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rayne
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
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 Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:42 pm Post subject: CELTA vs TESOL vs TEFL |
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I know there's probably a lot of posts on this and I've been reading through most of them, but most people asking are from the UK or the US.
- I'm from Vancouver, Canada
- I'm planning to move to Korea permanently and therefore will probably be an English teacher permanently
- I plan to do a teaching certificate the semester after I graduate, so I can focus on it
Which certificate is most suitable for my situation?
Should I do the certificate online or in person?
Which organization do you recommend for obtaining the certificate?
Are there any helpful sites where I can succeed in the class?
What is the pass/fail ratio?
Are there any pros/cons to each certificate? (I heard CELTA is not recognized in Canada O_o)
Thanks for any information. I may edit this post as I comb through other threads relating to this topic =] |
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dyc
Joined: 16 Dec 2010
Location: Vancouver
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:16 pm Post subject: Re: CELTA vs TESOL vs TEFL |
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| rayne wrote: |
I know there's probably a lot of posts on this and I've been reading through most of them, but most people asking are from the UK or the US.
- I'm from Vancouver, Canada
- I'm planning to move to Korea permanently and therefore will probably be an English teacher permanently
- I plan to do a teaching certificate the semester after I graduate, so I can focus on it
Which certificate is most suitable for my situation?
Should I do the certificate online or in person?
Which organization do you recommend for obtaining the certificate?
Are there any helpful sites where I can succeed in the class?
What is the pass/fail ratio?
Are there any pros/cons to each certificate? (I heard CELTA is not recognized in Canada O_o)
Thanks for any information. I may edit this post as I comb through other threads relating to this topic =] |
I'm in Vancouver too, and currently taking a TESOL diploma course at ATC. I've had a few people recommend it to me, but I'm just on the 2nd day so I can't accurately say how good it is.
I think International House on West Broadway is supposed to be really good though.
Keep in mind, most in-class TESOL courses are ~$1000. CELTA is ~$2k. An online course will run ~$200. I don't know anyone who has failed a TESOL class - even ESL students take it to improve their English or to be able to teach English back home. I'm not too knowledgeable on CELTA, however.
But if you're serious about it, then I'd probably invest in an in-class TESOL or CELTA. Online is okay if you just want the pay bump in a Korean Public School, but I think most people could benefit from the classroom instruction and practice. Even if the lessons aren't 100% applicable to teaching in Korea, it's a good refresher and will give you ideas that you practice in the classroom, as opposed ot just reading them like with an online course. |
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Xylox
Joined: 09 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 10:39 pm Post subject: |
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From my limited knowledge;
Koreans don't care about the Celta, the rest of the world does. If you ever want to expand to like the middle east ($$$$$$) or something then go for it, other wise skip it.
Online courses are cheap, easy to do and not overly taxing. It will give you a small bump in pay and will pay for itself very quckly. I doubt anyone in Korea will care if you did it in class or online. |
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missty
Joined: 19 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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I took the CELTA four years ago with a mind to teach for a long time. If you want to teach for a while, then the CELTA will help you. Likewise a TESOL will help too, although I have little knowledge on it.
Korean's don't recognise a CELTA, but it will be beneficial to your teaching. Also, if you do decide to move outside of Korea then you will need it. Its a tough course though, so be prepared for that.
As with information regarding the CELTA, my instructors told me that one person normally aces it, one person fails, and the rest are a mix of Pass B's and Passes.
I would say this though: Some people on my CELTA course decided that teaching EFL wasn't for them, but only after they forked out a HUGE amount of money to take the course. I'd personally suggest taking an online course, coming to Korea for a year, and if you decide that you DO love teaching then take a CELTA or TESOL. You're lucky that Korea only needs that online course, as you can use this as your tester.
You don't want to spend about 1000 pounds taking the course then deciding you hate teaching. Although I do recommend taking it once you've got a years experience, as whatever anyone says, an online course is nothing compared to actual practice teaching in a classroom. It does make you become a better teacher for sure.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do though! |
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rayne
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:29 pm Post subject: Re: CELTA vs TESOL vs TEFL |
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| dyc wrote: |
I'm in Vancouver too, and currently taking a TESOL diploma course at ATC. I've had a few people recommend it to me, but I'm just on the 2nd day so I can't accurately say how good it is.
I think International House on West Broadway is supposed to be really good though.
Keep in mind, most in-class TESOL courses are ~$1000. CELTA is ~$2k. An online course will run ~$200. I don't know anyone who has failed a TESOL class - even ESL students take it to improve their English or to be able to teach English back home. I'm not too knowledgeable on CELTA, however.
But if you're serious about it, then I'd probably invest in an in-class TESOL or CELTA. Online is okay if you just want the pay bump in a Korean Public School, but I think most people could benefit from the classroom instruction and practice. Even if the lessons aren't 100% applicable to teaching in Korea, it's a good refresher and will give you ideas that you practice in the classroom, as opposed ot just reading them like with an online course. |
Awesome, if you remember, can you let me know how the course goes for you? =] I heard Vancouver (or all of BC?) in general are famous for their teaching programs... if you take a teaching course at any decent/reputable/accredited institution, you're all good. That's kind of why I want to take advantage of that and do it in class. But the large difference in price worries me.
