Do you think your TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate is worth it?

Are TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificates worth it?

lipofootoo said:

Are TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificates worth it?

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There are several discussions on the value of certificates in this forum. You have already said that you think CELTA is better in this thread: CELTA v. Online Courses.

Better than online courses yeah. But I am here looking for opinions on the matter.

Well then you'd better be a bit more precise than, "Are TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificates worth it?"

If you are interested in working in TEFL, then of course a CELTA or Trinity CertTesol is worth having - they open the doors to some job opportunities that otherwise remain closed.

Is that what you mean?

Right that's what they say, however, what percentage of the job pool for ESL teachers do you think that those jobs occupy?

lipofootoo said:

Right that's what they say, however, what percentage of the job pool for ESL teachers do you think that those jobs occupy?

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I have no idea.

I do know that it is very difficult to find a job in TEFL in a reputable school in the United Kingdom without a CELTA or Trinity Dip TESOL. It is difficult in most of Europe to find a job without some form of teaching certificate that has involved a course of 100+ hours and observed teaching practice.

The CELTA was mentioned by name in 60% of the job adverts I looked at when looking at this:
Some qualifications are more equal than others - Tdol's English Language Blog

It is the number one qualification asked for, so I would say it is worth it.

I'd say in my experience teaching in Asia, that they are less than 10%. Most schools are just looking for a degree.

lip420 said:

I'd say in my experience teaching in Asia, that they are less than 10%. Most schools are just looking for a degree.

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Of 62 jobs in Asia on tefl.com five minutes ago, 28 mentioned CELTA and 13 the Trinity Cert.

The original question wasn't confined to Asia.

So what, in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan those requirements are rare. The majority of schools require what the gov't does and that is just a degree and to be a native speaker. TEFL/TESOL/CELTA is not required by the gov't. And only rarely do schools require that. That is the about 10% or less.

China is slightly different and schools will ask more for that, however, ironically you can also teach in China without a degree.

lip420 said:

So what, in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan those requirements are rare. ...TEFL/TESOL/CELTA is not required by the gov't. And only rarely do schools require that. That is the about 10% or less.

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That may be the case when one is there. However, many people applyiing for their jobs do so through sites like tefl.com, and there the figures for Asia appear to be about 45%.

You asked for our opinions, lip420, but seem to be interested only in discounting them and putting forward your views on the situation in Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

ps I have just tried tefl.com again; the figures for those ads mentioning CELTA were:

China – 19/42: 45%
Japan – 2/4: 50%
South Korea – 2/9: 22%

lip420 said:

So what

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Please don't talk like this.

What's Tefl.com selling?

It is an advertising center for those sorts of courses.

Here's the story they're telling on their website:

"Gone are the days when any native English speaker seeking a life of travel and adventure could pursue a successful career as a Teacher of English as a Foreign/Second Language without experience or qualifications. Almost all employers now seek teachers with a TEFL/TESL qualification plus experience, in addition to a first degree. Many even insist on an MA Linguistics/TEFL/TESL postgraduate qualification."

That's not the truth in Northeast Asia.

Most people I met teaching in Korea, Taiwan, Japan and China had no background in teaching or a TEFL/TESOL certification. Most just had degrees (in any discipline), and some didn't even have that.

To any potential teachers who are still with us, I must make a few things clear. lip420 is of course entitled to their opinion, but the facts are:

It is virtually impossible to obtain a teaching job in EFL/ESOL at a reputable school in the United Kingdom without a CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find a teaching job in EFL/ESOL at a reputable school in continental Europe without a qualification that has required at leat 100 hours of training, with a minimum of 6+hours of observed teaching. Many reputable schools value CELTA and the Trinity CertTESOL more than other certificates (whether this faith is justified or not is not really relevant. Would-be teachers need to understand what the situation is.) In the university sector and in the American side of the business, a Master's degee is a great help.

Rather more than the 10% of establishments that lip420 keeps talking about mention CELTA in their ads on sites such as tefl.com.

OK - those are the facts.

Now:

What's Tefl.com selling?
It is an advertising center for those sorts of courses.
Here's the story they're telling on their website:

"Gone are the days when any native English speaker seeking a life of travel and adventure could pursue a successful career as a Teacher of English as a Foreign/Second Language without experience or qualifications. Almost all employers now seek teachers with a TEFL/TESL qualification plus experience, in addition to a first degree. Many even insist on an MA Linguistics/TEFL/TESL postgraduate qualification."

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Like most sites around, tefl.com almost certainly does make money from advertising courses. However, the words that I have coloured blue are becoming increasingly true for all reputable employers. Think about it - would you have any faith in an organisation that employs you as a teacher when you have no teaching qualification at all?

If you are interested only in bumming your way round the world, supporting yourself by charging people for the privilege of spending time with you under the guise of 'teaching English', then you will indeed find people without many scruples who will employ you. Some of them may even pay you what they promised - if you are lucky.

usingenglish.com makes no money at all from recommending CELTA, the Trinity CertTESOL, or any organisation offering a course of at least 100 hours plus at least six hours of observed teaching. Indeed, usingenglish.com does not recommend any course - some of us, as individual members, do, Those of us who recommend that potential teachers take such courses do so because we know from experience that it is almost impossible to embark on a serious career without such beginners' qualifications.