Global Leadership Travel - TESOL TEFL

Hi all, this is my fisrt post but I have done a lot of browsing on this topic and have seen a wide range of university teachers advising not to do a TESOL or TEFL course unless it is to sharpen knowledge for someone who has studied teaching at Uni.

My situation goes like this...

I am a 30 YO woman who is packing up to backpack around the world with an open mind as to where I want to go. From the age of 22-27, I could not do long term travel as I was unfortunate enough to get the big C at a young age and those years were spent in and out of hospital to fix up damage of bad operations etc..

I have since purchased a house at which I rent out and can give me a small income whilist travelling and will be selling my car and leaving Australia with around $15-20 G.

I am starting my trip in September and going to Bali for 3 weeks, then to Nepal (these are the only 2 tickets I have purchased) then planning to spend up tp 3 months in India and see how I go from there..

I have spoken to a friend who works on a holiday yacht throughout Malta and he is encoraging me to do a STCW95 course of which I plan only to do if and when I go to Europe (as it costs around $2,500 AUD or EUR 800) so I dont want to spend this much unless Europe is where I am heading..

I have found a TESOL TEFL course online for a good price through Global Leadership Travel and I am wondering if it is worth doing, as I may head to Africa and want to teach English there, or maybe faal in love with India and find the option there too..

Has anyone on thorntree done a TESOL or TEFL course and recommend it?

I would love to hear any suggestions :)

Hi

I did a TESOL TEFL, they are alright to have if you need proof of your english skills. For example if you are going to be teaching. Also they are not to expensive I did mine in Australia because I needed proof of my english skills for my work visa.
So if you know you will be teaching then it would be a good idea but if you are not going to do that you should not need it, unless you want to start at uni overseas :)
They to the test all over the world so if you happen to be in EU and realise you need it you can take it there too.

Regards
Erik

as it costs around $2,500 AUD or EUR 800

$2,500 AUD is about 1,950 EUR.

800 EUR is just over $1,000 AUD, so the STCW95 course might be a little cheaper than you think :-)

Is that the global leadership college one found for cheap on groupon? we're doing it too, and are wondering the same thing. lots of different opinions

Yes, there's a You Swoop (similar to Groupon) for Global Leadership College. I was wondering if it's legit and if anyone's got feedback from that specific program... Thanks!

There are countless threads here on TEFL. Use the search box at the top right of this page and you will find them.

Bottom line, an online course is about as useful as an online brain surgery course. That is assuming you care about how good a job you will be able to do for the students. Most of those who take an online course only care about whether it will get them paid work or not. That's between you and your conscience.

For example, as shown above, they will not teach you the difference between the words to and too. "they are not to expensive"+ and +"you can take it there too." One incorrect and one correct. But hey, he's got a Certificate that says he can teach.

The ability to speak English does NOT mean you are qualified to teach English. That's contrary to what a lot of people seem to think.

I just found these two reviews of the Global Leadership College TESOL program. It's only two reviews, but the first is very thorough... Something to consider!

"...an online course is about as useful as an online brain surgery course".

Thanks travelnstyle46 'tis oh so very, very true. Trust me, Emma. I did the research for months, ad NASEUM, and swiftly learned that if the course doesn't have an on site, hands-on teaching component, you'll be tossing your money down the drain. Any school worth a lick won't give a whit about your silly online TESOL/TEFL. Seriously.

Do not, repeat DO NOT take an online course. You'd be better off taking no EFL course at all.

Besides, for that kind of money, you could easily take the CELTA (the gold standard of EFL teaching). Indeed, you can take it in most any country on the globe.. And then you can verily write your own ticket and teach at a GOOD school most anywhere on the Planet.

This is presuming of course that you have a university degree.

In any case, after MONTHS of research, that's what I did. Sold every blessed thing I owned, bought a one way ticket to Vietnam, took the CELTA here in Saigon, and now...

Suffice my life simply couldn't be sweeter. I honestly have to pinch myself daily to believe this is now my life.

I got a 6 month contract with the school I took the CELTA at, learned a TON, and I dare say I'm now an excellent EFL teacher of all age students (from 5 yr. old adorable "Jumpstarts" to adults. I get paid 20 bucks/hr. (a fortune here in cheapo Asia), have a gorgeous apartment (with a/c, flat screen, cable, wifi, laundry and daily maid service), and... best of all:

In the past 6 months I've whizzed off to Sumatra for 3 weeks at Christmas, a week on the island of Phu Quoc for my birthday, a week at Angkor Wat, Cambodia, a week in Dalat, a few days at the beach in Mui Ne (all whilst teaching 'cuz all my classes are on Sat/Sun), and...

