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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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 Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 6:38 am Post subject: |
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Well, I checked into the TEFLInternational course. They have an office just down the street in Bundang, and I got excited, thinking I could save some cash by not having to fly somewhere and pay housing. I originally looked on this site: http://www.teflcourse.com/locations/seoul/ which said that the course was about 1,790 Korean won. Ok, I can handle that.
So I searched for an hour to find the place (not a great map) and I met with a really nice guy who put me on the phone with the director. Was sad to learn that the course now costs 3.4 million won, for the 120 hour course, and is taught at a new location somewhere in Korea.
I about choked on the price.
The website link I had found on Google didn't have the very recently updated figures. This is the new link: www.teflinternational.net
The have a new course called the PELT which interests me, though. It's just under $1000, and is 150 hours of training and DVDs including 6 hours of them viewing and commenting on your classes.
I noticed the full 4-week Thailand course was still the old price of about $1,500, however. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| SuperHero wrote: |
You might consider doing your CELTA at the british council. It is internationally recongnized and by doing it in Korea you will have access to your computer for writing and research as well as the comforts of your own home.
British council offers CELTA twice a year - once in summer and once in winter. If interested you should check it out soon. |
Massive bummer... the CELTA is not offered this year in Korea... next class is in Feb 2006. I called and spoke with them. Price is about $2,100 US. |
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Ekuboko
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Location: ex-Gyeonggi
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| Posted: Wed May 25, 2005 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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I got my CELTA at Languages International in Auckland, NZ, and then worked there afterwards. Excellent trainers (who also go overseas to teach CELTA courses) and a great school for adult ESL students.
www.langsint.co.nz
Highly recommended, although it is slightly more expensive compared to places like Thailand and Budapest. |
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Sleepy in Seoul
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Going in ever decreasing circles until I eventually disappear up my own fundament - in NZ
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| Ekuboko wrote: |
| I got my CELTA at Languages International in Auckland, NZ, and then worked there afterwards. Excellent trainers (who also go overseas to teach CELTA courses) and a great school for adult ESL students. |
Sweet! I also did my CELTA there. It was tough but fun - a few sweaty-palms moments (including the time I smashed the glass screen of the OHP in front of the students...), and the only bad thing I have to say about it is that it is in Auckland (hole of a place). I would have done it in Christchurch, but I would have had far too many distractions there to study properly.
A good, enjoyable and thoroughly educational course. |
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Ekuboko
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Location: ex-Gyeonggi
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Cool!
When were you there and who were your trainers? |
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Sleepy in Seoul
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Going in ever decreasing circles until I eventually disappear up my own fundament - in NZ
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| I did it last year June~July. My trainers were Michael Wharton and Annie Thode. Michael is as funny as a fart. We also had a CELTA trainee-teacher doing a couple of lessons - Nick Moore. We had a good crew doing the course - some really funny people. When did you do yours? |
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Ekuboko
Joined: 22 Dec 2004
Location: ex-Gyeonggi
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 5:01 am Post subject: |
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I did mine in Dec 2001, and Annie was also my trainer. It was weird to start working alongside her though - just to go from her being my trainer to being a work colleague, I mean.
I would've still been working at LI when you were doing your CELTA as I left at the end of July - hope you didn't observe any of my classes! Yeah Michael and Nick are excellent teachers and great sorts. |
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Sleepy in Seoul
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Going in ever decreasing circles until I eventually disappear up my own fundament - in NZ
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 5:57 am Post subject: |
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I don't remember much about the classes I observed... I saw Nick do a couple and the only other one taught by another teacher was a really boring writing class (boring to watch, I mean). I don't even remember the teacher's name 
The school was good, the students we taught were great and everyone had a fun (but time slightly stressful).
You probably saw me wandering around like a lost soul or running around panicking because I'd forgotten to copy my handouts before my tortuous attempts at teaching  |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 7:56 am Post subject: |
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| fidel wrote: |
| Got my CELTA at the Auckland Language Centre (I think). 1 month fulltime, and 3000NZD (at the time 3 years ago). It was hard work and out of 20 students I know of three that failed! I really enjoyed it though. |
Ditto! I did mine there this January and it's worth every penny.
One guy failed, a high school teacher of over ten years experience who just couldn't get out of the teacher-centred habit of lecturing, and when that wasn't working, lecturing some more with the help of the white boards and overhead. He officially withdrew, telling me he knew he was struggling.
The CELTA is entirely skills based, and intensively monitored, and hence it never can be offered via distance. |
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NVNO1
Joined: 11 Apr 2005
Location: Boston
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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| I'll be doing the SIT course in Boston this September. CELTA was my first choice, but there's no program anywhere within reasonable driving distance that I could find. My understanding is that both programs are excellent, but the CELTA seems to be the one I hear about the most. It seems a little odd that there are so few courses offered anywhere in the U.S. at all. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sat Jul 02, 2005 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| NVNO1 wrote: |
| I'll be doing the SIT course in Boston this September. CELTA was my first choice, but there's no program anywhere within reasonable driving distance that I could find. My understanding is that both programs are excellent, but the CELTA seems to be the one I hear about the most. It seems a little odd that there are so few courses offered anywhere in the U.S. at all. |
That's because the USA does not consider a 1 month quickie course an education.
