Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Spongebob Squarepants]

The sole reason why TTI runs the CELTA is because the CELTA director brought it to them; ergo, the CELTA director is the CELTA at TTI. The other whities are teaching on other programs but certainly not on the CELTA; you are right - they aren't qualified to teach it.

The CELTA director is the main trainer on their CELTA, but the course can't be taught by just one person, so they always either borrow the BC's trainers or they fly ppl in from the UK. He previously ran the CELTA and DELTA through the BC.

The external examiner (another CELTA/DELTA director like the CELTA director) usually comes from China, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam to ensure quality control: all grades and evals are cross checked by the external examiner before they are sent to Cambridge, UK.

The great thing about the TTI CELTA is that the director, through his own ingenuity, has put together a bang up program that includes other relevant approaches besides CLT. For example, I know for a fact that he includes a brief overview of TBLT and that those trained in the TTI CELTA can actually design and teach a TB lesson.

Granted, the CELTA is limited in scope. It is certainly not going to give you much theory as it's very practice-oriented (teaching practicum starts day 2), but that's why Cambridge calls it an initial certification (even advertising for beginning teachers mainly). After having done the CELTA, you have to wait two years (Cambridge regulations) until you can do the DELTA (a 6 month program while you work full-time). I've heard that it includes much more theoretical background and is one step closer to actual graduate study. Many universities will even accept a DELTA for several graduate credits. Sadly, the DELTA has not been offered in Korea for several years now, although inside sources tell me the director might be considering running one in 2010.

Although you might be experienced, there's no harm done in having something to boost the ol' resume. Provided of course you have the coin to drop on it and the time to see it through. Again, the CELTA is mainly for people who want to sharpen teaching skills, but aren't really interested in jumping feet first into an MA program.

Also, just for others' info, there have been many "experienced" people take it under this CELTA director. We're talking folks with MAs, as well as people teaching at universities around Seoul (and who have been for several years).

[anjinsan]

Thanks again Spongebob for the great info.
I might check this out for the Fall if I can
dig up the cash.

[bassexpander]

Wow, the advertising for the local ... umm... TEFL program is getting pretty thick in here. People who read this thread (and many other started in a similiar fashion) will hopefully see through the advertising.

Just some important information for the new people in Korea, or coming to Korea. I just copy/paste this so I don't have to bother re-typing:



I have a BA.

I didn't need a CELTA for my university job. I didn't need ANY certification (actually, Cambridge now downgraded the name to a "teaching award", rather than a certification -- other centers still call it a certification). What helped me get it was public/private school job experience in Korea, and being in the right place at the right time.

You don't need a CELTA or TEFL certificate to work here -- especially if you are going to teach kids. Can you learn something taking the CELTA or getting a TEFL certificate? You bet. I knock the CELTA a lot (for its excessive cost), but I like the British Council's website for Task-Based Learning activities. I also use books published by Cambridge. Good stuff. Highly recommended!

The rule of thumb I tell people to follow in regards to TEFL certification, however, goes something like this:

If you are....

... in Korea for just a year or two, and have no plans to teach elsewhere after, don't bother with any TEFL certification.

... in Korea for 3 to 4 years,, or stay working a public school job, get a low-cost, approved TEFL course (many are below $400, and can be done via distance. Just make sure they are over 100 hours). If you plan to move around the world and teach in countries that respect the British system, then get a CELTA. All of these certifications (including the CELTA) are next to useless in the USA. To be a "real" teacher at a public school in any of these countries, you will need a full BA in Education, plus testing and credentials far and above any 1 month TEFL certification.

... in Korea for 5 or more years, you should get, or make plans to get, some kind of teaching certification or an MA in Education/TESOL. You could get a CELTA, but if you've been teaching for more than 4 years, I'd say it's a waste of money.

Remember, the CELTA costs about US $1,500 to $2,500, depending on where you take it. The full TEFL International course is going to be similiar in price (it was last I checked). Korea is naturally much more expensive for the CELTA, but maybe it's the extra cost of buildings or something -- who knows. I believe the cost here is between 2.0 and 2.5 for 1 month of the course. If you take it overseas, don't forget to factor in flight costs, housing costs, and lost work costs for up to 5 weeks. Any flight costs you'd save by taking it in Korea are squashed by the high price of taking it here (unless prices have changed that I'm not aware of).

I added it all up, and found that I'd be out over 4 million won if I took the CELTA, counting lost work time. Even at a 100,000 won per hour raise for having it, that will take you more than a few years to recoup the costs at a public school job.

Not worth it, given my situation. Maybe yours will be different. Online TEFL's by ITTT, KEI-TEFL, and others are accepted by Korean Public Schools, and can be done for around $400 or less.

Remember: MANY OF THESE CERTIFICATES ARE ONLY ACCREDITED BY THE COMPANIES/GROUPS THEY ARE OFFERED BY.

Would you seek medical care from a doctor who is only a doctor because he passed his own accreditation to become a doctor, and therefore certified himself? Now how about paying that doctor $1,500 to $2,500 for medical care which you don't need, and missing 5 weeks of paid work in the process?

Another note... the "most recognized" line is somewhat of a misdirection, in my opinion. If it's the "most recognized" in the world, it's because it's one of the oldest and has a lot of centers selling it (and recognizing it through affiliated schools). Make no mistake about it -- there is a lot of money involved in selling teachers on TEFL courses costing thousands of dollars. It wasn't until recently, I believe , that the CELTA was offered at a hagwon location in Korea. Suddenly we get a lot of posts about it since then... hmm.....