I'm now set to droop into Chaing Mai, Thailand for a bit, to check it out as a possible resettlement spot, and then on to a full month in Mongolia.

Upon my return in September, I can work most anywhere I please either here in Saigon, elsewhere in Vietnam, Thailand, China, Japan, Indonesia, younameit. Full time or part time (I prefer the latter, I only teach 12 hrs. per week as I too have a small side income) else dabble in a bit of private tutoring.

Sorry to blather, but I just hate to see you throw your money away, and end up with a hunk of paper that's worthless.

Teaching EFL around the world is FABULOUS. But do it right, take a month to get a decent EFL credential (that someone might even recognize), and my dear, like me, you'll go to bed each night (in some of the most exotic paradises on the globe) with a great big ol' SMILE on your face. I guarantee it!

(and if you want to know more, about the CELTA, the EFL teaching here in Vietnam, etc. - tune into my TravelnLass blog)

"I'm now set to droop into Chaing Mai"

Is that because of the high humidity travelnlass? ;)

On a more serious note you raise a good point travelnlass. While there are 'schools' who will hire someone with an online course certificate and no real skills, how likely it is that someone would get hired by a good school is another question.

There are 2 things to bear in mind. There is no such thing as a recognized international body that certifies TEFL courses or teachers. Many courses advertise that their courses are certified and that is simply not true. What that tells you is something about the course provider but even more importantly, raises the question that if certification doesn't exist then on what basis does a reputable school base their hiring decision? The answer obviously is on their own perception of the course/certificate you have.

So in simple terms, hiring is done based on how ACCEPTED your certificate is by any given school. Every school has heard of CELTA but how many do you think have heard of all the little mickey mouse online courses?

"I'm now set to droop into Chaing Mai"

Is that because of the high humidity travelnlass? ;)

LOL, yup, it's extremely hot and droopy here in Saigon, so I'm looking to relocate in the highlands of Dalat or Chiang Mai. ;)

so I'm looking to relocate in the highlands of Dalat or Chiang Mai. ;)

Until it is winter in Chiang Mai and you have to deal with the burning trash and air pollution so thick you can't breath.

Ruth

The old tea planters in India had it right everbrite. Up into the mountains in the summer and down into the valleys in the winter.

Chiang Mai in April and May can be very unpleasant, because it really can be as hot as hell there in those months. 38-40C (100-104F), high humidity, and not a breath of wind. Also high risk of bad air quality in March-May as mentioned above, due to smoke drifting across from the burning of grass and scrub in neighboring Myanmar.

It's lovely at other times though! Especially November - February :-)

Thanks for the advice all, but I'm well aware of the blight of Chiang Mai's "burning season". Besides, like most Chiang Mai farangs, I'd simply "get out of dodge" for a spell for those 3 months.

But as I said, it is just as likely (perhaps even more so) that I'll settle in Dalat.

Now then, back on topic - wonder what emma has decided about the online TESOL...

So I have loved reading about the opportunities that are available, and I truly wish I had done some proper studies (like studying teaching at uni) but 5 years study is not really an option for me now. I have decided that I will see how I go without the TEFL/ TESOL course until the time comes that I feel I may truly need it. As in, take the course I the need arises within a country I have the opportunity to teach with this certificate.

The life you live travelnlas is something I dream of, but I do
not have the backround needed to do that.

To others doing the Groupon certificate- I think that if it's online, get it when u need it and save the cash in the off chance that you don't. That money can go a long way in Asia..

I did an online TEFL and I do not recommend it... I didn't learn anything and it was just a piece of paper to help get a job but not really necessary for that either.

If you're serious about teaching an in classroom TEFL or TESOL is helpful but they are quite expensive and do not gaurantee any job placement (even if they say they will).

Sounds like a fine plan Emma, as long as you have a bit of a stash (which it sounds like you do at least if you hang out in cheapo Asia and steer clear of Europe/the U.S.). Moving around can be a bit expensive though, so you'll likely want to travel S.L.O.W. (i.e. stay in one spot for awhile before moving on to a new sandbox) so as to stretch your travel beans as far as possible until you find your bliss (i.e. a teaching gig or whatever).

