I need to pick your brains about TEFL courses please!

[Rhubarb]

I want to do one. But searching under TEFL brings me a huge list of online programmes offering courses from as little as £99. Then other courses that are charging up to £450. All say they are accredited. But how do I know which one to go for? The more expensive one looks good and has it's base near Carlisle, which is good for me, but I can't afford the price. The cheaper ones therefore look more tempting, but how genuine are they?

Which certificate will employers be looking for?

I have got a TEFL qualification, I know they are expensive but go for the face to face qualification, if they are any good it will be based in a language shcool and you will get etaching practice aswell which is hugely important, the titirs will also be able to give you advice and show you different teaching techniques. Good Luck, i really enjoyed doing and teaching

Ta. Am searching now but they are all hideously expensive

I have taught and worked employing English language teachers. If you're going abroad it's less important but if you are teaching in the UK, make sure you get the Cambridge (CELTA) or the Trinity TEFL certificate. Otherwise it's going to be loads harder to get a job.

I have a Trinity TESOL - in many countries that or a CELTA are the only accepted qualifications. A face to face course is definitely best - some colleges do them over a year or so and you can pay like that too.

Do you have an idea of where you'd like to use it? Maybe you could contact someone there for advice?

Hi, I am a TEFL teacher, I have CELTA (Cambridge )- it was a one month full time course with theory and teaching practice.

TBH it depends where and what type of teaching you are planning to do.

If you are planning to go abroad, certainly CELTA is well received.

If you want to teach in the UK, will you being teaching EFL? (generally to short term visitors to UK - work tends to be in private langague schools), or ESL ?(English for immigrants, in local colleges, free courses funded by government)

Hi,
As others have said, when I did mine I was advised to do either a Trinity or Cambridge one, with a min 30 hours classroom time as part of the course, but I think it varies depending on what country you go to. My tutors recommend the cactus and guardian sites for advice.
Good luck and HTH

I did a Celta ( I think it was) in a month. full time doesn't even cover it - Hardest bloody month of my life but worth it in th end.

I've just come onto MN straight from looking up courses. Had a boring day at work, and it's something I've always fancied. What a coincidence that someone else started a thread on it.

The one I'm looking at is at Glasgow uni, is four weeks full time and costs £1,000. But it looks like really, really hard work. Lots of prep and pre-course reading...

I have the concentration span of a gnat, and I'm not sure that I'm up to it. Do you ladies who have done the course now work in a related field?

Muddle, I was looking at that one too!
Looking at teaching in the UK. I don't mind the study, I just don't have a spare £1,000 to hand.

Hi, yes I have worked as an EFL/ ESL teacher for over 10 years (very old)

Working in the public sector definately pays more (apx 20 pounds an hour).

I would contact local colleges/ universities and see what qualifications they are looking for.

I have, they want the Trinity/Cambridge cert.

Did this years ago - the one month intensive. Did a PGCE five years later and the TEFL cert taught more about teaching in one month than the PGCE did in nine.

Do career development loans still exist? Yes, it is a lot of money but the right course will give you a great foundation. Have you approached any of the places, with good courses, to see if they have any advice on funding?

Could enquire I guess.

Or sell my body.

Rhubarb, will we do it together in November? You'd get £200 ILA money (or £100 if you earn more than 18k) so that will bring it down to £800. Which is still dear, but I think it would be false economy to do a cheap course if it wouldn't get you anywhere.

I was looking at the one that did it in the summer hols as I'm working muddle.

Unfortunately dh is not convinced that it will lead to a decent job.

Your DH could be right, it tends to be full time (9-3) in private language schools but on much lower rates. Or in Local Authority colleges (Adult colleges particularly) hourly paid, contract work. Often you might start with only 10 hours a week,or less, demand for evening teachers is always highest.

I found that the longer you stay somewhere the more hours you get (if you want), as a part time career with young kids, I have found it fantastic, as a full time job to earn money - not so good.

Having said that if you live in London there are always ads in the Guardian Ed, for full time ESOL teachers - seem to pay quite well.

My problem with hourly paid contract hours was no holiday pay, no sick pay etc.

I agree about the CELTA it was fantastic, really inspired me to start teaching.

Well I live in North Cumbria, but I only need part time work. I just want a job that I enjoy, that I have some element of control over.

I guess though, that paying out a grand is no good if you're not going to make the money back.

Back to the drawing board!

Don't give up yet, I lived in Lancaster until last year, and for part time - I think it's a great job. You can earn a much better hourly rate than most part time jobs

Thanks hellish!

It's also very rewarding and you do have a lot of control over what you do.

With all the newcomers to UK, and the government starting to insist on them learning English, there will probably be quite a lot of work out there.

I am abit out of touch now as I moved to Canada 18 months ago.

I did CTEFLA, now called CELTA. Much more worth while than my PCGE MFL which taught me bugger all about teaching. If you want perm. work in the UK though, you'd need to look at the Dip. or an MA Applied Linguistics.