What do people think of this TEFL course? £55 for a TEFL/TESOL certification

Buffythedebtslayer

I signed up to do a similar course with Tefl Express, but I didn't realise I only had a 100 days to complete the course. I am currently debating whether to extend my time (at a cost of course)

To be honest with everything I have googled it seems the Online courses are all a bit pants.

They aren't recognised as official courses or accredited by an organisation that is a solid real life university - I know that Cambridge gets mentioned on some websites but I think that in relation to courses with classes in the real world not these types of courses?

I would say they are perhaps a good start to give you an refresher in grammar and standard/formal English? but not great for getting a job?

Buffythedebtslayer

Also the Global language people claim they are accredited by
the ACTDEC (if that is even real) but they aren't listed as full members
http://www.actdec.org.uk/members.shtml

briona

Hi there,

The first thing to realise is that there is no one accrediting body for TEFL courses, nor for that matter any means of accrediting the accreditors. Currently, despite what other providers claim, the ONLY courses recognised and accepted worldwide are the Cambridge CELTA, the Trinity CertTESOL and the American SIT TESOL.

Whether you need to do one of these courses depends very much on where you want to work and what your plans for TEFL are, e.g., do you want to spend a year or two teaching abroad or do you want to make a career of it? If all you want to do is spend a year or so living abroad, and you don't mind where or for whom you work, an online TEFL certificate is fine. However, if you want to make a career or TEFL or you want to teach in a native English-speaking country, you will need to invest in a CELTA or equivalent.

Be advised that having a degree (in any subject) is fast becoming a pre-requisite for would-be teachers. More and more countries are demanding one to satisfy visa conditions. Not having one means that your options are severely limited and by 2015, with ASEAN integration (the Asian equivalent of the EU), there'll be even fewer opportunities for the degree-less.

Hope that helps.

Briona

liz001

I would always recommend that people do a proper CELTA course, rather than an online course. In order to teach, you need practical experience that an online course cannot give you. While they do cost more money, if you are doing this for the long term you will more than get your money back because good schools will pay more if you have a CELTA and you can ask for more money than an online TEFL qualification. Also, if you are thinking about turning this into a career and going into Management, you need to do a DELTA, which you cannot do unless you have a CELTA.[FONT=&quot]
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colino

Any skill where you have to either interact with others or demonstrate to people cannot be delivered wholly online. You are wasting your money and are only buying a certificate, not gaining any worthwhile skill.
It would be the same as learning to drive on a Playstation.

liz_career_break

I would look at taking a CELTA or TESOL. Both are excellent courses and give you hands on experience. You can also do your qualification abroad. I did my 4 week CELTA in Vietnam. It was a great experience, excellent trainers and due to the cost of living out there, worked out cheaper for me as my rent was $11US a day.

I would not recommend doing any course that does not include teaching in the classroom as part of the curriculum, as I found this experience and the feedback invaluable.