Just one tne thing I want to clear up/make clear - though a university degree is highly recommended (mainly for competing for EFL jobs in the good schools, along with often required for long term work permits, etc.) - you do not, repeat DO NOT, need a TEACHING degree per se. Not at all. Any ol' degree will do, even basket-weaving as long as it a legit accredited degree (and yes, the good schools WILL check for an apostilled original).

In any case, I wish you all the best in your wanderings. No doubt bountiful adventures and amazing experiences lie ahead.

There is no way these reviews are real. I am taking this course right now, and it's okay, but not professional. They sneak in questions about jesus and "the good book" every other sentence and I'm not sure there's actually a lot of value in the course. I have no issue with christianity but it's bizarre to take a course that's so heavily flavored with it in every lesson- I would have appreciated knowing that before paying for it. (ok my mom did, having no idea that it was definitely a shit course.)

There are literally questions where you need to AGREE with the premise of christianity in order to answer them correctly, which to me seems really inappropriate for an international course that will naturally attract non-christians.

there are better courses for your money. As far as the rest of it goes, the website is wonky for me. I frequently receive exams and quizzes before their corresponding lessons- with no way to access the lessons until I take the quiz, and of course, do poorly on it. The lessons themselves are often overly pedantic.

If you do things wrong, you can't access the lessons or quizzes to review and figure it out. Just, too bad, so sad!

I'm also 100% sure they plant a lot of reviews online talking about how much their course has helped people, b/c I tried leaving my angsty note several places as a warning to others. no employer would take this course seriously.

I purchased the same TESOL course through Groupon for $60, and it is terrible. There are many questions on the quizzes and tests that were not covered in the lessons, yes the actual website is very glitchy and sometimes hard to use, and feedback from the administrators is hardly quick or professional. I would highly recommend NOT using this course. That being said, I have already invested a lot of time into it, so I plan to complete it, but if I had read the reviews of it as I should have beforehand, I would have happily passed on it. I would like to ask those who are teaching overseas and loving it if the CELTA is the consensus way to go. I have heard that sometimes you don't need one with an actual degree, but I want to be as qualified as possible. I already have 2 AS, a BS, and a MBA, but none of it is in education, and truth be told, I would rather teach other subjects than English. One caveat, for those that have degrees from an american college, did you have to get your diplomas or transcripts certified? I read something about the State Department stamping your diplomas so that overseas schools will accept them. Anyone know about this? Thanks so much for answering.

I have to agree with cmpeters. I bought the TESOL course through Groupon as well, because my husband and I are relocating to Europe and I thought this would be a nice certification to have in my back pocket. Just FYI, I have a BS and an MS in Electrical Engineering and work towards a PhD in the same. I have countless hours of technical writing under my belt and I'm also a published author... Here's what I found:
1. There is a TON of useless information about the origins of the English language. My understanding is that this is to teach you to speak English, not write a doctoral thesis on it.
2. The instructors are probably overloaded. I did get answers to most of my questions, but usually it was just to reset the quiz/lesson and let me try again. I even received one explanation that was, basically, "Because I said it's that way and so it's that way..." I still don't know why I received partial credit for answers that I'm SURE are correct.
3. Starting in Unit 2, there are thinly veiled references to Christianity. The Good News, The High One, Repenting for your sins and seeking Joy instead of Pleasure. There was even a discussion on the Tower of Babel as the beginning of all languages. I found that the 'hidden' references made it positively creepy -- as if I was being indoctrinated into a cult.
4. The useful mechanics of the language was so basic that I aced every single one of them without even looking at the material. I do have to admit that I finally know how to use 'lie' / 'lay' and 'sit' / 'set' correctly, so I'll give them that.
5. The web interface is terrible and can only be accessed through Firefox. And, halfway through my course, they completely changed the look and feel and I have no idea where anything is. The Customer Service numbers are useless as is any kind of email support.

Even for $60, this is a rip-off. I, too, was going to struggle through and finish it, but my time is too valuable. I'm off to try something else.

Ciao, tutti!

I know this is a fairly old post, but STCW is a life saving certification course required if you are embarking on a career aboard a sea-going vessel. It has nothing to do with TESOL or TEFL or CELTA or any of the other language certifications. I'm a USCG certified captain with STCW certification.