Thread: Looking to do a T.E.F.L course which one is the best ?

I went to TEFL Intercontinental in Pattaya. They were decent people and they placed me in a job 2 years ago that I like and am still working. It was worth every baht I paid. I still had to find my own method of teaching, but their course was pretty good and it fulfilled the requirement.

Originally Posted by theface

I am looking for a tefl course , heard adout Ban Phe ,Pattaya and Chiang mai .
I met a dude that did it in Ban phe , said it was good .
Is there a better course or do you think i should do it there ?

anywhere is good if it makes you know it's called TOEFL

... well, given that TOEFL is TOEFL and TEFL is TEFL and that they are utterly different from each other I'd say you must be a tefler, which is similar to TEFLON only more seems to stick to that...

why not IELTS?

Don't bother with TELF etc, these are mickey mouse now, do a CELTA, it's given more credit internationally and you can teach all over the world with. If you're a real smart arse then do a DELTA (it's hard though) and land a really decent job someplace like the British Council or international school etc.

You can do a CELTA in Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket, it's a one month course, 9am-5pm, lots to do and lots of observed teaching. The reason it's (CELTA) given more credit internationally is because you can fail it, can't fail a TEFL.

Google them both and compare but it is worth mentioning that the CELTA is Cambridge's teacher training certificate and all over Asia "Cambridge" is a magic word that opens all sorts of doors. Oxford do one as well but it isn't known so well.

Do a CELTA.

celta

Originally Posted by Spitfire

Do a CELTA.

Disagree totally. The CELTA does not really teach you how to teach. Depending on where you do your TEFL certification, you will end up being a much more rounded teacher.
Personally I have not found that the acronym CELTA opens any more doors than a decent TEFL.

It seems as thought the Brits are acronym crazy and the Americans are making up new words as they go along. Had birthday dinner last night with my two daughters and was continually suprised at the number of new words that they made up during the conversation. If it sounds good and meets the syntax criterion--they use it. Example: Julie's parties are
"funner" than Jim's parties.
Went out fishing for "carpin"on Saturday night. (means they smoked weed)
Look up--funner and carpin in the Oxford dictionary.

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

Personally I have not found that the acronym CELTA opens any more doors than a decent TEFL.

You've 'personally found' that?

So you did a CELTA, and applied for jobs.

Then you did a TEFL and applied for jobs, not mentioning your CELTA.

Your dedication to research is admirable. Tell us more.

In particular, can you give more details about the weaknesses of the CELTA course that you took.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

Personally I have not found that the acronym CELTA opens any more doors than a decent TEFL.

You've 'personally found' that?

So you did a CELTA, and applied for jobs.

Then you did a TEFL and applied for jobs, not mentioning your CELTA.

Your dedication to research is admirable. Tell us more.

In particular, can you give more details about the weaknesses of the CELTA course that you took.

Fatuous comments Cyrille.

I have a BA. Dip Ed. Grad Dip Work ed. Grad Dip Comp and a TEFL. I think with over 30 years teaching, (how many do you have?) that I am qualified to discuss the validity or otherwise of a language course. The CELTA does NOT teach you methodolgy on how to teach kids. It is a British based, conservative course which does not use modern teaching methodologies. I have sat in on a number of CELTA classes and have trained a number of CELTA teachers. So, have I told you enough?

Of course, it depends WHERE and WHO your TEFL teacher is; but then again, the same rider applies to CELTA.

Comment to spitfire: a CELTA or a DELTA on its own will Not get you a job at an international school!

"Non fail"? That shows you how little you know. As someone who has been a principal in Thailand, and has taught for over 30 years in Australia, Germany and Laos, I guess "yes", I know "jack shit" about teaching qualifications. Tell me, what do you know about the CELTA? Are you a Brit by any chance that you support a poorly designed, archaic course because it is British? I would gather from your limited use of vocabulary and your incorrect usage of grammar that you are not a teacher? Or maybe your vocabulary is limited because you did a CELTA?

