TEFL Certification.

Loren Michael

Hey, I'm interested in getting a TEFL certification, but having never gotten such a thing before and there being many ways to get one, I figured I'd ask around first.

I'd like to get one online, seeing as I have a ton of free time this semester. There's a bunch of websites offering these and I'm perfectly willing to pay for quality, but I assume there's a lot of crap out there too, and I'm not sure abotu finding a means to distinguish between the two.

Any recommendations? Has anyone had experience with this stuff?

Cauld

I got a tefl certificate from i-to-i it came with job placement. It was ok. I liked the job they placed me in, but they didn't do much support or help out with any of the complaints I made. The tefl class itself was pretty stupid and easy, it did take a while though. I imagine their course to be about normal for online companies. I had 'assignments' I had to email some person who would 'grade' them. And there was some test I had to send in once the class was complete.

I would suggest an in person class if you can find one. I think it would help more overall. Unless you're just looking to get the cert to have the cert and not really learn anything.

Loren Michael

Cauld wrote: »

I got a tefl certificate from i-to-i it came with job placement. It was ok. I liked the job they placed me in, but they didn't do much support or help out with any of the complaints I made. The tefl class itself was pretty stupid and easy, it did take a while though. I imagine their course to be about normal for online companies. I had 'assignments' I had to email some person who would 'grade' them. And there was some test I had to send in once the class was complete.

I would suggest an in person class if you can find one. I think it would help more overall. Unless you're just looking to get the cert to have the cert and not really learn anything.

I'd actually prefer an actual classroom, and I signed up for one at my university (Michigan State), but it was canceled due to lack of attendees. If I could find another one here before the semester is up, I'd go for that, but I haven't found anything of the sort, so I think I'm limited to online stuff.

Was the on-line nature of your certification a problem at all, I mean, did you notice people valuing it less or anything?

Cauld

Well, I taught in Thailand. I don't think they cared even a little if I had a cert or not. That being said they mailed me an actual certificate. It could matter at high end schools or something. When I got it I thought it would be looked down upon, but thinking back on it I don't think its really big deal I got it online. How would my future employer know? I imagine most potential employers only care about fulfilling what's required by local law anyway.

Edit: To add more info.

What are you trying to get out of the cert? Having a cert? Or are you trying to become a better teacher? I'm under the impression you've taught English before, if that's the case you'll probably learn absolutely nothing from an online class. An in person class would probably help out, as would any teaching classes I'd imagine. If you just want the cert to add to your resume I think online should be fine.

Loren Michael

Fair enough, yeah, I've taught before, I just need the certification to be legit. Thanks.

I'd like to hear if there are any more recommendations for specific programs though. Anyone else?

ICAL_Pete

Can I suggest you take a look at ICAL if you are after online TEFL certification. It's been going since 1998 with great success.

http://icalweb.com

Also, regardless of which course you take, check them out on http://teflcoursereview.com where former students rate and review the course they took.

Hope this helps!

poshniallo

I used to be an area manager for an EFL company, and we simply wouldn't have employed anyone with an online-only certificate. Anything without classroom time is a joke. And this company is hardly a wonderful place to work, so I would be really scared to work somewhere that had lower standards.

Can't you do a CELTA? They are pretty much an industry standard.

CygnusZ

Yes, look into the CELTA. It only takes about a month and is internationally recognized.

ICAL_Pete

Oh yes, the CELTA is perhaps the most recognised course, but it's also one of the most intense. I don't know about others here, but for a new teacher without experience I would never begin to suggest a CELTA course; there's so much involved that assumes a lot of previous knowledge.

Plus of course it's well over a 1,000 GBP in most places so it's a fair price to pay when many entry-level jobs will take much less.