Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vonjunk]

I have a masters degree in History and some ESL teaching experience in a Japanese university. Would it be of any help to go and get a CELTA or TEFL certificate? Do institutions in Korea appreciate the degree or is it just a waste of money?
I am looking to find a nice enough university to teach at in Korea or Japan and it would be great help knowing if a certificate has helped anyone or not?
Also, does it matter if I get an online TEFL as it's much more affordable?
Your thoughts are most welcome with my thanks!

[bassexpander]

You already have what you need to get hired at a university (experience at Korean schools for a year or two is needed, as well).

A TEFL certification will pretty much only help you for what you learn. Any cheap TEFL will do -- schools here don't know or care what the difference is between that or a CELTA.

You don't need a TEFL at all to work at univ. here. I got my job with no TEFL and no MA. If you have an MA plus experience, you will stand a good chance. Make sure of the following:

1. You apply many places.
2. You take a professional passport-sized photo with a suit coat/tie (you can get these done at any Fuji/Kodak shop here for about 12,000 won a set).
3. Your resume looks professional
4. Experience teaching adults at companies or high school really helps.

[agoodmouse]

A CELTA, which is completely on-site and for a month of teaching practicum, looks better than a cheap online TEFL where you sat in front of your computer and got an LCD monitor tan. A CELTA proves you cared enough about your own education and language learners themselves, more so than the week it takes you to complete and "prove" yourself on an online TEFL.

[cruisemonkey]

[agoodmouse]

What happened at Yonsei?

[vonjunk]

hmmm, interesting. So, I guess my choices are go hardcore into a CELTA or nothing at all?
I get the impression that it will not have much weight on the decision of the Korean universities if I have the certificate or not, but I did notice whilst looking through the job openings that many prefer a teacher with some sort of ESL certificate.
True, if the Koreans care not about what kind, it makes the most sense for my time and wallet to opt for the cheaper online TEFL. However, agoodmouse makes an excellent point that I would surely learn more about the trade by actually spending the time and money to get a CELTA....I just wonder if it will be worth the effort?
Thanks for the advice. Anyone else want to weigh in?

[bassexpander]

[FUBAR]

[agoodmouse]

The CELTA costs 2,150,000 Won at TTI under the International Graduate School for English in Seoul. Online TESOLs are cheap for a reason. Advocating online TESOLs is ridiculous. It's like eBay for seeking a veneer of qualifications. Go ahead and take an online TESOL (I know, because I actually did), but I felt I couldn't take myself seriously after taking KEI-TEFL's piece of cake course, knowing I could get a CELTA and get actual teaching tutoring and practicum. The printed certificate and Microsoft Excel spreadsheet to report my grades in the online course looked ridiculously cheap. In online TESOLs, you get what you pay for, I suppose. How anyone believes online TESOLs can mirror on-site CELTAs is gullible enough to subscribe to any farce.

[vonjunk]

I think you're both correct:
Mouse because if I do something do it right and be the real deal; and Bassexpander that I should have no trouble with my current qualifications getting a university job, so I needn't spend a months' worth of salary to get a qualification that isn't needed to secure a job.
That said, does anyone have advice on how to go about getting a university job? When do Korean universities fill their ESL positions? Besides having a MA, university teaching experience and a good photo what else can I do to help my cause?

Thanks very much everyone who's added to the conversation, I appreciate it.

[bassexpander]

Apply and then reapply. Seriously.

What generally happens is that schools hire during summer/winter vacation, then weeks after signing, some bow out for various reasons. That is when the schools scramble to find new workers. That's why reapplying 1 month before classes start is a good idea.

Also, make sure your photo is good/professional (passport-sized wearing a suitcoat and tie). You can get them done cheap at FUJI or KODAK stores around Seoul.

[rumdiary]

Would a Celta certificate help if I wanted to teach in Europe?

[agoodmouse]

Yes, a CELTA will help you in Europe. It's the most internationally recognized TESOL certificate. It's especially useful in Europe, more so than in Korea.

[ddeubel]

I really think that teacher training comes down to the energy/commitment/sincerity of the teacher. Meaning, it is all about thinking about your teaching and then following that up with some knowledge. Connecting the two.

How you go about that can happen in many ways but the foundation is reflectiveness.

If you want an online certificate, you shouldn't have to pay through the nose or even through one nostril to get it. It isn't a homeland security secret, the fundamentals of teaching a language..... Get one you feel will allow you to complete easily and think about your teaching.

I'll be offering one in the future. Busy building quizzes and activities at the moment. Stay tuned. For the moment, you can get open source, free training. I just put up all the modules/videos needed. Take a look, HERE
each is 12 min. each and covers a lot of the basic ideas.

Ciao,

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

[anjinsan]

I've been looking at the TTI site for the CELTA.
I am wondering--for anyone who knows--who the instructors for the CELTA are there.
It looks like all the folks listed on the site are marginally qualified to teach CELTA (mostly BA's with one or two MA's).

In my case, I have been teaching and teaching ESL far longer than all of the TTI faculty listed, and am more qualified in terms of education, sans the CELTA certificate; yet, I have been throwing around the idea of obtaining a CELTA just for the simple sake of "certification."

Odd situation actually.

Any thoughts?