eslbase forums

When to do a course?

Lynnlit — 5 Jul 2008 15:55

Author: Lynnlit

Posted: 5 Jul 2008 15:55

Hi, can someone please give me some advice on when to commence the CELTA course.
My husband and I have sold up and are leaving the UK to travel for 1-2 years. I am considering doing the 4 week intensive CELTA course in Madrid in November as am currently trying to learn spanish as we eventually want to travel in central/south america. However, we're not planning on getting there for another year. Is it perhaps better to wait until we get to a country in Central/South America and then do the course there (ie Columbia, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico) as there may be more job opportunities straight after doing the course in that particular country. What I'm worried about is doing the course in November then not getting any experience for another year, thus rendering myself obsolete!!

Any thoughts on this would be great
Many thanks

Lynn

Trinity Cert TESOL vs. Canadian Global Tesol College Cert

systematic — 4 Jul 2008 22:54

Author: systematic

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 22:54

nohjin wrote:

Hi, apologies in advance if this is a silly question.

Are these two accreditations the same thing, or do they carry the same weight?
1. Trinity Cert TESOL
2. Canadian Global Tesol College Cert

I understand that 1. seems more widely recognised (along with CELTA) however my current country (singapore) seems to offer only option 2.

cheers

nohjin

Trinity cert TESOL, Cambridge CELTA are the most widley recognised and accepted courses wordwide. They have nothing to do with Canadian Global. The Canadian Global Courses may have the same number of hours.

teaching in spain... with debts? advise please!

kerrynthekerryn — 4 Jul 2008 22:52

Author: kerrynthekerryn

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 22:52

thanks so much for that Phil, I've been looking for advice from somebody who has actually been in this situation and it was really useful to hear how it worked out for you. are you still teaching?

I think it sounds as if i wouldnt be worse off than i currently am at least... i'm only making 90quid payments a month at the moment and really want to increase that, so maybe it is do-able, or at least try-able for a year or 2.

thanks again,

k

Is this for real?

systematic — 4 Jul 2008 22:33

Author: systematic

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 22:33

[quote="Kayelldee"]This sounds like a great deal but I'm not sure if it's genuine. Can anyone help?

www.teflcoursethailand.com

The domain does not exist and is for sale by a major registrar.

Some organisations post on forums with dialogs like those of Kayelldee and Joko as a kind of advertising stunt.Thailand is the epicentre of the word's TESOL scams.
Find out more by reading the articles on this TESOL scam forum

Anyone familiar with the London Teacher�s Traning College?

systematic — 4 Jul 2008 21:27

Author: systematic

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 21:27

LTTC is one of the few distance courses I accept - as long as the teacher has obtained some formal teaching experience somewhere, even if just for a few hours. It's a solid, hard 120 hours work and teaches a well balanced diet of theory (including the IPA , of which the utility is debatable). It lacks of course any practical element. It is not overpriced.
LTTC certificates are also accepted by all the schools of Thailand's largest non-government Education Authority through its TESOL recruiting centre. You'll see the EDBA seal of approval on the LTTC website.

i-to-i courses

systematic — 4 Jul 2008 21:15

Author: systematic

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 21:15

At a recent meeting of school administrators in one Asian country, the heads of several hundred quality schools agreed once more on minimum standards for accepting TESOl certificates:

120 hours attendance course with a minimum of 6 hours observed teaching.

The i-to-i courses do not meet this minimum requirement. The organisation is an adventure tour agency that provides TESOL certificates for very short 'courses'
The fact that there were no further postings in this thread is a clear indication that the OP was taken in by claims of churning out a teacher in the space of just one weekend. It's not possible, and the schools all know it, and I don't accept on-line or short course certificates either.

The very important warnings are here and quite clear on this special Thailand TESOL forum.

