Choosing the Right TEFL Course
TEFL, CELTA, TESOL, ELT, Cert TESOL... the acronyms used
to name different courses in the industry of English Language
Teaching are endless. You could say the same
for the opportunities those qualifications will provide: certainly, they vary tremendously.
The right course for you depends on a variety of factors. For
example: Do you want just
an insight into teaching English? or is this a whole career move
for you? do you expect to get paid for teaching? or are you prepared to volunteer?
If you're not sure what your plans are yet, we always recommend you read all the information on this Cactus
TEFL website. Cactus TEFL grew out of our realisation that there are a zillion course
options but - up to now - no one to point interested parties in the right direction, so we catalogued masses of advice here in one place.
What's in a Word?
The biggest misconception is probably surrounding the word TEFL.
Many people seem to think that TEFL is a qualification in its
own right. It’s not. TEFL is simply the name encompassing
the industry of English Language Teaching. Within that industry
there is a mind-blowing range of courses you can sign up for,
ranging from weekend and short introductory courses to 4 week
intensive courses that will lead to an internationally recognised
qualification. Below you can find a breakdown of courses we offer
at Cactus TEFL. This will help you to choose the right course
and guide your first steps into the field of teaching English.
Types of courses:
:: Online Courses
Useful for those who are unable to get time off work to follow a face-to-face course or who are nowhere near an onsite training centre. Online TEFL courses always include all the major content components necessary for teaching, such as classroom management, teaching grammar, etc. They do not include
real teaching practice, although some of them do give you a taste
for real life teaching by including streamed training videos or DVDs
demonstrating various teaching techniques.
Advantages of Online TEFL
You can study from the comfort of your own home and you can keep
on working whilst heading towards your future in TEFL. We always
recommend going for a course that includes more hours: the more
comprehensive your online programme, the more you will learn,
and your knowledge and confidence will be boosted accordingly.
Limitations of Online courses
Although an online course will always provide you with a sound
introduction to English Language Teaching, and can even have a
syllabus to rival a full-time course, it does miss out on teaching
practice (TP), arguably the most vital course component.
An on-site course, no matter how short, will usually
include some form of TP, thus arming you with some basic tools
for classroom teaching. Throughout the world, employers will show
a strong preference for those with classroom experience. So be
careful if you are relying on an online course to get you a full-time
teaching position, because it may not. Do your research in advance!
:: Short Introductory/Weekend TEFL Courses
These are useful for those who want an insight into TEFL rather
than doing the kind of course which will add serious weight to
their C.V. These courses are basic introductory onsite courses, over two or three days.
Courses generally include modules on grammar and pronunciation,
classroom management and a small part of the course may be dedicated
to peer teaching practice and observation.
Advantages of a short/introductory course
These courses are good fun and not as stressful as the full-time
courses. The application process
does not tend to be as rigorous as for a full-time course: you can simply book them and start. They
are also generally a lot cheaper. Short courses will give
you that confidence boost and initial feel for what English teaching
might have in store for you. They are also an absolute minimum
requirement for those who want to support their travel with teaching
work, even if this is in countries where you just need a degree
to teach. You simply owe it to your students to have some kind
of experience teaching the English language before you start imparting
your wisdom to others!
Limitations of a short/introductory course
Although cheaper than the full-time courses, these courses are
sometimes more expensive pro-rata. Spending money on a short course
could be the wrong decision if you are investing in a teaching
career. Employers worldwide, and especially in the more competitive
teaching destinations like countries in Europe, will often insist
on their teachers having internationally recognised qualifications.
If you want to start your teaching career there and you only have
a TEFL certificate from a short course chances are that you will
have to apply for a full-time course anyway.
:: Full time 4-week TEFL Courses
For those considering a serious career in TEFL this is the perfect
preparation. Within the industry the Cambridge CELTA and the Trinity
Cert TESOL are the best known qualifications and they will
be preferred by any employer around the globe. A quick look on
any job site and you will find that the majority of TEFL employers
will ask for Cambridge CELTA/Trinity Cert TESOL or equivalent.
This equivalent can be a course with a similar amount of hours
and teaching practice, such as the SIT
TESOL Certificate. Just make sure that your course includes
at least 100 hours of input and 6 hours of teaching practice and
some classroom observation and you are generally OK.
:: Other 4 week Intensive TEFL Courses
There are plenty of TEFL courses of around 100 to 150 hours’ duration that have not been rubber-stamped by Cambridge or Trinity. Many schools that provide TEFL courses feel they know enough about running their TEFL programmes and that they don’t need external quality control. Others prefer not to have to pay the exam board registration fee, which can rise to over £120 per course participant. This can help them to pass on a lower price to you, the customer.
These 'other' 4 week courses are largely based on the original 4 week course model, with 2 to 3 hours of input sessions and 2 to 3 hours of teaching practice each day. They may well be taught by tutors with very good qualifications and years of experience. Some providers also have their own internal validation process.
These courses are generally very well viewed in their local context, and are often an excellent alternative for would-be teachers who intend to get a few years' teaching experience in a particular location. It can be argued that after a few years' as a teacher, the actual TEFL course you followed at the beginning of your TEFL journey is much less important than the teaching experience itself.
Advantages of a 4-week full-time course
A certificate from a full-time course is your best chance of
securing work and, providing your other credentials are up to
scratch, will fulfil most private language schools' requirements.
Doing a Cambridge CELTA or Trinity Cert TESOL maximises your options,
although there are also some excellent equivalent courses out there that
you can book through Cactus TEFL. With a basic industry standard qualification,
nothing will stand in the way of furthering your career in TEFL
by doing a Diploma in TESOL course which will pave the way to more managerial roles, or
using your qualification and experience to start working behind
the scenes of the industry once you are back in the UK.
Limitations of a 4-week full-time course
There are no real limitations worth mentioning. You can’t
teach in further education or state schools with just a CELTA
or a Cert TESOL and you may not find a job that easily in the
UK, but that’s mainly due to the market being so competitive.
The only thing to be aware (and wary) of is the intensity of these
courses. The pre-interview task, which most (though not all) 4-week courses have as part of the application, gives you an idea of what is
required on a course but by no means prepares you for what’s
to come. However, the sense of achievement you will
feel after you have finished the course makes it all well worthwhile!
:: Blended learning
The Online CELTA is a blended course which leads to the same internationally recognised certificate as the face to face course.
Advantages of the online CELTA course
The Online CELTA combines the flexibility of online study with the face-to-face interaction of real classroom teaching practice experience. coursework is delivered through an interactive e-environment involving online tasks, forums and discussions.
Online self-study
You have the freedom to choose how you work. As long as assignments are completed on time and you contribute to discussion forums and live room discussions, the online format allows you to work at your own pace, when and where you choose. Your online course tutor will facilitate your group work and provide feedback on assignments and progress.
Hands-on teaching practice
CELTA’s success is based on its strong practical element, showing employers that you have the necessary skills to succeed in the classroom. Cambridge CELTA Course Online uses exactly the same model of face-to-face supervised lesson planning, teaching practice, evaluation and feedback, with full support from your teaching practice tutors.
You will need a standard computer with broadband internet connection and a headset with integrated microphone.
Limitations of the online CELTA course
Because you do not have full on site contact with your input tutors, the course may feel disjointed. However, this is a relatively new course format, and we have not yet heard of actual limitations as experienced by trainees.
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