Korean Job Discussion Forums

rhiannon · Joined: 12 Dec 2010

For first time (non- certified but "highly qualified") teachers with only one year exp. (or anyone for that matter) Does having the TESL or TESOL certificate really help to any degree to make one more marketable or increase pay?

Chris.Quigley · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Location: Belfast. N Ireland

Yes for a public school job. Make sure it is at least a 100 hour course. They will pay your 100,000 won more per month.

Otherwise, it might give you the edge against another applicant, but, overall it doesn't make a big difference.

I have a TESL, I got it from Oxford Seminars, I want my money back...

Learned nothing...useless

From what I hear, most of these courses are the same. And employers have to know that having TESL is unlikely to make you a better teacher... Maybe others disagree...

If you want to get some kind of certification that means something, do a CELTA, or go back to school and get certified as a teacher.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

duplicate of her thread in the jobs forum.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=197253

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Chris.Quigley · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Location: Belfast. N Ireland

As for Oxford Seminars, theres two opinions I see commonly.

1.) "They are okay", "passing grade", "what do you expect from a 60 hour course?" "My teacher seemed knowledgeable, but the material was weak"

2.) "They are a scam" "I tried to get a refund and they gave me the run around" "I learned nothing" "teacher didn't seem to care, didn't take attendance, some students didn't show up but still passed"

So, if you do decide to get a TESL, don't get it from them. Also, they don't offer a 100 hour course, so you wont even get the 100k salary raise.