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mcloo7
Joined: 20 Aug 2012
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 Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 10:04 am Post subject: Is a CELTA for a newbie in Korea worth it? |
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I did searches for this and nothing recent and relevant came up.
I have little to no teaching experience outside of tutoring at an after school center in America. I was thinking about getting a CELTA in Ecuador because it's the cheapest, accounting for accomodation, flight etc. Do you think it is worth it to get a CELTA before I start ESLing in Korea, or possibly China? I have read that some say it doesn't translate well to teaching Korean youths. Also would it hurt me to do it in Ecuador as opposed to Asia, in terms of missing possible connections, and working with people from a different part of the world. The cost of the CELTA is a significant amount of money for me right now, so if alot of people say it's not worth it I may not do it. I do plan to do alot of reading about teaching English either way though. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| If you want to teach in Korea for a couple of years at public school or hagwans then do something else then it probably isn't worth it,no. If you want to teach TEFL for a longer period, get better jobs in Korea or other countries and generally become a better teacher then it's a must. |
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mcloo7
Joined: 20 Aug 2012
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| If you want to teach in Korea for a couple of years at public school or hagwans then do something else then it probably isn't worth it,no. If you want to teach TEFL for a longer period, get better jobs in Korea or other countries and generally become a better teacher then it's a must. |
I would like to be as good a teacher as possible, it's just that if the CELTA isn't that applicable to the type of teaching necessary in Korea than it could be a waste of money, especially if I only teach for a couple years. After some time in Korea though, I would have some more money to spend on a CELTA if I felt it was necessary. |
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Njord
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| While CELTA is specifically for adults, the main value is in the basic teaching skills you learn. It has never been a job requirement for me, but it has given me a massive head start in learning how to teach. On day one, with a CELTA you know what you need to do for your lesson to work. |
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mcloo7
Joined: 20 Aug 2012
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Njord wrote: |
| While CELTA is specifically for adults, the main value is in the basic teaching skills you learn. It has never been a job requirement for me, but it has given me a massive head start in learning how to teach. On day one, with a CELTA you know what you need to do for your lesson to work. |
Ok, are jobs still relatively abundant enough for beginners in Korea to make the $3000 a safe investment. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Njord wrote: |
| While CELTA is specifically for adults, the main value is in the basic teaching skills you learn. It has never been a job requirement for me, but it has given me a massive head start in learning how to teach. On day one, with a CELTA you know what you need to do for your lesson to work. |
Ok, are jobs still relatively abundant enough for beginners in Korea to make the $3000 a safe investment. |
Yes, and no.
If you feel you need something then yes, get a TEFL / TESOL cert.
Is the CELTA (specific brand of TESOL cert) necessary = no.
Is the CELTA worth the investment = NOT if your only choices are Korea/Japan. There ARE cheaper alternatives that are just as good. When you are looking at websites keep in mind that you want one that focuses on the certification and not one that looks like a travel brochure. The standard by which to judge is 120 hours with 6 hours of observed practicum with real students (not peers from your course).
Does the CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adulta) help in the young learner classroom = NOT in my experience beyond learning how to write a lesson plan. Kids are not little versions of big people. They are different creatures (think caterpillar and butterfly).
Would I recommend spending the money on a CELTA = NO, not at this moment in time. Jobs in Korea don't require it, don't need it (they want newbies) and are such that it won't give you a leg up.
If you have a degree and a clean CBC (immigration requirements) then start applying.
If you want to work in a public school then get a cheap TEFL/TESOL cert.
If, AFTER you have decided you want to stay in TEFL, you want further certifications.. then yes, a CELTA or one of the other recognised brands of TESOL cert: SIT or Trinity cert TESOL are a good investment and you will be in a position to better afford and appreciate it.
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mcloo7
Joined: 20 Aug 2012
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Yes, and no.
If you feel you need something then yes, get a TEFL / TESOL cert.
Is the CELTA (specific brand of TESOL cert) necessary = no.
Is the CELTA worth the investment = NOT if your only choices are Korea/Japan. There ARE cheaper alternatives that are just as good. When you are looking at websites keep in mind that you want one that focuses on the certification and not one that looks like a travel brochure. The standard by which to judge is 120 hours with 6 hours of observed practicum with real students (not peers from your course).
Does the CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adulta) help in the young learner classroom = NOT in my experience beyond learning how to write a lesson plan. Kids are not little versions of big people. They are different creatures (think caterpillar and butterfly).
Would I recommend spending the money on a CELTA = NO, not at this moment in time. Jobs in Korea don't require it, don't need it (they want newbies) and are such that it won't give you a leg up.
If you have a degree and a clean CBC (immigration requirements) then start applying.
If you want to work in a public school then get a cheap TEFL/TESOL cert.
If, AFTER you have decided you want to stay in TEFL, you want further certifications.. then yes, a CELTA or one of the other recognised brands of TESOL cert: SIT or Trinity cert TESOL are a good investment and you will be in a position to better afford and appreciate it.
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Thanks. When you say get a cheap TEFL/TESOL cert, do you mean an online one? If I was going to spend anywhere near a thousand dollars I would just pay more and get the CELTA. Would you mind recommending a specific cheap TEFL? And, is that required for public schools? Thanks. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I've known too many CELTA folks doing the standard hagwon gig to believe it is, personally. I'd recommend teaching for a year or so and determining whether that's a direction you want to continue in. |
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jeremydc808
Joined: 16 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks. When you say get a cheap TEFL/TESOL cert, do you mean an online one? If I was going to spend anywhere near a thousand dollars I would just pay more and get the CELTA. Would you mind recommending a specific cheap TEFL? And, is that required for public schools? Thanks. |
Go though ITTT. 250$ for a 120 hour cert with tutor support. |
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isitts
Joined: 25 Dec 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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| mcloo7 wrote: |
| Thanks. When you say get a cheap TEFL/TESOL cert, do you mean an online one? If I was going to spend anywhere near a thousand dollars I would just pay more and get the CELTA. Would you mind recommending a specific cheap TEFL? And, is that required for public schools? Thanks. |
I, personally, wouldn't recommend an online version, though it's better than nothing. But Korea is probably among the few places that give much credence to an online cert. Whether that�s changing or whether people want to dispute that, I think teaching English is more interesting when it�s social. I really enjoyed my TEFL course and it was really helpful to work with and bounce ideas off the other trainees. And the students were great, too. I think an online course would be tedious and boring. But to each their own.
I will say, though, that the course was difficult and if I hadn�t already had some classroom experience before the course, it would have been a lot harder for me. I think a year or so of co-teaching (like in a public school set up) can be a very helpful way of getting your feet wet and deciding whether a TEFL course is something you want to do.
On the other hand, plenty of people do fine without too much prior experience. The experience you have should be helpful for you in getting through the course. And, it seems more public schools in Korea prefer those who have taken some sort of TEFL course. Plus that gives you a pay bump.
So, up to you. There are good TEFL course that are less expensive than CELTA. I have nothing against CELTA, but I would probably only have taken that course if I were planning on teaching in Europe. Whatever courses you look at, I�d choose the one you feel will actually help you, rather than one that just lets you check off a box that says you did it.
Anyway, hope that helps a bit. |
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