TEFL Advice?

MoneySaverJames

Hi everyone!

I've just graduated with an English degree and am considering undertaking a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course. My hope is that the qualification will enable me to gain classroom experience as well as do a bit of travelling before applying for a 2010 entry PGCE. I'm based in Nottingham and am looking to take the course in August/September.

I was just wondering if anyone has completed the qualification in the past and if they had any advice/experiences they could pass on?

I have noticed most organisations hold weekend events for the core training (as well as optional 'online tuition'), whereas some provide intensive 4 week courses. However, the prices between organisations seem to differ quite significantly.

So, essentially:
* Am I better of doing a weekender or a 4 week intensive course (which is considerably more expensive)?
* Which is the most reputable provider of the TEFL qualification?
* Which is the cheapest/best value for money provider?
* Is TEFL worthwhile?

Thanks in advance for any advice!
James

glowgirl_2

Hi, sorry cant give you any advice but wondered if you might be interested in this http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1817699&highlight=tefl. Best of luck:)

3plus1

I looked into doing this a few years ago.

If you want to land a proper job abroad, people will expect you to have a certTESOL or a CELTA. Any other qualification is not worth the paper it is printed on.

I abandoned the idea because I knew I didn't want to stick with teaching abroad and therefore the grand or so it would cost would be an expense rather than an investment. As I was teaching in a few schools, I picked up some private tutor work. I also worked at a short residential language camp once - for the life of me, I can't remember how I ended up with that job. Must have been word of mouth.

A weekend course might boost your confidence a little, but it won't make you a teacher and everyone knows it.

My advice would be to either go the whole hog and get a CELTA or certTESOL, or don't do any course. You're an English graduate - you've got some credibility there already. A CELTA or certTESOL will get you better work, but your existing qualifications will be enough to pick up bits and piece here and there. It really depends on what kind of jobs you're aiming for.

Almo

Hi MSJ,

I'm an ESL teacher. Don't bother with an online qualification or the weekend ones. They're just money spinning ruses. If you don't want to fork out for a CELTA/TESOL then you could look into the JET programme, but I think you're too late for this year's intake. I'm sorry to say that in any reputable school the fact that you are an English graduate holds no weight (assuming you mean English Lit). If you have an English Language degree then it might give you a very very slight edge, but you'd still need a CELTA/TESOL. In many countries it is a government requirement; it certainly is here in Oz. All that said, it very much depends where you are intending to go - in less developed countries, off the beaten track, you might find somewhere that will take you on - it's happened many times before! Of course they are unlikely to provide you with anything in the way of teacher training, so it won't help at all for your PGCE (personally, I guess the unis might like it) and the facilities might be limited.

I would advise you to do the four week intensive course if you intend to make teaching a career. If you are just looking for a way to earn some money on a gap year, you could just chance it. Either way, don't bother with the weekend ones. Be warned, the four week intensive course is just that - intensive. No social life, no job while you're doing it!

Any other questions, feel free to ask.

lainz

Hi

I'm a TEFL escapee! If you intend to travel, don't bother doing the TEFL as if a school is going to take you on for a few weeks, they're not going to bother with qualifications.

If you want a more rounded experience, pick a country and expect to spend 6 - 12 months there. It gives you more of an idea of living overseas and as TEFL tends to be unsocialable hours (7.30 am starts - 9.30pm finishes with a few hours off in the day if you're lucky) you can travel around the country etc.

When looking at schools, unless you get in with the British Council, most of the others are varing degrees of cowboy. I was lucky with both schools I was at, they were by no means perfect, but they did at least pay you. Do your research, look at schools that organise flats or flat-shares and guarantee hours of teaching. If they have to pay you for 20 hours of teaching whether you do it or not - they are going to find you work!

Find out what the average pay is for the area and work out what you can live on. I had good experiences of TEFL, but met enough people who had more 'interesting' experiences.

Good luck - feel free to ask any questions about schools you encounter!

briona

Wow! You've certainly got some varied responses... not to mention conflicting advice!

I am currently studying for a TEFL certificate – yes, it's one of the (predominantly) online ones, and yes, I know it's NOT the equivalent of the CELTA/TESOL and yes, I know that many schools will ONLY take you on if you have the CELTA/TESOL, but for me, it's a good introduction to TEFL.

I purposely CHOSE to do the 120hr TEFL (100hrs online plus 20hr weekend course) as a 'taster' of what TEFL might be like. I did not want to shell out £1500+ for the CELTA/TESOL to find that it really wasn't for me (that's assuming you get accepted onto the course anyway!). I've almost completed the course, I'm thoroughly enjoying it, and consequently am looking into taking a residential CELTA course in Europe.

My advice, for what it's worth (!) would be to decide where you want to teach and to tailor your studies to those countries. If you want to teach in Western Europe for example, most reputable schools will require you have the CELTA/TESOL, as well as a University degree (doesn't seem to matter what in). Whereas schools in Africa or Asia may be happy for you to have a basic TEFL certificate, and that's if they require qualifications at all!

For an idea on teaching requirements around the world, have a look at Susan Griffith's "Teaching English Abroad" – it's very comprehensive, up-to-date and helpful!
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Teaching-English-Abroad-Susan-Griffith/dp/1854584405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247992644&sr=8-1

Briona

MoneySaverJames

Wow, thanks for all the responses!

Yes, my degree was English Literature. I've looked into CELTA and think this is probably the best option for me as it will enable me to travel as well as give me an internationally recognized qualification which will be more beneficial to my CV in the long term.

I'm currently looking into the 4 week European residential placements provided by CactusTEFL and wondered if anyone has had any dealings with them?

Thanks again for all your responses, very insightful!
James

catherineluff

Hey,

I reckon any TEFL qualification will stand you in good stead with schools - there's no need to shed out a fortune on CELTA. Like Briona I did i-to-i's 120 hour course and had no problem getting a job at the end of it.

Good luck!

Pee

Where are you thinking of travelling to? Are there jobs available? Vietnam is probably an option - more popular places do not have vacancies at the moment. TEFL is probably enough to get a job in Vietnam - if you like it, you could then look at CELTA.

I have two friends who did TEFL, one loves it and now has a semi-managerial teaching role the other one didn't complete the course and said he just could not stand teaching. Still, if you found out you didn't like teaching, that would be useful to know!

chicacherrycola

hi,

just thought i'd add my question on here to save opening another thread.

Does anyone have any experience/info/advice about taking a tefl course and then teaching in the uk?

Alot of info is centered around teaching abroad and travelling but if i were to undertake something like this i would be in the uk for the foreseeable future.

Your thoughts much appreciated:)

xxx

briona

Hi chicacherrycola

To teach in the UK your course needs to have a minimum of 6hrs monitored teaching practice, and the ONLY courses that meet this criteria are the Cambridge CELTA and the Trinity TESOL – despite any claims to the contrary made by other TEFL certificate providers.

Use the links below to find your nearest approved centre. Only the centres listed are authorised to provide the courses.

http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/teaching-awards/celta.html
http://www.trinitycollege.co.uk/site/?id=293

Briona