Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Fredbob]

Anyone been through it? Its a convenient excuse to get me back in NYC for a month sometime next year, total cost around 4K (including party time money and airfare on the weekends with friends I've lost touch with.) It seems to be an established, certified program.

Also, is it worth the money? When I finish with my last crappy hagwon contract, in January, I'm never going back, just going private and corporate. I want to upgrade my teaching skills as much as pad my resume (I already have a M.A. in Psych and a B.A. in English).

[air76]

I don't know about that program....but I think that the CELTA was worth my money. Who knows how much extra money it's actually worth in salary negotiations though, my guess is very little....but there are quite a few jobs around the world that require a CELTA to apply, so I suppose it opens doors that were previously closed.

You definitely learn how to be a much much better teacher, although some of the program had a little too much hand holding for me (because the class will probably be a mix of experienced teachers and complete nubes)....so often the teacher observations of horrible teachers can be a bit draining, but that's just part of the course.

It sounds like money isn't an issue for you, and that you want to go back to NYC....but I took it in Phuket, Thailand and it costs $1500 there, plus $200/month for a fat motel with pool, everything....the guy who trained me is now working at ILA Vietnam, his name is Simon and he really knows his stuff, and is a cool guy...a month in Saigon is just about the right amount of time to be there, too....we lived there for 6 months (working at ILA) and it was great but drove us a little mad.