Online certificates in TESOL/ TEFL?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by laferney, May 15, 2007.

Loading...
  1. laferney

    laferney Active Member

    Can anyone recommend a good inexpensive TESOL online training course? I've researched it. There are many online -ranging from 59 dollars to a couple thousand dollars and taking from a month to up to a year to complete. It is an "unregulated" field in that there is no accrediting body for these programs. I'm not interested in a degree program. I like to teach and am looking in to this as the Boston Globe ran an article about the need for teachers of English for foreign students and immigrants in the USA. A Bachelor's degree in any subject and a certificate is usually required. Is there one anybody can recommend? Thanks in advance for any responses.
     
  2. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    Are you looking for a Graduate Certificate or an undergraduate certificate? Or does certificate imply some type of certification leading to professional licensure exams?
     
  3. laferney

    laferney Active Member

    I'm not looking for a degree or college certificate- I'm looking for a short program for the private sector. Some examples of these are:
    http://www.tesolonline.com/tesol-online/online.html

    http://www.teflonline.com/?gclid=CJHj1a2im4wCFRyOFQod4BNp6g

    http://www.onlinetefl.com/

    http://www.aacircle.com.au/tesl_tefl.htm

    Teaching (TESOL) in public schools requires a Masters degree and state certification.
    In the private sector a Bachelor's in any field with a private certificate is accepted.
    Anyond done one of these ?
     
  4. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    Teaching in the public schools varies from state-to-state but generally requires a bachelor's degree, certification/licensure, and a specialized ESOL endorsement.

    Teaching ESL pedagogy at the post-secondary level would require a master's or more. Teaching ESL at the post-secondary wouldn't require the same level but instead a proven ability to get results quickly.

    In the private sector, most employers want candidates to have a bachelor's degree in anything, to be a native English speaker (American English is considered a different language in many countries than "English"), and to have completed some training in ESL methods.

    The Cambridge CELTA certificate is probably the leading certification for private industry ESL folk. It's not offered online. That said, many employers of ESL folk have no clue about certificate programs and could really care less, they're just looking for people willing to accept the working conditions and will provide the training they require.

    You have to be very careful when seeking employment in other countries, some are very particular about whether you can claim training that isn't approved by some specific body. Making a mistake here could put you in jail for fraud.

    If you want to teach here in the states then what you have to do is qualify according to the institution you're are wanting to teach at. This is not really an unregulated field entirely. It's very regulated when the body teaching is a public school system or a college.

    One reason why there is a shortage of people to teach the immigrant population ESL/EFL in the US is because this field tends to pay very little. If it were lucrative, there would be more people attempting this as a business start-up. In many communities, ESL teachers are volunteers in social services agencies. Some argue that if the field paid a touch better, results would be improved by the better quality instructors attracted.

    So, if you're motivated to enter this field, research a bit who is doing ESL in your community. Check with the local schools and the local community college. Find out which social services have a program. Ask them what they require of instructors. There is one agency here that will provide training to about anyone who wants to help.

    Expect that any professionally valid program will have a supervised student teaching component - that makes DL a bit of a challenge.
     
  5. laferney

    laferney Active Member

    Thanks Coach Turner for the advice. Although the Boston Globe says there is a need for this I didn't see any jobs in the paper today. It had pointed out that Boston as an "international" city has a need in the business community for teachers. It appears opportunities are more abundant if one is williing to go to another country.
     
  6. james_lankford

    james_lankford New Member

    be very wary of online courses.

    I took the CELTA course. A main part of it was actually teaching for two weeks. CELTA ran ads in Chinese and Spanish neighborhood newspapers seeking students for free ESL classes. The reason the classes were free is because they were being taught by the student teachers in the CELTA program. We had to make lesson plans and teach classes ot 8 - 15 students of various levels. That is why CELTA is so well respected. The teachers have actual classroom experience.


    Here is a job posting from craigslist. You see that they are asking for a TESOL certificate, but they don't mention what kind. A certificate is helpful, but experience counts a lot too. There are MANY places here in NYC where you can volunteer without a certificate. I'm sure area is similar. http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/edu/338036072.html

    "A small, private language center located in midtown Manhattan is looking for 2 instructors to fill summer positions teaching Intermediate ESL classes.

    Morning Classes: June 11th – August 16th, Mondays – Thursdays 9:30 – 11:30am
    Afternoon Classes: July 16th – August 16th, Mondays – Thursdays 1:30 – 4:30pm

    Ideal candidate will have at least a BA in any field, TESOL/TEFL certificate, and previous ESL experience.

    This is a summer-only position with the possibility of continuing part-time on a different schedule in the fall. Compensation is $14/hour. Interested candidates should send a resume to the email address above. Be sure to specify which position you are applying for."
     

Share This Page