Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Conrad B Hart]

TEFL? TESOL? CELTA?

If funds and time permits, I thought it might be a good idea to get a TEFL cert sometime soon, but there are so many options out there it's difficult to know which one's are the best.

I want to be able to get a qualification that will also be accepted in other Countries outside of Korea.

Can anyone help? Post a link?

I'm based in England (UK) so would want to do it there or somewhere else in Europe (preferably somewhere that's warm in October).

Cheers.

[bassexpander]

Being from the UK, the CELTA is best for your goals. Or trinity.

[davem5472]

Ok..being from America, would ANY contact TESL work for me in Korea? Or should I get a Cambridge CELTA as well (Miami is nice in Sept.)?

[okayden223]

You can get the CELTA in Denver as well, I believe. It's pretty much the international standard as far as ESL certifications go. Although nothing is more impressive than an MA in TESOL or applied linguistics. Actually a PhD in either would be more impressive, but you don't come across those often. If you can spring for it, go do it in a cheaper country than the USA or a cheaper area than the UK. You'll get a chance to travel and get a marketable certification.

[Conrad B Hart]

Would I be correct in assuming that no matter which Country I do a Trinity or CELTA in, that it will be the same recognised qualification?
I think the prices for 4-5 week intensive courses are more or less the same all over the World (can anyone tell me different)?

I am also looking at doing an MA in the future, but would need around 4 times the funds as a 'TEFL course', so that will probably have to wait. Plus, from initial enquiries it looks like some of the better MA courses require you to have a TEFL cert and minimum of 2 years prior teaching experience.
I also looked a PGCE (the advantage of that is that you actually get a bursary to do the course rather than having to shell out over �4000 in course fees). Though I think I'm right in assuming that a PGCE is not up to Masters standards, so I'd still need to do a Masters to progress in a career.

[Conrad B Hart]

Just found out a CELTA is actually geared towards teaching adults (hence the TA), so might not be as useful for teaching in Korea as I first thought. Are all the standard TEFL type qualifications taught in this way?
I am aware that you can do a CELTYL, but I'm unsure about that, as I hear some of these schools and recruiters probably wouldn't accept that, even though it would actually be a better qualification than a CELTA for teaching children.

Also it looks like TEFL courses are actually more expensive outside the UK, even in so-called 'cheaper Countries'. Why? Why? Why? I was hoping to take a break from living here for 4-5 weeks.
I even contemplated a visit to North America, but the prices there seem to be the most expensive in the World (was quoted about $2400 for one in New York).
What prices did others pay for their 4-5 weeks intensive (taught only) courses?

The search goes on.

[bassexpander]

Why are they expensive? Because it's a money-making business. There's a lot of money in convincing people that they need a TEFL certification (even though in Korea, for example, you don't). Do you suppose it's a coincidence that the cost of a course in Korea is about the same as the cost of the same course in Thailand plus a plane ticket?

If you're from the USA, and have a goal to teach there, then none of these programs is worth it for anything other than what you might learn. If you want to teach in the USA, you'll need a BA in Education, plus pass whatever testing and certifications are required by that state. TEFL certifications don't mean squat, past being something else to list on the resume.

The CELTA is a British course -- useful there, and in the EU, Saudi, and I'll bet China, for example. You'll still need additional education and tests to actually teach in a public school in the UK. By itself, he CELTA is worthless in the USA, for the most part.

If you plan to teach overseas in a variety of different countries, then a proper TEFL/TESL course like CELTA would be good. For Korea alone, however, any 100+ hour TEFL piece of toilet paper from "gee weeza TEFL course company" will do for a pay raise.

If you don't plan on teaching outside of Korea, then don't waste your money on any of these (unless you can justify one because you can get a pay bump at a public school, for example).

[sjbcanada]