Yes, you may learn a lot from taking the CELTA course, and you will work hard, but in the eyes of US educators, it's not equal to an actual degree in the field of teaching.
Basically, a CELTA is worth very little to any employer in the USA -- even if they know what it is. They look for degrees and experience in the field -- not crash courses.
The CELTA is a feather in your cap for sure, but it's a feather that is essentially meaningless if you want to work in the US.
If you want a TEFL/TESL course in the USA, you usually need to take it as part of an education degree, or as an additional semester-long + course to supplement an educational degree you already have. Those courses are out there, but they are not cheap. Expect to spend over $2000, and be in class for at least an entire semester.
Here is a link to a course you can take in Korea at Sookmyung Womens' University for about 2,700,000 won. It is a recommended by EFL-Law as a good option:
According to their site:
"This five-month TESOL certification program can also help qualify you for better English teaching positions in Korea. In addition, up to 12 credits can be transferred to various TESOL MA programs in the United States, New Zealand, and Australia (e.g., University of Pennsylvania, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, New York University, Macquarie University. etc) "
http://tesol.sookmyung.ac.kr/03_certificate/certificate_smu02_1.html
Also recommended by EFL-LAW is a course from the University of Saskatchewan, but it takes several months as well. Their online course takes 1 to 2 years:
http://www.extension.usask.ca/ExtensionDivision/credit/Certificate/CERTESL.html |
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NVNO1
Joined: 11 Apr 2005
Location: Boston
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| Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 7:37 am Post subject: |
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| [That's because the USA does not consider a 1 month quickie course an education. |
Ahhh ... this explains a lot, really. That being the case, though, they certainly don't charge any less for a "quickie course. But as I have no desire to go to Korea and wing it, I'll be shelling out $2,000 USD for the SIT program in September.
Thanks for the links as well. Are there any restrictions for Americans taking college courses in Korea? |
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Sleepy in Seoul
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Going in ever decreasing circles until I eventually disappear up my own fundament - in NZ
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| Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 8:39 am Post subject: |
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| Derrek wrote: |
| That's because the USA does not consider a 1 month quickie course an education. |
And just what does the U.S consider an education?
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High school seniors have a poor grasp of U.S. history, with less than half able to identify or explain the Monroe Doctrine, Nat Turner's rebellion or the Bay of Pigs invasion.
The poor showing on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, prompted educators to question whether schools are adequately teaching U.S. history -- and whether teachers are adequately trained. |
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/fyi/teachers.ednews/05/10/history.scores.ap/
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| "American high school students have a poorer mastery of basic math concepts than their counterparts in most other leading industrialized nations, according to a major international survey released yesterday." |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41278-2004Dec6.html
You can't tell me that the U.S. is the benchmark here, Derrek. They seem more to be nearer the bottom limit. Having a CELTA could only increase your worth in the world of English teaching.
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"Our students fare poorly on the largest, most comprehensive and most rigorous international comparison of education ever undertaken,'' said a disappointed Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences. Only 10 percent of high school graduates qualify for even entry- level jobs, he said. |
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/02/25/MN54903.DTL&type=printable
By all means, let's give the world a good, U.S. style education. And let's teach them to spell and use grammar badly to boot. |
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Derrek
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| Sleepy in Seoul wrote: |
| Derrek wrote: |
| That's because the USA does not consider a 1 month quickie course an education. |
And just what does the U.S consider an education?
| Quote: |
High school seniors have a poor grasp of U.S. history, with less than half able to identify or explain the Monroe Doctrine, Nat Turner's rebellion or the Bay of Pigs invasion.
The poor showing on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, prompted educators to question whether schools are adequately teaching U.S. history -- and whether teachers are adequately trained. |
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/fyi/teachers.ednews/05/10/history.scores.ap/
| Quote: |
| "American high school students have a poorer mastery of basic math concepts than their counterparts in most other leading industrialized nations, according to a major international survey released yesterday." |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41278-2004Dec6.html
You can't tell me that the U.S. is the benchmark here, Derrek. They seem more to be nearer the bottom limit. Having a CELTA could only increase your worth in the world of English teaching.
| Quote: |
"Our students fare poorly on the largest, most comprehensive and most rigorous international comparison of education ever undertaken,'' said a disappointed Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences. Only 10 percent of high school graduates qualify for even entry- level jobs, he said. |
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/02/25/MN54903.DTL&type=printable
By all means, let's give the world a good, U.S. style education. And let's teach them to spell and use grammar badly to boot. |
Wow, that's some argument...
