TEFL/TESL certification

[UnseenChagrin]

I am looking to start teaching English abroad and I don't currently have any sort of teaching experience. I want to do a certification, and am curious if anyone here has done it? What was your experience? Are there certain ones I should look for? Are scams prevalent? Did you find it worth the money?

Also... How were the programs? Do you feel the courses prepared you well? How has teaching abroad been?

Any advice, tips, cautions, anythings.. please let me know. Thanks!

 

[midwestyankee]

I am looking to start teaching English abroad and I don't currently have any sort of teaching experience. I want to do a certification, and am curious if anyone here has done it? What was your experience? Are there certain ones I should look for? Are scams prevalent? Did you find it worth the money?

Also... How were the programs? Do you feel the courses prepared you well? How has teaching abroad been?

Any advice, tips, cautions, anythings.. please let me know. Thanks!

I'm not familiar with current programs, nor do I know the extent to which a certification program is needed but I have some experience in TESL coursework via grad school. As I have friends who have taught abroad, I may be able to help if you can provide more information about the type of overseas teaching position you are hoping to secure.

What research have you done so far? Are you certain that the type of teaching assignment you desire requires TESL certification? If so, what sort of certification is required and where would you have to go to acquire the certification? Have you looked for programs that accept inexperienced teachers, perhaps even without the certification you described?

Here's an altogether different approach: have you considered joining the Peace Corps? I know that in the past the Peace Corps provided excellent training for its volunteers and sent numerous individuals all over the world to teach English.

 

[CaptainAhab]

TEFL resources

I'm going to start the certification process this summer, and hope to find a job soon after (either in the Middle East or China).

One awesome resource used by many English language teachers is

www.eslcafe.com

If you want to talk more, feel free to PM me.

 

[NaiveOne]

I have two friends who are teaching English in Japan and Grade School in Thailand. They did not need any special certification, but they also went through a church organization. If you have any affiliations you can go through there, too.

Good luck!

 

[Guest]

 

[UnseenChagrin]

Thanks for the ideas and advice! I'll definately look into them. I hadn't even really considered the Peace Corps before, probably because I had some ass-backwards thought about it. I did go to their website though and it doesn't sound like a bad deal at all. I also found out a friend of a friend was in it for 5 years, so I'm gonna talk to him about it.

Definately not pushing out the want to teach though!