Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kingkong9]

Dear Members:


I was an English Teacher in Korea for about 3.5 years. I have had my share of ups and downs; meanwhile, I have managed to waste a lot of time and relations. As a teacher, I wish I were not so arrogant and ignorant. Anyways, I find that I actually do enjoy teaching English in Korea. I don't know what is going to happen in the future, but I intend to go back and embrace the whole thing again.


I'll now try to stay on-topic and ask only what I need to know.


TEFL. I know that having a TEFL license is similar to possessing a driver's license; everyone has it and it does not make you special. Well, I guess, having a driver's gets you jobs! Nonetheless, I would like to take a TEFL course for my own interest. Could anyone recommend an on-line TEFL course? I just cannot decide which course to take; are they pretty much all the same? In terms of content?

For example, a few months ago, I was eyeing a course offered by T****away and University of T******. Both parties were quite hesitant to discuss, in-depth, about the on-line tutors and their credentials. I am definitely looking forward to learning things (especially grammar), which is quite funny considering that I do not wish to take a CELTA course, just yet. The high cost and, most importantly, the intensive dedication required is a little bit intimidating.


Other thing I wanted to ask is the 20 hour practicum requirement.


I might be a bit naive here, but I would like to join up with a program like EPIK or GEPIK. What concerns me is that, I keep reading that they require 100+ hours with 20 hours of practicum. My question to that is, wouldn't having 3.5 years of teaching experience be sufficient enough to meet the 20 hour practicum requirement?

In addition, I actually cannot find their 20 hour, on-site, practicum requirement anywhere in the webpage (EPIK or GEPIK). Am I looking at the same site as you guys?

https://www.epik.go.kr/contents.do?contentsNo=48&menuNo=275
http://gepik-tek.weebly.com/eligibility-requirements.html

Apologies for the long read; have a nice day! Thank you in advance and I would appreciate any other advice!


Regards,


-Kong

[Troglodyte]

Most online courses are the same. In fact, the content of MOST courses are the same. In a 100 or 150 hour course, there's only so much that you can be taught. It's distilled down to the basics.

If it's for your own interest, you'd be better off to just study it on your own, or to form a bit of a study and discussion group with some other teachers in your area. You'd get a lot more out of it than taking a course (online or otherwise).

That is if it really is just for your own interest...

[Scott in Incheon]