I love these ajarn fights about is a 3 week TEFL as good as a 1 month CELTA??

CELTA has more letters, but TEFL is neater

I LOVE THESE THREADS. Oh yearning for the days of ajarn.com lol

"I love these ajarn fights about is a 3 week TEFL as good as a 1 month CELTA??"

Most TEFLs are at least 4 weeks these days. Some are 6.
I notice Spitfire did not address any of the points I made. CELTAs are good for teaching you grammar and how to create lesson plans; they are weak when it comes to addressing classroom technique - how to cope with kids, how to teach in mixed ability classes etc. Also the courses are very set in terms of curriculum; there is very little initiative available for the trainer to tailor the course to the participants. All in all, it comes down to who is teaching the course.

No sense starting a pissing match VB, we just disagree. BTW, not true about classroom technique, it's one of the most important parts of the CELTA, well, the one I was on anyhow. Depends where you do them (CELTA and TEFL), not all the places are the same, ECC does a decent CELTA course and are given more credit internationally than TEFL, look it up dude, Ajarn.com will tell you. Don't get me wrong though, TEFL is OK as well, depends on the individual and how competent they are in the first place. Maybe I was a bit damning in the first post, it was 12:54 am . Enough from me as this is a subject with no conclusion as those with a TEFL will defend the TEFL and those with a CELTA will defend the CELTA, it's a case of opinions are like arseholes, everyone has got one, that's why I didn't bother replying swiftly, however, having thought about it then decided to reply as no harm can be done and the truth is an elusive concept, as always. Another sideline benefit of a CELTA is the magic words of "Cambridge" on the paper and we all know how hopelessly brainwashed the Thais/Asians are to institutional names etc, regardless of how silly that is. These extra qualifications do little other than open doors for you as many/most places will not allow you to really use the ESOL skills properly due to class size/management interference/Thai educational dogma and practice etc, the list goes on. So actually, it's all bollox because most places you work in, with the exception of real international schools in Bangkok etc, will not give you a conducive environment to practice these skills effectively anyhow as most schools are run as businesses rather than educational facilities. I could go on but won't insult everyone's experience and intelligence etc.

Originally Posted by Vientianeboy

"I love these ajarn fights about is a 3 week TEFL as good as a 1 month CELTA??"

Most TEFLs are at least 4 weeks these days. Some are 6.
I notice Spitfire did not address any of the points I made. CELTAs are good for teaching you grammar and how to create lesson plans; they are weak when it comes to addressing classroom technique - how to cope with kids, how to teach in mixed ability classes etc. Also the courses are very set in terms of curriculum; there is very little initiative available for the trainer to tailor the course to the participants. All in all, it comes down to who is teaching the course.

and a 6 minute abs video is sooooo much better than a 7 minute abs video

As many far wiser than I have said before... what you put in is what you get out. The real learning starts when you get your own classroom and start figuring out how what you learned applies to how you can actually apply it. (doesn't it?) And then, the same rule applies... what you put in is what you get out.

One of my best psych professors talked about a certain magic which exists in the bond between teacher and student. It is in that magic that the real learning takes place. I agree, and maybe someday I will figure that out...

What have you got Willy?A two minute finger extension course?

yes i do belive my presense in a classroom will be a blessing to any student.
But I guess primary target will be females age 18-20. I can do a world of good to youngster in that distressing age.
Apart from my excellent teaching skills, my pleasant and giving natur is a winner. But although im a giver, and a lover, a sign of appreciation, like a good salary is deaply appreciated.
Any info regarding a top noch educational institution for young ladies in Pattaya.
I feel the urge to educate and shear,.. so many things to so many
but with so little time i have to be selective

i do miss that crazy country, despite all the crazy stuff

maybe a tf.. course is something
john gleese as the principal

I'm afraid to say that many of you are or at least appear to be functionally illiterate. When you are making simple errors in choice of word, tense, basic verb-noun agreement, and spelling, I sense you have more ambition than ability. A program with an entrance exam and a final exam would go a long way to ensure quality English teachers are available.