Korean Job Discussion Forums

Travelous Maximus · Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Location: Nueva Anglia

I've been considering getting a TESOL cert. I noticed a few online advertisements but I don't know if they're legit. There are few for under $500, can it be true? There are other more expensive courses ($1,500) where you have to fly out to some international destination for a 4 week intensive course. Are these legit, or would I be better off paying a boatload of money to get a TESOL degree at an actual university?

Areut · Joined: 18 Sep 2006 Location: Behind You!!!!

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

What's better/what's the difference between TESOL and CELTA?

spyro25 · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

TESOL is teaching english to speakers of other languages and is a blanket term for all courses that teach how to teach english in this way.

celta is the internationally recognised TESOL qualification from cambridge university. celta accredited courses are recognised the world over by institutions everywhere. the other main one is trinity college.

as long as you are 120 hours you should be ok with any qualification as a poster above said in korea, but if you can get it go with the CELTA as it has a little more prestige and can be used in places other than korea very easily

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

bangkokbaz · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Location: thailand

www.teflteachthai.com try this place great staff and have a few offices around thailand. Little bit more expensive but very professional all info on site.

Woden · Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Location: Eurasia

The CELTA is the most recognised qualification in ESL worldwide, followed closely by TRINITY. I have always assumed the others were Mickey Mouse certs not to be taken seriously, and I didn't think anyone did until I started to research jobs in Korea.

It all depends on how seriously you want to take teaching, but I would definitely recommend the CELTA. Because Korea is gagging for teachers it seems to accept any TESOL cert over 100 hours, but go anywhere where there is any kind of competition for jobs and you will need CELTA or TRINITY.

In Europe you will need to get the CELTA to work at most reputable institutions, and being a toffee I am assuming you are English so you should get one. Every teaching job, no matter how bad, in UK needs a CELTA, so if you are planning on returning to the UK you will need a CELTA. It is accredited by Cambridge University so it has that extra bit of status in that respect as well.

I think the CELTA will pay for itself fairly quickly as well, although I don't know how much it costs. I managed to get mine for a snip at �220 (!) because the University was funded by government, you might know it...Liverpool Hope? Anyway, everywhere else they cost around �1000, but the good news is, like you said in Thailand, you can often work abroad and get it at the same time. There seem to be loads of CELTA courses in Barcelona if that is your fancy.

Travelous Maximus · Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Location: Nueva Anglia

Woden · Joined: 08 Mar 2007 Location: Eurasia

[quote="Travelous Maximus"]

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE CELTA

The CELTA and TRINITY are recognized as the top wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am-I'm-an-English-teacher-in-a-month quickie teacher courses. They are the most expensive, the most difficult, and the most reputable ones to go for.

With this said.....

First, ask yourself if it's actually needed. If you plan on teaching in one of the British Commonwealth countries, it is worthwhile, and a necessity in some places.

In Korea, it's most definitely not.

It can be more helpful if you're from some country like South Africa, which is not immediately recognized as one of the top-tier English-speaking countries (speaking of peoples' perceptions here). If you are from the USA or Canada, you don't need it to get a job. They will hire you more quickly just because of where you are from.

I work a uni job, and didn't need one to get this position.

I worked in the public system, and didn't need one for that job, either.

Hagwons don't need them.

If you are from the USA, and plan to teach there, the CELTA is not considered as any sort of qualification. They will know that it's a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am-I'm-an-English-teacher-in-a-month course.

There are two instances where they are somewhat worthwhile in Korea. First, having a TEFL/TESL course may help you get a job over someone else. Second, it could be useful if you work for a public school where they will pay you another 100,000 to 200,000 a month for having a 110+ hour TEFL/TESL certificate. In this case, getting it is ONLY worthwhile if you plan to stay at that job MORE THAN ONE YEAR. That is because the certificates worth paying money for need to be at least 100 to 110 hours or more (preferrably 120+ hours), or the school will not recognize it and give you the raise. You need to work at that job for a year or more to recoup your costs for the better programs.

