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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:58 pm Post subject: Getting more qualifications beyond that of an M.A. in TESOL |
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I was contemplating getting more certificates and what not to be more competitive in other countries where people teach EFL such as in Dubai.
It seems that other countries want instructors who have the CELTA, taught TOEFL. I have an M.A. in TESOL; I teach at a university, but I don't have a CELTA, and I don't teach TOEFL. Do you think it would be necessary to get a CELTA at this point? Is it worth the 4k dollar investment? I had also thought of the idea of getting various ESL certificates from the Canadian College of Educators (http://canadiancollegeofeducators.ca/?page_id= perhaps the TOEFL certificate and maybe, later, the certificate for teaching adults.
Is it overkill to get a CELTA? I wouldn't mind having one, but spending 4K over the summer doesn't seem very attractive, and you're spending a ton of time studying. I've been there, done that.
I'd like to get the thoughts of those who have had the CELTA and/or have an M.A. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Do you think it would be necessary to get a CELTA at this point? |
If you want to aplly for jobs that require the CELTA then it's necessary |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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I have the Trinity Cert. TESOL and haven't seen any ads where it ranks above the M.A. I think the only reasons for you to get the CELTA would be for personal growth or your M.A. is not from a good University in an English-speaking country. To teach in some countries (like the Emirates) you need to be a certified teacher, so the TESOL wouldn't help you there either. If you wanted to you could get a post graduate teaching certificate but that's one year, full time, and more of an investment in your prospects.
any corrections welcome |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 12:04 am Post subject: |
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| JustinC wrote: |
I have the Trinity Cert. TESOL and haven't seen any ads where it ranks above the M.A. I think the only reasons for you to get the CELTA would be for personal growth or your M.A. is not from a good University in an English-speaking country. To teach in some countries (like the Emirates) you need to be a certified teacher, so the TESOL wouldn't help you there either. If you wanted to you could get a post graduate teaching certificate but that's one year, full time, and more of an investment in your prospects.
any corrections welcome |
I could possibly get an ESL certificate. I have a teaching certificate in French and social studies, and I would have to just take the test in Texas to get the certificate. I could possibly do it in the summer. Would that be looked upon favorably? The state might accept my ESL classes from my M.A. I think being certified as a teacher is probably more important if you're teaching at a public school. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 5:13 am Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| I could possibly get an ESL certificate. I have a teaching certificate in French and social studies, and I would have to just take the test in Texas to get the certificate. I could possibly do it in the summer. Would that be looked upon favorably? The state might accept my ESL classes from my M.A. I think being certified as a teacher is probably more important if you're teaching at a public school. |
Probably your best bet would be to contact recruiters and ask, as I don't know how they would view your certificate/s in French and social studies. |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 6:07 am Post subject: |
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" I have an M.A. in TESOL; I teach at a university, but I don't have a CELTA, and I don't teach TOEFL. Do you think it would be necessary to get a CELTA at this point?"
Are you kidding? A masters in ESL is a higher qualification than a Celta. |
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nora
Joined: 14 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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How much hands-on, in the class language teaching experience did your MA give you? Mine didn't give me any (it IS in applied linguistics, not TESOL).
Comparing a CELTA to an MA is comparing apples and oranges. I have an MA but am signing up for a CELTA within the next year. Why? It focuses on real world, in-class teaching. My lesson plans need some work. It is the link between the theory I learned and the actual teaching that I do.
Also, where is this going to cost you 4k? It's about 2.6 million won in Seoul, and about 1600 USD in thailand (2500 USD including room and board).
Just my observations on it - I have yet to meet a CELTA holder who cannot run a decent class. All of my coworkers who have done the course have solid classes and get better student evaluations. A completely scientific assessment, I know.
Anyway, my two cents worth. |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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| nora wrote: |
| How much hands-on, in the class language teaching experience did your MA give you? Mine didn't give me any (it IS in applied linguistics, not TESOL). |
In other words, you don't know what an MA in TESL/TEFL offers. A good masters program not only teaches you how to run a class, it teaches you how to find out for yourself if it is being run properly. No need to wait on end-of-semester evaluations when you can conduct classroom research throughout the semester to gauge the degree to which your lessons are being effective. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2013 2:52 am Post subject: |
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| nora wrote: |
How much hands-on, in the class language teaching experience did your MA give you? Mine didn't give me any (it IS in applied linguistics, not TESOL).
