was wondering if anyone knew of any countries (EU or other) in Europe that actually demand a Celta or similar qualification to gain employment teaching English. Personally i was looking at going to Italy to teach.

[bassexpander]

I don't recommend the CELTA for around here (too expensive, and not needed) but Europe is certainly a place where it could prove very useful.

[harryh]

[nizpaz]

CELTA is more widely recognised worldwide than TEFL/Trinity House. Both in Europe and in places like Vietnam and Thailand, Mexico etc.

And Korea isnt the only dodgy ESL hot spot, SPain and Italy are full of pitfalls too. Split shifts are the norm, due to the structure of working hours there.

ALthough most of the ads for jobs state CELTA, Spain and Italy have a lot of jobs and people without certs or even degress can get jobs. Usually by just being in the country and walking into the school. However, both these countries are very popular for ESL teachers and competition for the better jobs is tough. If you want a GOOD job a CELTA is worth it.

Be prepared for vey low pay though. Fantastic life style, great weather and pretty warm people. Asia definately pays more.

If you want to work in Barcelona, Spain, PM me and I can give you a recommended school who do on the job training and care about professional development.

AT least in Spain/Italy they're straight talking.....

[Whistleblower]

I have known someone that went back to do a CELTA in the UK (due to cost considerations). It was cheaper for the guy to stay at his parent's place and do the CELTA than do it in Korea.

I have done at the British Council and it is expensive but I would always recommend anyone to try to complete a TEFL Certificate as you are able to learn more in 4 weeks than trying to bumble teaching for a year.

Think about doing it at your home country for cost considerations unless you have some money in the bank and would like to network with people in Korea.

[gypsyfish]

CELTA really isn't needed to get a job in Korea, though it might be a tipping point for a university job if you don't have a Master's. From what I've seen in job ads from some other Asian countries, you may need the CELTA.

CELTA will probably make you a better teacher. I took mine after I had been teaching for five years and found that my teaching was better. I'd been a successful teacher before, but learned a lot about time management and teaching tenses, among other things.

I recommend the CELTA.

Jeremy Harmer's book The Practice of English Language Teaching is a good text in lieu of the course, but CELTA is very practical and worthwhile - not just for getting a job, but to learn more about teaching.

[weatherman]

I have said it before, and will say it again, it was the best money I have ever invested. I did it up at the British Council in Seoul. Great experience.

[withnail]

By their definition, Initial Teacher Training Qualifications are just really an introduction to teaching EFL and there are dozens of them out there.

The reason why there is a little snobbery about the CELTA and why it is so highly valued in Europe rather than Asia is observed teaching practice - unlike so many others including of course online courses.

Easier to just to a do bunch of reading or writing assignments online than to put yourself at the front of a class with an assessor judging you, isn't it? That's the difference with CELTA.

If I were you, I'd do the CELTA as soon as it's possible for you. Rather unfortunately, Korean employers generally don't rate it any higher than any other piece of paper that purports to be a teacher training cert. But if you want to go to Europe and you want a good start to your career in terms of training, I think it's the best way, especially followed by the DELTA later on when you have more experience.

In reality it is one of the few that is actually worth the fee. IMHO of course.

[missty]

I have worked in Italy and Poland and both jobs required the CELTA course. I took it in the Czech Republic and although it was expensive it was worth it.

Most jobs in Europe require the CELTA, and I haven't noticed one employer who doesn't ask for it. If you want a good job with a decent school then its definitely worth it.

There may be snobbery about the CELTA course, but nearly all schools in Europe do not accept online courses or weekend courses. If you're serious about becoming a teacher in the long term, and you want to teach in Europe, then I highly reccomend it.

[withnail]

Hear, hear! Hear, hare hear...