Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aqm22]

Firstly, I tried to do a search of the forum, but the search function is not working for me. I'm definitely not going through 800+ worth of forum posts. So, I'm sorry if this had been asked before.

TEFL Certification, should I get one? If so, which one should I do? As I understand it, there are no regulation nor standardization for a TEFL Cert, but online ones are usually considered useless. I'm thinking of Oxford, but I'm not sure. I also heard that Cambridge (CELTA) is a good one, but I can't do 8hrs a day 5 days a week for 4 wks straight. It's not that I'm lazy. I just don't have the time. I can do weekend classes.

Please Advise.

[ttompatz]

[edwardcatflap]

[xihtug]

[aqm22]

Ok, so any proper in-house Tefl/Tesol program will do? I am willing to teach any age, but I do prefer younger kids.

I'm looking into other countries too, but Korea is my #1 choice right now.

[Swampfox10mm]

[isitts]

[isitts]

[aqm22]

@Swampfox10mm: Thanks for the input. However, I don't plan to live in the city, or at least big city like Seoul. So, that should bring my cost of living down a notch.

Ultimately, I would like to get a Celta degree because yes, I do plan on teaching for a long time. For the time being, a Tefl degree is the only other option I can come up with.

Like @isitts said, I don't see how a Tefl degree wont pay for itself in at most a few years.

[Swampfox10mm]

Sounds like you already decided to get a CELTA before you asked the question, aqm.



isitts, you have an interesting way of determining how you can recoup the costs. In Korea, you can get a job without a TEFL certificate. Chances are, the job you'd need one for doesn't pay significantly (if any) more than the job that doesn't require one.

For example, if having no TEFL gets you 2.1 per month at a job, and having a TEFL means you'll get 2.2 per month at another job, then it would be two years before you recouped the cost of the degree.


As per my advice, if you want to teach a long time, you need to look further ahead and consider an MA in Education. You'll soon grow tired of working 30+ class hours per week and getting only 2 weeks of vacation per year. You aren't going to find much different, unless you pony-up and do the work for a Masters. My school is mid to low level for Seoul. We pay 2.5 starting, plus housing or stipend of 300,000, with about 33,000 per hour OT. Vacation is over 4 1/2 months per year, but we are expected to work a few weeks summer/winter at 35,000 or so per hour (we all want the extra dough, so this is no problem).

Merely a CELTA will not get you this anymore.

Also, please consider that this industry (in Korea) is on a downward trend. Child birth rates of 1.2 per family mean an estimated max of 40% school closures within the next 10 to 15 years. These estimates vary, but the simple fact is: Koreans are not having kids. An influx of foreigners to do DDD jobs does not equate to nearly enough to pick up any form of slack (these foreigners have different priorities than Koreans).

It's good to think about teaching in other countries, as you have been doing.

[aqm22]

[Swampfox10mm]

In Korea, a regular TEFL (of at least 100 hours, but better be 100+ to be safe) will help with most jobs.

Outside of Korea, in countries where the British flavor of English is taught/preferred, then a Trinity or CELTA might be a good idea. Keep in mind, however, that many of these jobs around the world that demand these high-dollar TEFL certifications are actually jobs working for the same company, or affiliate that sells the courses. Nothing like creating your own qualification to sell so people can get a job at your own business!

[edwardcatflap]

[Swampfox10mm]

[edwardcatflap]

Cambridge is an examinations organisation. It created the CELTA. It is not a school and does not recruit teachers. Whether you stand by what you said or not, it's still inaccurate.