Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Papa Smurf]

Hi guys,

I'm thinking of going to teach in Korea in August/September time, and there is a weekend TEFL course scheduled near where I live:

http://www.tefl.co.uk/pages/courseone.asp

Is this course worth doing, considering it costs �210 (about US$400)?


Apparently you get some sort of TEFL cert at the end and the itinerary is as follows:

Saturday - Day One

Morning
Welcome new arrivals
Getting to know you: Three illustrative TEFL activities
Group Dynamics: An introduction to teaching language in the classroom
An introduction to Grammar: A group activity
Teaching Beginners: This is split into three lessons

1. Getting meaning across
2. Practising pronunciation
3. Maintaining student involvement

Introduction to planning lessons
Techniques for teaching vocabulary
Teaching structures
Break for lunch

Afternoon
Teaching Functions: Phrase book English
Using a Course book
Part two of planning lessons
Using games in TEFL
Practicing board work
Teaching children
Break for dinner

Evening
Planning for teaching practice
Teaching practice: Part one
Teaching practice: Feedback
Skills work: Two examples of fluency practice activities

Sunday - Day Two

Morning
Language Skills: Developing your students, this is split into four lessons

1. Reading
2. Writing
3. Speaking
4. Listening

Error correction: A discussion of approaches and methods
Grammar: Where it belongs in modern TEFL
Grammar: Using reference books
Grammar: Using resource material
Break for lunch - this will incorporate planning and preparing for Teaching Practice Two

Afternoon
Teaching practice: Part two
Teaching practice: Feedback on part two
The course finishes



Thanks in advance.

[Wondering]

The places that require a certificate want 100 hours or more. I don't think that one would qualify.

Then again, if you are a total newbie to teaching, it might teach you something that you could use later. So, it depends on why you want to take that course.

[spliff]

400$... Save your money!

[Papa Smurf]

Thanks for the replies.

I am a total newbie so that's why I was thinking of doing it, but the price is rather steep.

[pest2]

Its not a bad idea to do a TEFL course if its the month-long kind and you only have a Bachelor's degree. It can mean an increase in your pay for public school jobs and make you marketable for Uni jobs. However, as someone else pointed out, a week course isnt going to do anything for your qualifications.

If you have never ever taught before and you just want to see what its all about and see if its for you, maybe its a good idea. Just know it wont help your resume too much for Korea.

[spliff]

[pest2]