I've taken some online courses in university and it's so-so. I'd much rather do in class since I'm planning on teaching on the long run. But again, the price makes me go 
Thank you, Xylox and missty about CELTA, I wasn't too keen on that particular certificate. And it looks like TESOL and TEFL are essentially the same thing so I think I'll go with one of those.
If anyone knows any good places to get the TESOL or TEFL, I'm all ears  |
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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:19 am Post subject: |
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| The CELTA will be available online later this year but you will still be required to do the Teaching Practice in a face to face setting. |
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repeatpete
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:26 am Post subject: |
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http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=204146
sort of covers a little of what you are talking about.
'misty's' point regarding teaching first before you do the CELTA makes a lot of sense. It's a lot of money, having had experience in the classroom before you start being assessed helps and could better ensure a 'pass.' (Of course, by no means is experience a pre-requisite.)
In the discussion posted above you can read the opinions regarding the usefulness of CELTA in Korea/relevance to teaching kids/applicability to Korea etc.
One point though...taking any course in a 'larger' school (which is also a language school in Vancouver) may well get you work for the summer straightaway in that school. Indeed, a centre like International House might give you more 'global reach' when it comes to applying for jobs overseas.
So, you might think about studying at a place which enables you to keep working in Vancouver for a bit. Indeed, that experience may strengthen your application and get you something more interesting here.
If you want to come to Korea ASAP, my opinion is that one of the non-CELTA courses you mention would probably be more practical. That's simply my opinion and others are better qualified to highlight their relevance/usefulness/recognition.
Best of good fortune with whatever you decide.
PS. For what it is worth, I have not heard of any ESL students taking a CELTA. (Again, just my own experience.) |
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chaiplz
Joined: 21 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:14 am Post subject: |
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I've heard mixed reviews about Oxford Seminars.. I paid my deposit but I'm still up in the air about it. It's about $1000 USD and all in person training (around 60 hours). I'm considering it more so for the actual training -- since I've never done TESL before other than a few private lessons in Brasil -- than for the cert itself. I have a close friend that does not use these forums and she said that she loved it. I think it all depends on the instructor you get  |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:23 am Post subject: |
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| chaiplz wrote: |
| I've heard mixed reviews about Oxford Seminars.. I paid my deposit but I'm still up in the air about it. It's about $1000 USD and all in person training (around 60 hours). I'm considering it more so for the actual training (since I've never done TESL before) than for the cert itself. I have a close friend that does not use these forums and she said that she loved it. I think it all depends on the instructor you get |
The 60 hour course is a waste of money.
It WON'T be recognized by anyone because it is substandard.
If you just need a course for Korea then any old 100 hour course (in person or on-line) will suffice and get you the pay bump. The cheaper it is the better for you if you are just doing this as a gap year or to pay off your student loans.
If you want something that will be recognized outside of Korea it needs to be 120 hours AND include a MINIMUM of 6 hours of observed practicum with real students (not peers).
As to brand names, TESOL, TEFL, TESL (types), CELTA, SIT, Trinity (brands)- They are all the same! They are just different brands or acronyms for the same stuff.
Meet the standard (120 hr. with 6 hr. practicum) and you are good to go (anywhere).
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legrande
Joined: 23 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:28 am Post subject: |
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| CELTA is recognized in Korea at the uni level. |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 11:43 am Post subject: |
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| I did the icalweb.com 100 hour TEFL course. It was no joke, I felt like it was about as hard as any online class I had ever taken (so not THAT hard, but still a decent chunk of work). I don't know if that's good or bad, but I certainly felt I got my money's worth. It as $265, so cheap compared to a lot of certification programs. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
As to brand names, TESOL, TEFL, TESL (types), CELTA, SIT, Trinity (brands)- They are all the same! They are just different brands or acronyms for the same stuff.
Meet the standard (120 hr. with 6 hr. practicum) and you are good to go (anywhere).
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That's not necessarily good advice if you are looking for jobs outside Korea. A lot of places will only recognise the CELTA or TRINITY and others will favour those courses over others. It's definitely worth paying a bit extra, if you have to, just to get the CELTA or Trinity. |
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chaiplz
Joined: 21 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| ok, so if I'm just going to get a cheap 100 hr. cert, can anyone recommend a decent one? The plan is to go to Korea for a few years, save up money/pay student loans, then take the CELTA (since the cost is just NOT realistic for me right now). |
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rayne
Joined: 05 Aug 2009
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isitts
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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I, personally, would not cut corners with online certificates. You don't have to get a CELTA. I got a perfectly legitimate 130 hour TEFL Certificate for half the cost of the CELTA, and it's served me just fine.
Your teaching experience is going to overshadow your brand of certificates anyway. And you'll be able to make back the money you spent on the TEFL course (including the housing) within a few months of your job.
Just my advice.
These TEFL courses are a lot like driver's ed - you learn a particular standard in class, but once you're out on the road, you develop your own driving style (while keeping the basic principles you learned from the course). And the longer you've been driving, the less people will be concerned about which prestigious driving school you went to.
Of course, the counter-argument could be that if you've been driving badly for a long time, one could ask, "Where'd you learn to drive?!" But I think for the most part, we'd hope you're not driving in exactly the manner you'd learned in driver's ed. No one would want to get in the car with you. |
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