Juggler
Barfly
If you work for a living then why do you kill yourself working?
Posts: 90
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Post by Juggler on Jan 19, 2005 15:16:45 GMT 7
hi all!
Ive been here now for 6 months and was wondering if a TEFL/TESL cert would bring me better positions?
Does anyone know of any good online programs?
oh im in beijing.
thanks
any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jan 20, 2005 0:26:49 GMT 7
A CELTA or RSA, or a real teaching certificate, will definitely open doors, but they don't necessarily lead to more pay.
Otherwise, while a cert can get you considered in most places, it doesn't really seem to matter much which cert you have, with the isolated exceptions of schools that have had especially good experiences with graduates of a particular program. Overall, the EFL Institute of PhotoShop and Good Laser Printers can be as good as the others. Most schools couldn't care less about the source or quality of the cert, they just want a shiny piece of paper they can show parents and the Bureaus.
If you just want to improve your job opps, an online course is fine. Shop price and convenience. If you really want to develop your teaching skills, there's no substitute for live classes.
I'm pretty indifferent on certificates. I don't have one. I've had to pass on some good-looking jobs because of this, but I've never had much trouble staying employed. I've drawn a 5-digit income for all but my first 3 months of employment in China...but note that I do have a (non-teaching related) Master's degree, years of work experience, and Stateside college teaching experience. If you don't have a degree, my recommendation to get a cert becomes a lot stronger.
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Juggler
Barfly
If you work for a living then why do you kill yourself working?
Posts: 90
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Post by Juggler on Jan 20, 2005 22:05:36 GMT 7
the institute of photoshop and the university of msword. yes these are great schools right at your fingertips.
yes i will get a cert. i was looking at one for about 250 usd.
its an online course that i will do after i come back from my vacation.
im getting out of beijing for a month. hurrah no more staring, pollution and 25 million people sharing the same subway train and mcdonalds
thanks
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Post by Dr. Gonzo on Jan 23, 2005 3:48:55 GMT 7
Of the undergrad. variety, the Cambridge CELTA seems well accepted. I did a post grad. certificate through an Australian Uni, as I wanted to work in Australia. This has gotten me two short term contracts, and a 12 month-er, which starts soon.
So, to simplify, the CELTA is fine for China, and is certainly a leg into some of the more respectable jobs. A post grad. from a decent uni in an English speaking country is needed to teach ESL [eg, ELICOS] in one of these places though. Mine cost approx. USD 2,800 -a mix of distance and online delivery. RSA is cheaper, I think.
ps People who say you don't need to train to teach EFL/ESL have clearly never trained to teach it. You'll be suprised to learn how much you DON'T know; and I came from 25 years of high school English teaching.
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Post by con's fly is open on Feb 1, 2005 16:31:16 GMT 7
People who say you don't need to train to teach EFL/ESL have clearly never trained to teach it. You'll be suprised to learn how much you DON'T know; and I came from 25 years of high school English teaching. Amen, brother. I went to China without any training, and the first 2 months were a nightmare of stress and incompetence. Now China has (rightly) changed the law so that a TESOL certificate is mandatory. Given that I've got a year's experience, though, a forged certificate is looking mighty convenient and cheap.
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