It should be mentioned that there has been a push by some individuals on this board to make the CELTA appear to be a virtual requirement to teach in Korea. I suppose that would really help sell the course if it were true, but it's certainly not. You'll notice a lot of new posters (about 1 per week) posting the same old message about how they can take the CELTA, followed by the same old posters chiming in with a convenient answer. Hey, people... you are welcome to pay Dave for some advertising if you like!


If you seek to increase your pay by 100,000 to 200,000 per month because you work at a public school in Korea, then look into one of the many low-cost TEFL certificate courses offered by companies like ITTT, KEI-TEFL, or ask the poster named dduebel for advice on others.

Lastly,

If you plan on teaching around the globe in countries which respect the British system, then consider the CELTA. Also consider, however, that most of these countries will not offer pay/benefits at the level of which you can receive in Korea WITHOUT the need for an expensive TEFL certification.

In my opinion, it's a far better idea just to start your online MA and go that route if you plan teaching for a long time. If you want to take the CELTA course, then I wouldn't stop you. You could learn a lot. It's a solid program. Just do your research.

[The Cosmic Hum]

[bassexpander]

Excellent post, Cosmic Hum.

It should also be noted that I am merely trying to save teachers money. Most people teaching ESL don't have a ton of cash to spend, and I feel bad if they are led to believe that they should dump so much money into a TEFL program which is not needed in Korea. It can be helpful to newbies, yes, but the cost and, IMHO, the advantages/hyped avantages of doing an expensive a TEFL course should be understood from all angles.

[agoodmouse]

The Cosmic Hum, do you know James Forrest? I don't think so. Did you take the course at TTI? I did. I know James Forrest, and I agree with Spongebob.

It borders on the disingenuous that you can say such things about a person whom you've never met and a program you haven't experience there. I'm unsure how you can say such things.

Again, the CELTA course is quite useful at TTI in Duncheon-dong, Jamsil. I spent a month there living with a homestay family while taking the course. I didn't waste my money. The CELTA did a helluva lot for my personal and professional teaching development. The program at TTI is openly available at http://tti.igse.ac.kr/tti/CeltaAction.do?cmd=intro.

[bassexpander]

Why does this thread have me thinking of "Floppy The Banjo Clown" from The Blue Man Group?

[vonjunk]

Thanks to all who have helped me to decide about certifications. I appreciate all of the input. I didn't have an agenda other than wondering about what a CELTA/TESOL cert. offers. I feel that through the posts a CELTA in my situation is not vital to obtaining university work in Korea.
I will however, consider getting a certification if I plan to make ESL a career. Not so much for my resume (I have an MA in History and 2 years of ESL experience at a Japanese university), but for my own understanding and abilities as a teacher.
I am already making a study of ESL and various forms of teaching theory.
If anyone has any quick/free places to read up on improving my knowledge of ESL it would be most helpful.
Thanks again!

[The Cosmic Hum]

[The Cosmic Hum]

[richardlang]

I completed the CELTA at the British Council in Seoul under James Forrest when he was the director there. He was a great tutor and a fine mentor. The program is incredibly rich and interesting. Now that he's at TTI, I'm sure it's a better program for it.

[slideaway77]

I found the part-time CELTA course at the IGCE in Seoul tough but rewarding.

Both of the tutors were informative and delivered the course brilliantly. They don't give it away, you'll have to work for it. I can honestly say it was hard work. It's not a given that you'll pass. It was hard doing it part-time and working at a hagwon but I thought I got my money's worth. Not one student on the course I done "breezed through it."

Everyone's situation is different but personally I took the course because:-
-I wanted to be better. Where I worked I wasn't given any advice or guidelines with regards to my teaching. I wanted to do a good job and have a frame work to work to, this wasn't possible because I was just thrown in the classroom with textbooks. I didn't know what best practice entailed. The CELTA offered assessed teaching practice to point out how I could do a better job in great detail.

-I'm from the UK I can use the CELTA in other countries/EU/Middle East. (Have a look at what these jobs require most ask for a CELTA.) British Council starter jobs for example require a CELTA + 2 years experience.

-I could pay for the course over three months. Instead of in one lump sum.

-It was better then sending Money home to the UK last year. The economy was getting worse it was a good time to upskill to remain competitve in a generally worsening job market.

What I got from the CELTA:-

-A much better job/conditions/housing this year. I wouldn't have got it without the CELTA.

-Interviews with business jobs I couldn't have dreamed off without a CELTA. (I had one year's experience in a hagwon.)

-I know much more about teaching and best practice.

Maybe a CELTA isn't for everyone but it was a pretty good investment for me. Have a look at my other posts- I'm real! Writing this on my Sunday mornng for Christ's sake. ha!

[Huh Kyung-young]

You may notice that this thread has become somewhat shorter. Off-topic accusations and recriminations have no place here�especially when they concern serious violations of law and Dave's ESL forum guidelines and terms of service.

Contributors to this thread are hereby placed on notice: any further off-topic discussion along the lines of the removed posts will be considered in violation of forum guidelines and will be dealt with accordingly.

And a further note to those who use socks�yes, there are some of you on this thread, we see you�watch your step. You're not as clever as you think you are. We do log IPs. At least some of your IPs come from ranges allocated to Korean government agency use. Like, say, public schools. In southern Gyeonggi-do. Trust me, we are watching.

[The Lemon]

[bobbybigfoot]

I"m considering a CELTA even though it's costly to do one. (Loss of employment + cost + flight + time spent). I really think I need some practical training otherwise I don't think I'll ever become a "great" teacher.

Really, I'd be doing it for me.

Online certificates can't offer what I'm looking for. Face to face interaction.