TEFL courses

Maryland_Cookie

Just wondered if anyone had done a TEFL course recently, what your experience of it was, and what plans, if any you had for using it afterwards? I've been thinking about it for a while, as I'm thinking of volunteering abroad and think this will be really useful.

thanks

Brighton_belle

I have had a number of friends do it over the years: the month intensive is very full on, and there will be no time for anything else, but they all passed and made good use of it: very useful qualification for travelling/living abroad.

Maryland_Cookie

Thanks BB -I've been on the official TEFL website and not seen the month's intensive course, it just seems to be part 1 in a weekend, then part 2 if and when......., which did appeal.

Brighton_belle

Maryland_Cookie wrote: »

Thanks BB -I've been on the official TEFL website and not seen the month's intensive course, it just seems to be part 1 in a weekend, then part 2 if and when......., which did appeal.

Oh that's interesting over 25 yrs of friends doing it, I have only ever been aware of the month's intensive.
That sounds manageable - and I do think it will be very useful.

susiejq

Hi,
The intensive course is normally the CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) offered by Cambridge. It's a Level 4 course and is quite expensive to do. It can also be studied as an evening class and is recognised worldwide. There are also a number of TEFL and TESOL courses which are accepted in parts of the world (the Far East) in addtion to a degree in almsot anything. I have friends whose adult children are teaching in Korea and China with TEFL qualifications. It does depend on where you want to teach. In the UK FE Colleges will quite often want more than a TEFL but other providers may/will accept them.

thebillet

My son, daughter and sister have each done the month long intensive course. It was very "full on" as others have said. My son and daughter have used the qualification a little differently. My daughter likes the security and handiness of getting a job before she goes, this can include any or all of the following; flights, medical insurance and accommodation. My son prefers to see the lie of the land and work out from others which are the better employers. The latter approach has more obvious risk attached but you are not at the beck and call of your employers as much as you are in the former. They both have found the qualification very liberating, it had meant they aren't stuck with mortgages on dwindling assets here in the UK and are seeing plenty of the world. We have the odd scare but so far so good. They have between them covered a lot of Asia, South America and Europe. The places my son prefers are where there is plenty to do outside of work and a good differential between what you can earn and the cost of living. My daughter prefers good transport links to help with touring and holidays and plenty to do outside of work also.
Hope it goes well for you.

rosie383

I have just completed CELTA over 6 months. It was 9-5 every Thursday from Sept to March. I know a lot of people do the month-long course,but honestly, you'd be crazy to attempt it unless you have no other commitments for the month and can eat, sleep and breathe it! Just doing the part-time course took up so many hours of my time each week, and having a husband and 2 kids, there is no way I could have done it in a month!
Just something to think about. It is a very intensive course, and you need to go into it with the knowledge of how much time you must devote to it.

rosie383

Have a look at this recent thread and you may pick up a wee bit more info.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3730075

Dunroamin

Maryland_Cookie wrote: »

Thanks BB -I've been on the official TEFL website and not seen the month's intensive course, it just seems to be part 1 in a weekend, then part 2 if and when......., which did appeal.

That sounds like it's just the Certificate. You really need to do the Diploma to be fully qualified.

rosie383

CELTA and Trinity ESOL are really the only ones that are wanted abroad by most institutions. Because there are so many courses around,which can last for anything from a weekend, to a year or more, you need to look at ones which are internationally recognised. There is no point doing one which may cost a lot of money, but not be worth the paper it's written on.

rdchick

I've got a 140 hour and 20 hour certificate in TEFL. I would suggest that most places you either need a CELTA or a degree (in basically any subject) to teach in most places. My ex is currently in South Korea teaching english via a basic online TEFL course.

I think they are great if you want to travel... to places where they need English teachers! xxx