Comparing a CELTA to an MA is comparing apples and oranges. I have an MA but am signing up for a CELTA within the next year. Why? It focuses on real world, in-class teaching. My lesson plans need some work. It is the link between the theory I learned and the actual teaching that I do.
Also, where is this going to cost you 4k? It's about 2.6 million won in Seoul, and about 1600 USD in thailand (2500 USD including room and board).
Just my observations on it - I have yet to meet a CELTA holder who cannot run a decent class. All of my coworkers who have done the course have solid classes and get better student evaluations. A completely scientific assessment, I know.
Anyway, my two cents worth. |
Actually, I felt that my M.A. classes did teach me a lot. I'm a far better teacher with my M.A. in TESOL when compared to when I was teaching in Korea without my M.A. We did receive extensive coaching as T.A.'s, and we, did, get observed. We went to conferences, we did lots of research, and we learned about what was effective and what was not. Obviously, a CELTA or DELTA would be helpful, but to say an M.A. in TESOL doesn't give you practical knowledge misses the mark.
As far as the CELTA and costs, you're looking at spending 3-4k in Thailand or more like $3,400 U.S. including the airfare, the cost of the course, and room-and-board. Though DELTA is also a good program. |
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12ax7
Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 1:09 am Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| nora wrote: |
How much hands-on, in the class language teaching experience did your MA give you? Mine didn't give me any (it IS in applied linguistics, not TESOL).
Comparing a CELTA to an MA is comparing apples and oranges. I have an MA but am signing up for a CELTA within the next year. Why? It focuses on real world, in-class teaching. My lesson plans need some work. It is the link between the theory I learned and the actual teaching that I do.
Also, where is this going to cost you 4k? It's about 2.6 million won in Seoul, and about 1600 USD in thailand (2500 USD including room and board).
Just my observations on it - I have yet to meet a CELTA holder who cannot run a decent class. All of my coworkers who have done the course have solid classes and get better student evaluations. A completely scientific assessment, I know.
Anyway, my two cents worth. |
Actually, I felt that my M.A. classes did teach me a lot. I'm a far better teacher with my M.A. in TESOL when compared to when I was teaching in Korea without my M.A. We did receive extensive coaching as T.A.'s, and we, did, get observed. We went to conferences, we did lots of research, and we learned about what was effective and what was not. Obviously, a CELTA or DELTA would be helpful, but to say an M.A. in TESOL doesn't give you practical knowledge misses the mark.
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And also...There aren't many Celta alumni conferences and support groups. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 1:39 am Post subject: |
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| Adventurer wrote: |
| As far as the CELTA and costs, you're looking at spending 3-4k in Thailand or more like $3,400 U.S. including the airfare, the cost of the course, and room-and-board. |
And tack on another $2,000+ for a month of lost wages...meaning the true cost of the CELTA is over $5,000. (You will be not working teaching for money, but rather teaching even harder with the CELTA course.) Still, any professional development is good, and the CELTA can teach a person a lot and change them forever. |
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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
| Adventurer wrote: |
| As far as the CELTA and costs, you're looking at spending 3-4k in Thailand or more like $3,400 U.S. including the airfare, the cost of the course, and room-and-board. |
And tack on another $2,000+ for a month of lost wages...meaning the true cost of the CELTA is over $5,000. (You will be not working teaching for money, but rather teaching even harder with the CELTA course.) Still, any professional development is good, and the CELTA can teach a person a lot and change them forever. |
Actually, I wouldn't lose any wages. I work at a uni, and I worked the whole winter session, so I don't have to work over the summer. I have to think seriously about whether I want to shell out that kind of money. However, you brought up a good point. I do a lot of professional development as it is. I go to a lot of the KOTESOL meetings, and I'll probably add that to my resume. I'll see about getting more ESOL certificates and teach more writing. When I first came to Korea, I had no interest at all in going to KOTESOL conferences, but my profs at uni stressed the importance of going to conferences, subscribing to magazines, and getting as much training as possible. If I don't go for the CELTA, I'll seek other more economical training to upgrade my skills. |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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| But the CELTA is way better for professional development, imo. I learned way more from that than I did from KOTESOL meetings. Personally, I feel like the KOTESOL meetings are lacking, and I learned very little from them. Largely they were a waste of time for me (and very boring). They don't offer the best bang for your time. Same with conferences. But maybe everyone is different. For me, my masters degree taught me a lot. My CELTA taught me a lot. KOTESOL did NOT teach me a lot. (But that's just me. Maybe you are different.) |
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