The bottom line is that there are schools that don't need a TESOL cert. at all, and there are those that do. Those that do, and which pay salaries, have made it quite clear what they consider to be a minimum amount of training. Well paid TESOL jobs in Thailand

Best online TEFL course?

systematic — 4 Jul 2008 20:39

Author: systematic

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 20:39

It must be a sad state of affairs if the on-line tefflers have to spend their time posting free sneak ads on this and every other web board in the world of TESOL.

Fewer and fewer school are accepting on-line certificates.
We do not generally accept on-line certificates either, unless they were for lat least 120 hours study, and the job applicant has some practical teaching experience.

However, it must not only be either a CELTA or a Trinity Cert. and not all the institutes offering them are doing a good job of it. One UK firm had its Trinity licence revoked recently, and there are plenty of complaints about cowboy franchise chains in Thailand trying to deliver on CELTA. There are other organisations offering alternative face-to-face courses, particularly in Asia where the cost of living and the courses are much cheaper and some are very good. The downside is that some are rotten to the core as clearly explained in this TESOL scam article.

ESL Bookstores in USA

Mr. G — 4 Jul 2008 18:50

Author: Mr. G

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 18:50

Something I found by accident is a school book depository, or schoolbook surplus. I have one here in the county where I live and you may too. I assume they recycle them after a certain period of time, but generally hold them for about a year. Some have scribble all over the pages, or are torn/ripped from heavy useage. And some are in really good condition. They are generally kept in big warehouses where they send books they won't use again. I would call a school district, or county/state education office and ask if they have a used book store for unused books. They are inexpensive (sometimes a buck or two) and can provide you with useful material.

do i need to do tefl?

systematic — 4 Jul 2008 18:03

Author: systematic

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 18:03

So which CELTA provider do you work for? And like most others do they also keep the CELTYL under wraps so that they can sell the YL as an extra?

Look before you leap - I've been designing and instructing Cambridge programmes since the days when they were the RSA...

Quote:

There are many ways to teach and it doesn't naturally follow that someone who that has taught a specialised subject in one field and gained a lot of experience there can just go on and teach anything with no extra input.

Take another close look at my posting - then take a refresher course in 'reading for content'

And yes, it certainly does pay to do some research:

Quote:

CELTYL is an initial qualification for people with little or no previous teaching experience

- from the Cambridge website...

and at the risk of repeating myself:
Of course, I may be wrong - it's just 32 years of teacher training experience that's talking

CELTA/TEFL Course in Barcelona.

systematic — 4 Jul 2008 16:31

Author: systematic

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 16:31

I would also recommend the CELTA at International House. Be absolutely sure, however, to read this essential warning if you are going to be looking for any other TES0L course in Barcelona, or anywhere else for that matter, and to follow any other links.

Guangzhou Worldy Education Department

Mr. G — 4 Jul 2008 4:12

Author: Mr. G

Posted: 4 Jul 2008 4:12

Since you're in Guangzhou, is there a way to find out from Consulate who is legit and who is not? I know there is a U.S. consulate there because we sent INS paperwork there. Just wondering if this would be a resource.

teaching in vietnam

jenniferp — 3 Jul 2008 15:45

Author: jenniferp

Posted: 3 Jul 2008 15:45

You're right though about the administration. If you come here purely on a three month contract you might find that you have to sort out your own visas and permits as it is too much red tape for the school to deal with for so short a time.

Hello, new and need help please!

craige — 3 Jul 2008 7:55

Author: craige

Posted: 3 Jul 2008 7:55

Hi Dan, many thanks for your reply!

Plenty for us to think about there, much appreciated.

Craig

grammar - explanation - in time/on time

Mr. G — 3 Jul 2008 4:39

Author: Mr. G

Posted: 3 Jul 2008 4:39

It sounds to me like your question has to do with "tense." Present/future. Am I correct?

Tips for living in China

Mr. G — 3 Jul 2008 4:26

Author: Mr. G

Posted: 3 Jul 2008 4:26

If the students really like you, they will take you out to eat all the time. Job Hazard warning: weight gain likely.