If you know nothing about teaching English, and you want to be prepared, then take the CELTA or Trinity, but be prepared to pay over 2,900,000 won including costs and travel (see below). If you add a month of lost wages to that, then your CELTA cost is nearly 5,000,000 won. Not even worth it if you teach two years at an extra 200,000 a month Public School CELTA allowance.

Don't expect to take it in Korea, as they are always booked 6 months in advance when they offer it at all through the British Consulate. The British Consulate also knows the costs to take it in Thailand, and charge a much higher rate to take it here.

Also note that the CELTA is for teaching adults though -- not kids. They won't help you with much more than preparing lesson plans if you're teaching kids.

Unless you merely want to take it for personal betterment, DO NOT BOTHER WITH ANY CERTIFICATE LESS THAN 110 HOURS -- SOME PLACES NEED 120. You may as well toss your money in the garbage. Many courses say they are "accredited," but they are accredited only by accrediting bodies that they create themselves, in cahoots with other bogus TEFL/TESL companies. Just because you see a course advertised on this board, and it says, "accredited" on a big banner at the top of your screen does not mean it will do squat to help you make more money.

If you plan teaching only in Korea, or if you don't plan on being here more than a year or two, then don't bother wasting your time or money on one of these things.

Again, even if you are in a public school position, and they paid you 200,000 for yours, it will take you a full year to recoup the cost.

Current cost of taking the CELTA in Bangkok, Thailand:

$1,575 US base costs
$773 Housing costs for 4 weeks
$600 Plan flight from Korea
_______
$2,948

Now, if you want to get really picky about it, please remember to count that it will cost of time where you would be working:

$2,000 1 month lost work costs (based on 2 million won salary)

$4,948 Total loss.

Even at your 200,000 won per month raise, you're still looking at 2 years to recoup the costs.

Source for CELTA pricing: http://www.windsorschools.co.uk/tefl-bangkok.html

Travelous Maximus · Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Location: Nueva Anglia

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

That can only be answered on an individual basis.

If your plan is to teach one or two years, then I would say it's not worth it. In Korea, it's certainly not needed. In some countries, something such as the CELTA is required. If you plan on making a career out of teaching, and you have the time/money, then I would suggest getting a "real" teaching degree of some sort. That's just my opinion.

The CELTA is very useful if you want to travel around the world, teaching in various other countries.

Another important note: Most people who come to Korea as newbees start teaching kids for a year or two before moving up to adults. The CELTA prepares you for teaching adults.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

it's worth it for the $100 dollar increase a month you can get in a PS position and it will be paid for in a year this way.

It will be worth it if you want some guidance or to improve your teaching skills.

It will be worth it if you see the TEFL industry as your permanent place of work.

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

Please see my figures above. You can't make up the costs within a year at $100 extra per month.

Current cost of taking the CELTA in Bangkok, Thailand:

$1,575 US base costs
$773 Housing costs for 4 weeks
$600 Plan flight from Korea
_______
$2,948

Now, if you want to get really picky about it, please remember to count that it will cost of time where you would be working:

$2,000 1 month lost work costs (based on 2 million won salary)

$4,948 Total loss.

Source for CELTA pricing: http://www.windsorschools.co.uk/tefl-bangkok.html

The CELTA used to be cheaper. Not anymore. At $100 a month, it will take you over two years to get your money back out of it. Some public schools will pay you an extra $200 a month, if you have it. Even still, you're looking at around 1-2 years minimum before you see a monetary return on your investment. If you count lost wages, it's well over 2 years to see any monetary return.

That is why I say it's not worthwhile unless you plan to work more than 2 years in ESL (and that should be at a public school that pays you extra for having it). Even so, if you plan longer, I suggest you get a full-on education degree/certification.

mj roach · Joined: 16 Mar 2003

There's a 120 hr. teacher training course in Bangkok.
You don't have to pay the entire sum up-front..1/3 down, 1/3 mid. and 1/3 when you get your certificate.

Classes are in the morning and you can teach kids/adult classes at the school in the afternoon/evening. You can make more than enough to pay tuition and live on. The school will even help you find a place to live.

In Jan., if you are still interested in returning to Korea, you can negotiate air fare in the contract with the Korean school/academy .

Thailand is a much easier place to go through your first Asian 'culture shock' than Korea.

If you're interested, PM for info.