So basically, you're saying that a 1 month TESL course would solve all of the US's education problems? Gee, if we only had a 1 month CELTA, the USA could be such a better place!
Perhaps you'd like to take a few moments and quote how many of the world's top 10 universities are American universities? Start from the top, rather than muck-raking.
You're welcome to take all of your statistics and arguments and tell them to anyone hiring for teaching positions in the USA, and see if it helps you get a job. If they even let you in the door for an interview, I suppose yours would go something like this...
School: I'm sorry, but what are your qualifications?
You: I have a 1 month course in teaching TESL/TEFL!
School: But do you have an actual teaching degree from an accredited institution?
You: High school seniors have a poor grasp of U.S. history, with less than half able to identify or explain the Monroe Doctrine, Nat Turner's rebellion or the Bay of Pigs invasion.
School: And how does that make you more qualified to teach at our school?
You: American high school students have a poorer mastery of basic math concepts than their counterparts in most other leading industrialized nations, according to a major international survey released yesterday!
School: What do math scores have to do with your ability to teach here? And what is a CELTA? How many semesters did that take you?
You: It took one month. But don't you know that only 10 percent of USA high school graduates qualify for even entry- level jobs?
School: Umm... excuse me... you'd be teaching English, not Math and Science. And you're trying to tell me you are a better teacher because you took a one month course in teaching TESL?
*laughs start here* 
By the way... I teach at a Korean high school. My students have excellent math skills. They cannot, however, write a basic argumentative essay in Korean, let alone English. Many can't think for themselves. They have highly undeveloped "life skills" abilities. They aren't creative.
But yeah, their math scores are great.
You won't find many, if any, statistics about that, because Korea is a country that chooses to "hide" shortfalls. In my travels around the world, I've learned that a lot of other countries "hide" serious problems such as these. The US happens to be a country that goes bonkers of statistics. They keep track of this sort of stuff. It gets published. People worry about it and try to make changes.
Other countries sweep it under the rug and point fingers, saying, "Bad USA... BAAAAD!"
Care to tell us what educational mecca you are from, so we may become further enlightened about the wonders of the educational system where you're from? |
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Sleepy in Seoul
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Going in ever decreasing circles until I eventually disappear up my own fundament - in NZ
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| Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2005 9:39 am Post subject: |
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| Derrek wrote: |
| Sleepy in Seoul wrote: |
| Derrek wrote: |
| That's because the USA does not consider a 1 month quickie course an education. |
And just what does the U.S consider an education?
| Quote: |
High school seniors have a poor grasp of U.S. history, with less than half able to identify or explain the Monroe Doctrine, Nat Turner's rebellion or the Bay of Pigs invasion.
The poor showing on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, prompted educators to question whether schools are adequately teaching U.S. history -- and whether teachers are adequately trained. |
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/fyi/teachers.ednews/05/10/history.scores.ap/
| Quote: |
| "American high school students have a poorer mastery of basic math concepts than their counterparts in most other leading industrialized nations, according to a major international survey released yesterday." |
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41278-2004Dec6.html
You can't tell me that the U.S. is the benchmark here, Derrek. They seem more to be nearer the bottom limit. Having a CELTA could only increase your worth in the world of English teaching.
| Quote: |
| "Our students fare poorly on the largest, most comprehensive and most rigorous international comparison of education ever undertaken,'' said a disappointed Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences. Only 10 percent of high school graduates qualify for even entry- level jobs, he said. |
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/02/25/MN54903.DTL&type=printable
By all means, let's give the world a good, U.S. style education. And let's teach them to spell and use grammar badly to boot. |
Wow, that's some argument...
So basically, you're saying that a 1 month TESL course would solve all of the US's education problems? Gee, if we only had a 1 month CELTA, the USA could be such a better place! |
Of course not Derrek. I was simply trying to point out that as a country of (and I'm trying to be kind here) middling academic achievements, the U.S. is in no position to be used as a standard for world English teaching skills. The U.S. seems to be striving for mediocrity (at best). Because U.S. employers don't recognise CELTA certificates is no reason not to get one. Far from it - it would appear that it could only enhance one's credibility.
(By the bye) I have a friend from university who spent a year as an exchange student in a U.S. middel school (or high school, I forget exactly which). She told me that her history teacher, for the entire year, used 30 year old text books to teach history. And another American friend who told me that in a U.S. middle school, they taught U.S. history only up until the 1960's, at which point history apparently stopped. Strange. After the articles I quoted, I am no longer surprised.
I do not believe that all U.S. school are equal (as much as I may like to). I do understand that some school are better and some are worse. However, it would appear that academic achievements there are dropping when compared with the world. Therefore using the U.S as an academic standard for teaching is not good (I believe). I do not mean to imply that American teachers are inherently worse than those from elsewhere (whether that is true or not) - I do mean to imply that the U.S is not the be-all and end-all of teaching - English or otherwise. |
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