Korean Job Discussion Forums

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

All good points, Gypsy.

rok_the-boat · Joined: 24 Jan 2004

With 5-6 years of teaching experience behind me I did the CELTA at Yonsei and found it to be excellent - wish I had done it sooner. I use the ideas all the time. But Koreans rarely recognise it, which doesn't always matter - it made me a better teacher. Reality is, if you want a better job in Korea, you need an M.A. Worse reality is, they often don't care if you are a good teacher or not.

matthewwoodford · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Location: Location, location, location.

Has anyone tried the distance DELTA here and is it respected in Korea?

osangrl · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Location: osan

why take it, when you can go and buy the fake one in Itaewon for a little bit less of the price and for 1 minute of the time.

matthews_world · Joined: 15 Feb 2003

gypsyfish · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Arthur Fonzerelli · Joined: 22 Jan 2003 Location: Suwon

no, I have not taken it.

baedaebok · Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: Seoul, South Korea

I'm thinking of taking CELTA in Toronto or Seoul. Which would be better if I want a more international audience and learn teaching techniques that are relevant for the average student (not just Korean students)? I'm teaching in an EAP (English for Academic Purposes) program in a university.

1) Are the teaching techniques in CELTA geared towards teaching general, everyday English OR EAP?

2) Do the teaching techniques used in teaching general English differ from those used in teaching EAP?

Arthur Dent · Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Location: Kochu whirld

A friend of mine took the Celta in London and highly recommends the course. In addition, he said that doing the course in London was a definite plus. The level of instruction was very high, and it may be that the course is actually better there than say, Thailand, as I would imagine the qualifications for the instructor there would be quite high.
No offense to anyone who took, or teaches, the Celta elsewhere. It may be perceptual, but the closer one is to the center of something, the greater the expectations. I have considered taking the course there myself. Perhaps someday when I can afford the time and money......

Anyway, all the other posters are quite correct according to what I have heard, that the Celta is great for improving teaching skills and methodologies, it is widely accepted in countries not in Asia, and in addition, that teaching experience in much of Asia is not well recognized elsewhere without a Masters degree specific to the field or a Bachelors and a Celta. It may not impress a hagwon or Uni/college gig here, but it will help your teaching.

Whistleblower · Joined: 03 Feb 2007

I took the CELTA at the British Council. It was the best decision to enhance my career in EFL. I am now examining and teaching Business English. I would recommend that you take it to improve your teaching skills. The teacher traininers are brilliant and they have way more experience than most people in Korea.

Book it, save up and pass.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

Where do people find these old threads?

Kevtron · Joined: 17 Jul 2007

I recently got a new job here in Korea, going on year two of teaching English Language Teaching here. Back home I taught at a Uni, though not ESL. I'm thinking about going for a CELTA certificate during my break from work though had a couple of questions regarding it.

One which was noted above is that it might be better to get it elsewhere than in Korea. Honestly getting it elsewhere I think could be fun just as an excuse to travel to that elsewhere and work on it for a month or so.

Another question that was touched on a ton was that it will be great for teaching skills, which is one reason that I'd want to go back and get that.

On to a third question that I have, which is regarding how helpful it would be on my resume. Basically I was wondering which of all the different certifications seems to be of the 'highest' quality globally; ie. which is the most readily recognized if I choose to move away from Korea and continue teaching English somewhere.
On these lines I'd just like to confirm that it probably wouldn't help me here in Korea for qualifications as I've already got my MA (clearly not in ESL), and my new job is at a Uni, so don't need it to get a job here.
I was thinking that perhaps if I got the CELTA, and already having the MA, and after this year having Uni experience in Korea I'd be able to go just about anywhere I want.

Basically I'm looking for extra certification for a combination of qualifications as well as teaching advice (which now that I'm at a Uni would be much more helpful than at my previous hagwon).

So for those who skipped to the end:
I already know it'll help my teaching/understanding of English.
Is CELTA the 'best' certification in terms of global recognition?
-Does it matter where one goes to get the certification?
How much will it help to add to a resume if I've already got Uni experience and an MA?

Thanks much!

hugekebab · Joined: 05 Jan 2008

Think about whether its worth �1000. Luckily my CELTA tipped the balance with me getting my job in a uni with no experience; but I still wouldn't have got it without my Ma.

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

I depends on where you want to teach and where you're from. If you're from the States and are thinking of teaching in other Asian countries, it pretty much doesn't matter which one you get.

If you're from anywhere and want to teach in Europe (VERY difficult for Americans if it's an EU country), then get the CELTA, and possibly even the DELTA. Those are the only ones recognized in Europe.

FYI, I did my CELTA in Prague and I can't say enough about the course and the city.