Is an online TEFL certificate worth it?

[zboy1]

Hi guys. I want to know--is an online TEFL certificate worth the cost and if it is, which TEFL school would you recommend? Another option is the online TESOL certificate. Which is better TEFL or TESOL? If I could, I know the in-class TESOL certificate is the best option--but I don't have the money or time to take that course. I'd rather just start with the online certificate since I already have a bachelors degree and don't really need the in-class option to get a teaching job. I'd rather just get the in-class TESOL certification after I'm overseas and teaching.

[eurobrat]

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[Mr S]

These guys are best known for brick and mortar instruction or Online in regards to TEFL. I don't think the online was available when I did my training. I think in person is better than online when it comes to learning how to teach cause everything is already arranged for you. Online, you have to eventually arrange your own teaching in one way or another to meet the minimum training hrs allotment. If your not already teaching that can be a pain in the ass.

http://www.teflinternational.com/

I decided on them and went to their Ban Phe head quarters in Thailand. It was a pretty good experience. Just hard enough to make it interesting without major stresses unlike what I hear CELTA enrollees deal with.

If you go there take one of the outside huts rather than a room inside, it's a better experience and you have more privacy.

Remind you I finished mine back in 2003...

[Ghost]

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[Taco]

An online TEFL certificate is fine if your planning on teaching in China, its one of the few countries that doesn't give a damn about academic credentials.

[jagulep]

How long does it take to do a CELTA course? How much will it cost?

If you then teach English online after that, what will it be like?
Say, how many hours a week are u likely to get at an average, how much money r u gonna get for those hours, how boring/interesting is it, can u just keep doing it without running out of money, going insane, etc?

I mean, I'd consider doing a TEFL/CELTA course but I'd like to know how things are likely to pan out, rather than some vague "oh, just try it - it's kind of good and kind of bad, it costs some money but u might make some, depends on many factors..." And don't say "it's hard to say", just give us your own experience if u've done it.

Some more CLEAR answers, please!

[Mr S]

How long does it take to do a CELTA course? How much will it cost?

If you then teach English online after that, what will it be like?
Say, how many hours a week are u likely to get at an average, how much money r u gonna get for those hours, how boring/interesting is it, can u just keep doing it without running out of money, going insane, etc?

I mean, I'd consider doing a TEFL/CELTA course but I'd like to know how things are likely to pan out, rather than some vague "oh, just try it - it's kind of good and kind of bad, it costs some money but u might make some, depends on many factors..." And don't say "it's hard to say", just give us your own experience if u've done it.

Some more CLEAR answers, please!

All of what you have asked has been discussed numerous times in other posts. To keep spinning one's wheels explaining what is involved in English teaching or taking a CELTA/TEFL certification program every time a newbie posts without doing any previous posting research is kind of monotonous.

[jagulep]

It's simple enough to answer a simple question. I've searched a lot. Ladislav has made a good post. He put things simply: he made $300 a week teaching online in the Philippines and that helped. I saw no post saying how much a CELTA certificate costs on here, I only saw the price of a TEFL certificate. If you know the answers to my simple questions u could post them in less words than it takes to talk in circles not saying the answers or mention the links. If you don't know the answers, no need to post mentioning u won't say them.

[ph_visitor]

I have a CELTA. It helps in some nations, others don't care.

But all care if you have SOME training to teach ESL.

So if you plan to do this, then get the cert that teaches you to a standard that is recognised and get the CELTA.

It's $2,000 to $4,000 including room board and books.

You won't be able to do anything other than sleep and the cert during the 5 weeks. It is very intensive. It's a graduate level course squeezed into 5 weeks, Cambridge sends someone out to audit each course mid-way, and they have 2 trainers who took the DELTA as your instructors.

In China they want any cert. In Japan, Korea, ME, they want a CELTA or similar.

[provocateur]

I have a CELTA.

It's $2,000 to $4,000 including room board and books.

ph_visitor: Where did you take the course? Can you give a good weblink of how to find a CELTA course? I just want to make sure to avoid the scheisster, fly-by-night outfits out there. I noticed to you spelled "recognised" with the s, not a z. Is this CELTA typically what Brits take, or is this the gold standard for teaching English internationally. I'll do some of my own research here...but would gladly take your recommendations.

[lip420]

Hi guys. I want to know--is an online TEFL certificate worth the cost and if it is, which TEFL school would you recommend? Another option is the online TESOL certificate. Which is better TEFL or TESOL? If I could, I know the in-class TESOL certificate is the best option--but I don't have the money or time to take that course. I'd rather just start with the online certificate since I already have a bachelors degree and don't really need the in-class option to get a teaching job. I'd rather just get the in-class TESOL certification after I'm overseas and teaching.

I'll add my response as I think it might help someone. It depends on the school and the job. Most positions in Asia require a degree and to be a native speaker, yet some might require or prefer that you have a certificate especially if you don't have experience.

TEFL and TESOL refers to the same thing. I'd say most positions in Asia: China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand... are not going to care if the course was online or not. Sure there may be a few, but usually those that care about that are going to be top schools that also require experience, teaching qualifications, master's degrees... And so if you don't have that you most likely will not get a job in a school like that even if you have a CELTA.

The guy who asked this question made a good point. You can always get further qualification later if you want. It doesn't make sense investing a bunch of money on something that you may only do for a year or two. So I'd say an online cert is suitable most of the time in Eastern Asia.

Here's a video about a cheap and effective online course:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJhKRNJmVdk

[Vegascook]

Certification of some type is necessary to secure the better pay rates according to the research I've done. The CELTA seems like the best option for me since I would like to teach English overseas for an extended period of time. The cost is listed at about $2700 for the course and is available in online, part time, or full time options. I'm in the process of tying up loose ends here in Las Vegas before I sell my home and get set for relocating overseas. Does anyone have advice in regards to working in China as an English teacher?

[Cornfed]

Certification of some type is necessary to secure the better pay rates according to the research I've done. The CELTA seems like the best option for me since I would like to teach English overseas for an extended period of time. The cost is listed at about $2700 for the course and is available in online, part time, or full time options.

On the subject of CELTA, my advice would be to do the full time, face to face course. It is like boot camp, and that is why it is respected. Also, you learn stuff, which is always good.

I'm in the process of tying up loose ends here in Las Vegas before I sell my home and get set for relocating overseas. Does anyone have advice in regards to working in China as an English teacher?

Well, I was only a teacher in China for a few months, but if you asked more specific questions, I might be able to help.

[Ghost]

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[xiongmao]

I did the part-time CELTA earlier this year. It was hard work, but also fun at times.

The trouble is that English teacher has a job status equivalent to janitor back in the UK, so I just wonder why I bothered getting the CELTA to be honest. Most of the people on the course were transients, and only 2-3 of us had careers.

One big plus to the course: it improved my self confidence enormously and after taking the lead in job interviews I landed an alpha job back home.