Anyone qualified/working using TEFL or similar

[SpongeBobJudgeyPants]

Particularly recently? Considering doing the course, and getting conflicting advice. Online, an admittedly fairly basic search suggests that organisations with no skin in the game prefer the TEFL qualification, but student teacher DD and someone else has suggested that the newer Celta may be better? Or Telsar? I am a bit bewildered now, and loathe to invest money in something to get an income, then found I have boobed. The idea would be to use it for Zoom lessons, telephone if required, and when all this is over, some face to face. Any info gratefully received.

I have TEFL but did it in the dark ages (mid 90s) and haven’t worked in that field for a long time but definitely do a ‘proper’ course not a quick online 20 hours or similar. Mine was an academic year, part time

That's interesting Costa. From a brief read, the 120 hr course is recommended, or I can do a level 5 160(?) hr course, with the Tefl org themselves. Did you work for yourself, when you used it, or for some organisation, if you don't mind me asking? Would you have done the same qualification now, if that makes sense?

I don’t know much about the other qualifications tbh, yes I’d do my course again because I think you need that time to get to grips with everything involved, including teaching practice. I don’t think a short fix is enough

I used to work for an agency, mostly one to one classes for adults working in the U.K. for 2-5 years, in their workplace. I did some classes with groups of students of different nationalities which were more enjoyable

Thanks Costa. Would you say it was generally worth it, and you enjoyed it?

I've done it, although not remotely.

If you're looking at working remotely, then you probably want to look at which organisations you're planning to apply to and see what they require in terms of qualifications.

If you're looking to find freelance clients (students) then it probably doesn't matter which course you do - IME most people searching for a language course aren't experts in what qualifications are good or not. But it might be harder to be competitive among other freelance remote teachers if they have qualifications and experience you don't.

In terms of which courses are worth the money - Cambridge CELTA and Trinity TESOL. Anything called TEFL is (most likely) a load of generic rubbish. It won't harm you but it might be a waste of money. The content of CELTA and TESOL are really solid and will stand you in good stead, although they must be tricky to do remotely.

For actual work abroad, IME/what I've heard from other EFL teachers is that Asia tends to want a degree, they are less fussed about the language teaching qualification. European schools tend to want CELTA or TESOL, but a few don't care and will hire you because you're a native speaker. I have CELTA, but my last school was like this - they never asked to see it. These schools have typically favoured UK citizens because it was EU, but post Brexit, that probably isn't valid any more so you'll be in competition with Americans, Australians, Canadians etc.

A generic "TEFL qualification" won't qualify you to work anywhere by itself. You'll also need the native fluency and sometimes a degree.

Once you have some experience - remote or IRL - you are more employable, as with anything.

Thanks Bertie, I've got a degree, and taught adults before. I don't want to sink my cash into something meaning I won't get my money back, and make money, Celta and Trinity are worth looking into, and costing. I have too many ties to work abroad, I just want to work more locally. Will go and cost them up.

I have an English academy overseas and I really rate the CELTA. I'm a little biased as I did it myself but it gives a lot of student contact and a high standard. I wouldn't want to employ a teacher who hadn't had classroom experience during their Tefl course. One thing a lot of students are surprised by is that it doesn't teach you any English grammar - you're supposed to know it all before you start, and most native speakers don't!

It was the best thing I ever did though! It changed my life. I have a Russell group English Lit degree but it was the CELTA which gave me a career.

I did CELTA and got a good job from it, albeit via volunteering and working a crap zero hours contract for a couple of years.
I really rate it and a friend has done the DELTA, which is very rigorous.

I did English Lang & Lit at Oxford and found the CELTA very rewarding and useful. It is held in high regard internationally.

Oh yes, sorry! I forgot to add teaching experience which is really helpful as well :)

You might not need the CELTA in that case. I absolutely loved the CELTA, really enjoyed it, absolutely brilliant course, but it might be too high an outlay for what you are trying to do if you already have teaching experience.

Ooh you're all reminding me of how much I love/miss teaching - I had stopped for a bit because of maternity leave and then Corona but maybe I should go back into that as a field of work :o

Mine was TESOL Trinity. I’m glad I did it and did enjoy teaching

Yes, as a pp has said there’s no grammar taught, but as I already spoke a couple of foreign languages I was used to grammar and tenses etc

Thanks everyone, I've found a two year TESOL at Keele, and have emailed about it.

Good luck

Thanks. Apparently they are reviewing in August about starting again in October, so a bit later than I wanted, but will look into online possibilities.