Comments on: The Truth About Teaching English in Foreign Countries #2:TESOL, TEFL, CELTA http://www.bloggernews.net/119255 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:37:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Tesol Australia http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-1449022 Tesol Australia Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:03:04 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-1449022 TESOL certification ensures that one can teach in any country worldwide. TESOL certification ensures that one can teach in any country worldwide.

]]> By: Alex Case http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-912951 Alex Case Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:48:18 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-912951 I agree with the top comment, but it is complicated even more by the fact that TESOL has different meanings in America and the UK. In America TESOL is an umbrella term that includes TEFL and is more or less equivalent to ELT (English Language Teaching). In the UK, TESOL traditionally means teaching immigrants who have moved the the UK. Therefore, in Britain CELTA would be defined as a TEFL qualification rather than a TESOL qualification. The Trinity CertTESOL started out with that clear distinction to the (TEFL) CELTA, but as the TEFL market is much larger in the UK most people who take it do so to teach abroad or for foreign students who come to the UK to study and then go home. I agree with the top comment, but it is complicated even more by the fact that TESOL has different meanings in America and the UK. In America TESOL is an umbrella term that includes TEFL and is more or less equivalent to ELT (English Language Teaching). In the UK, TESOL traditionally means teaching immigrants who have moved the the UK. Therefore, in Britain CELTA would be defined as a TEFL qualification rather than a TESOL qualification. The Trinity CertTESOL started out with that clear distinction to the (TEFL) CELTA, but as the TEFL market is much larger in the UK most people who take it do so to teach abroad or for foreign students who come to the UK to study and then go home.

]]> By: Jonas Blume http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-873887 Jonas Blume Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:23:54 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-873887 Try to find a place with a high student enrollment so that your teacher will have too much of the company's reputation to stake. Or make sure you go to a place that has had a history of teaching classes in the same area for a few years. Good luck. Try to find a place with a high student enrollment so that your teacher will have too much of the company’s reputation to stake. Or make sure you go to a place that has had a history of teaching classes in the same area for a few years. Good luck.

]]> By: PresidentJackson http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-871577 PresidentJackson Sun, 04 Jan 2009 09:54:22 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-871577 I plan to teach in China. I would like to identify a one-week TESOL course in Chicago. What is YOUR suggestion? I plan to teach in China. I would like to identify a one-week TESOL course in Chicago. What is YOUR suggestion?

]]> By: Seoul Agent http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-870907 Seoul Agent Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:27:57 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/119255#comment-870907 Hi Jonas, Just to clarify the use of the the terms TEFL and TESOL - they actually don't refer to the certifications themselves but to the area in which you're being certified. (TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language; TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.) As you say, nowadays, the content covered amounts to roughly the same thing. Also, a TEFL or TESOL course can last as long as the certifying body wants it to - the acronym is no actual guide to the length. As for the CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Adults), this is a TESOL qualification, which importantly includes an assessed practicum, which they call Teaching Practice or TP. Any future employer worth their salt will want you to have a Cambridge University CELTA or an equivalent (Trinity College or SIT) which includes TP. The other important thing about the CELTA is that it does actually prepare you for work in the classroom (language awareness, methodology, observations of experienced teachers, classroom management, TP). So in terms of professional development this is the one to go for at some time early in your teaching career. (Courses are usually 120 hours in the form of one month intensives or 3 months part-time.) In terms of acceptability, however, and this is a big 'however', it really depend which country you're going to work in. Many employers in Asia, for example, especially in Korea, are totally ignorant of the difference between say, a one-week on-line $200 cheapie cert. and a more expensive but worthwhile CELTA. So the choice is basically a certifcate for apppearences' sake, or one which will allow you to survive and thrive. In the end, it all comes down to your personal priorities. Your advice to do some research beforehand is well founded. Seoul Agent Hi Jonas,

Just to clarify the use of the the terms TEFL and TESOL - they actually don’t refer to the certifications themselves but to the area in which you’re being certified. (TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language; TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.) As you say, nowadays, the content covered amounts to roughly the same thing. Also, a TEFL or TESOL course can last as long as the certifying body wants it to - the acronym is no actual guide to the length.

As for the CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Adults), this is a TESOL qualification, which importantly includes an assessed practicum, which they call Teaching Practice or TP. Any future employer worth their salt will want you to have a Cambridge University CELTA or an equivalent (Trinity College or SIT) which includes TP. The other important thing about the CELTA is that it does actually prepare you for work in the classroom (language awareness, methodology, observations of experienced teachers, classroom management, TP). So in terms of professional development this is the one to go for at some time early in your teaching career. (Courses are usually 120 hours in the form of one month intensives or 3 months part-time.)

In terms of acceptability, however, and this is a big ‘however’, it really depend which country you’re going to work in. Many employers in Asia, for example, especially in Korea, are totally ignorant of the difference between say, a one-week on-line $200 cheapie cert. and a more expensive but worthwhile CELTA. So the choice is basically a certifcate for apppearences’ sake, or one which will allow you to survive and thrive. In the end, it all comes down to your personal priorities. Your advice to do some research beforehand is well founded.

Seoul Agent

]]>