The TEFL CETLA Conundrum

Replies: 12 - Last Post: 14-Oct-2007 19:38 Last Post By: gildas

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gummi

11-Oct-2007 18:41
Posts: 12

The TEFL CETLA Conundrum

I am yet another American expat trying to find English teaching employment in Thailand. I have decided to do my teacher training in country (likely in Chiang Mai) and I was hoping that some more experienced teachers could give me some guidance. I have yet to select a program (although I have narrowed it down to Chiang Mai University, International House/Chiang Mai, and Siam Educational Experience.) but I hesitate to select the type of certification I am working towards. I would prefer to work with young learners as I have taught middle school children in New Orleans for a short time, but I am also happy to work with adults. A friend had given me a cleaver analogy that the difference between CETLA and TEFL was like the difference between a state school and an Ivy League one, meaning, CETLA is more recognizable but TEFL programs were entirely acceptable. I feel I might be more comfortable in the SEE program as I am more comfortable learning in classes dealing in Standard American dialects but it is a relativel new program. I hope someone has some feedback from personal experience. I know it is a little vague in the questioning. Thanks again.

Oh.... and If anyone has any experience with the SEE program, negative or positive, please add any comments. Thank you.

poppo

losing_touch

11-Oct-2007 18:48
Posts: 7,978

All I can say is that I am about halfway through my TESOL, to throw another one in the mix, and it is very demanding here in the states! I wish I had chosen to do it in Thailand, but I don't think it will hold any water if I decide to come back to the states after some time. Also, all of my classes will amount to half of a masters (which I will very likely obtain one day)! I don't know about those schools! We go over all kinds of theory, and it is very frustrating. Linguistics was pretty interesting!

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goo_stewart

11-Oct-2007 20:17
Posts: 987

The CELTA is a tough program and will give you an edge in getting a position at the schools who know about these things (and care). Ordinary TEFL certs are ok, I have both, my CELTA taught me more and certainly opened some doors which the others don't. CELTA will get you more jobs around the world. Don't worry about the dialect thing, I did both my certs with a mix of nationalities, the Americans didn't struggle (or notice any different experience) when on the courses. In fact it will probably broaden your horizens to learn in a multi-nationality environment and will make you more adaptable - the Americans I know now all are comfortable dealing with the Queens versions.

Having said that, the overwhelming number of recruiters in Thailand just don't care about TEFL/CELTA certs. They just want a warm, white body in the class. I still would have done the cELTA having known what I know now - it really knocked me into shape for teaching, kinda boot camp for inexperienced teachers, tough but gets you going.

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Tess21

11-Oct-2007 20:37
Posts: 424

Here we go.

Once again the 4 week you beaut course now i am a teacher brigade rshow there heads.

Probally the saddest part is when my old friend LT refers people over to ajarn.com and the gang of phonies over there

I mean the poor buggers actually think they are fully qualified teachers after a couple of weeks of study.

As i have said before please get the proper training before you inflict yourself on antoher country and its children

losing_touch

11-Oct-2007 20:45
Posts: 7,978

LoL - Indeed, it is always nice to hear from you Tess. I am glad to see that you are back! If you read my post, you would notice that I did not recommend that the OP go to ajarn.com. I will have studied for over a year in a series of graduate level classes at American University in Washington D.C. which is pretty well known for their TESOL program. Feel free to look up a few of the professors Tess. Naomi Baron and Robin Barr come to mind off hand. The faculty members are quite skilled in the field. I do refer people to ajarn.com from time to time when it fits the question they are asking. However, this case was not fitting for such a recommendation. If he was trying to assess the current job market at a glance or gain a little bit of insight as to what being a teacher was like, I might have sent the OP over there.

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goo_stewart

12-Oct-2007 05:06
Posts: 987

Tess, you are obviously angry at something, dunno what but you really should put a sock in it and just answer things that you might know about.. You will not find me claiming to be a 'proper' teacher (with a teaching degree), just an ESL teacher. I am actaully a well qualified ESL teacher who has worked at the British Council, not exactly mickey mouse stuff. I don't think you will find many phonies on Ajarn either, some of them are even engaged at big international schools - imagine that, they even have degrees in teaching. Funny that for a bunch of phonies. Nothing wrong with going to Thailand and teaching kids, as long as you have some idea how to do it (a TEFL course perhaps?). There are many, many, many unqualified teachers (mostly the elder ones) in Uk and US.

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gildas

12-Oct-2007 06:06
Posts: 85

http://RANT.... BEGIN

Just to let you all know, Tess is just a very sad individual with absolutely ZERO personal credentials other than a bleeding heart. She has ZERO knowledge of the teaching industry in any country, she is NOT a teacher herself and I would be very surprised if she even has a degree. She has ZERO knowledge of what a CELTA is, what the acronym means, or what it is designed to do. Ask her - she will stall and become evasive. Usually, insults will be substituted for reason. Did I mention the word 'ZERO' often enough there? Also, have a look at her spelling and punctuation - if you are going to 'throw stones'...

Also, to illustrate the situation in the UK, my friend has just become a Psychology lecturer - and he doesn't even have an A-level in it!! Any comment, Tess?

However, to return to the OP: if you are going to CONSIDER a CELTA make sure your grammar is spot on. Or you will die.

END OF RANT

Tess21

13-Oct-2007 06:46
Posts: 424

WHAT A LOAD OF SHIT

You guys live in a different world!

I never said i was a teacher but my sister is a headmaster.She went to college for 5 years not for four weeks you load of bottom feeders!

You guys do a you beaut 4 week course and actually think you are qualified?

Please if you want to educate then dont do it for a chance to live in a country for 1 or 2 years do it for the kids the money is pretty much shit anyway so why inflict yourself on the innocent?

You guys live in La LA land and want to come to Thailand.

Give us a break

Tess21

13-Oct-2007 06:48
Posts: 424

losing_touch

13-Oct-2007 08:39
Posts: 7,978

I don't live in LA! I spend over 5 months a year in Thailand. Want to meet up for a drink in December Tess? =)

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losing_touch

13-Oct-2007 08:39
Posts: 7,978

I don't live in LA! I spend over 5 months a year in Thailand. Want to meet up for a drink in December Tess? =)

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losing_touch

13-Oct-2007 08:39
Posts: 7,978

I don't live in LA! I spend over 5 months a year in Thailand. Want to meet up for a drink in December Tess? =)

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gildas

14-Oct-2007 19:38
Posts: 85

Tess, you merely repeated pretty much what you said before!

And stop trying to 'ride the tails' of your bigger (and more accomplished) sister. Are you a BSc / BA or anything? What about a DipEd? Are you a DipEd?

No, no-one here said they were qualified after 4 weeks - that came from YOUR imagination. Personally, I've never met anyone that did.

Hilarious - you really did resort to insults... most of these 'bottomfeeders' have more qualifcations than you, where does that put you in the foodchain?

You know NOTHING about the Thai education system, don't know what CELTA is, you dont live in Thailand (never have) and splash other people's credentials around like they improve yours. Have you met the local Thai English teachers? Maybe we should leave it to them? Could you at least confirm that you are not a 21 year old Uni-dropout traveller who's been to Thailand a couple of times and now knows 'the score'?

I honestly think you should get to know about these things before you criticise. Then more people would respect you. There are many unsuitable 'teachers' out there and they should be improved or removed, but there are also many fantastic ones.

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