Hi everyone,

An American friend of mine is interested in teaching English here in Madrid and is thinking of taking the Canterbury English TEFL Course. I'm not an ESL teacher myself, so I was wondering what people think of this course? Any help would be highly appreciated! Their website is: http://www.canterburytefl.com/index.html

Thanks!

Sean

Canterbury is no better than any other TEFL program. Their marketing is good, but in the end, they offer the same type of training as other TEFL programs do. Their all pretty standard as far as content goes.

I have no preference for any TEFL program and can't recommend any one. They are good because you get your feet wet, but after one month, you are NOT going to be a great teacher as many TEFL programs would have you believe.

You will still have to develop and hone your skills by doing research and reading many articles out their on teaching methodology and the latest trends on using technology in the classroom. Teaching is a profession where there is lifelong learning.

Shawn

this is totally subjective, but i've known two people who did canterbury and were disappointed. on the other hand, i know one person who i never imagined in a million years would like teaching english (he's an award-winning animator for crissakes) and he did the tefl course at international house and LOVED it.

http://www.ihmadrid.com/alai.php?p=44&i=1

i'd tell your friend to shop around. as redwood says, there are many places in town offering courses. also, many schools, like American Language Academy and Vaughan do their own teacher training--free to the teacher! of course to work at the latter, you have to be legal, but the people i have known that worked there really liked it.

here is a link on madridteacher that explains it all...
http://www.madridteacher.com/vaughan.htm

It also depends on if your friend has previous teaching experience. If that person does, then a TEFL may not be necessary. I have over 14 years language teaching and tutoring experience combined and I never had any academy ask me for a TEFL. The more teaching expereince that you have, the more that academies won't ask for the teacher to have a TEFL. This also depends on academies, so what I say here doesn't apply to all cases.

So, as Candy says, it does pay to shop around and once your friend sees through all of the marketing hype with TEFL programs, he or she will be able to make an informed decision.

Shawn

Many schools won't recognise anything that isn't Trinity or Cambridge. If they do accept others but don't know the company, they will ask if there is actual classroom experience involved - if there isn't at least 10 hours of actual class practice, many won't take it.

If it's no cheaper than Cambridge/Trinity, don't do it.

Damian

Cervantes,

What you have said is not that true and doesn't apply to all cases and all schools in general. There are plenty of English academies that want TEFL certified teachers and say so in their ads. Just take a look and you will see that the majority of academies will take the TEFL as a means of certification.

Shawn

Well, that's my experience. Many adverts even specify "Cambridge", though they all take Trinity too. "TEFL cetified" has no 'official' status - what are you including in that, i-to-i online courses?

And also, Shaun, RSA is the same thing as Cambridge - they are both a part of the OCR examination board. So it is no 'more' recognised than Cambridge. Many ads say "Cambridge/RSA".

See: http://www.cambridgeesol.org/teaching/celta.htm

"CELTA, the best known and most widely taken initial TESOL/TEFL qualification of its kind in the world, was previously known as CTEFLA and the 'RSA certificate'."

Yes, Cambridge is slightly more famous, but as someone once said to me, "if they won't accept Trinity, they don't know much about EFL and you don't want to work for them".

I have Trinity and have never had a problem getting any job. I have even applied for, and been accepted for, jobs that say "Cambridge certified only" as for many, Cambridge is synonymous with tefl.



Damian

quote:

Well, that's my experience.

And this is why you can't turn this thread into a long discussion. You have one type of certification and many people have another.

quote:

I have Trinity and have never had a problem getting any job. I have even applied for, and been accepted for, jobs that say "Cambridge certified only" as for many, Cambridge is synonymous with tefl.

Well, I have an MA in Spanish, 14 years of language teaching and tutoring experience combined, have given numerous seminars on language methodology, study abroad and careers, have 1 book published and will have a second published next year. I don't have a TEFL, Trinity, RSA or Cambridge and I never had a problem getting any job in Madrid either.

So, in the end, you have your certification and qualifications, and I have mine. We both work and love what we do. So, please, let's not turn this thread into a war of which one, TEFL, RSA, whatever, is better.

Let's go back to the original question. It asked about TEFL, not alternatives. Many people do a TEFL because the price is cheaper, many times, than other types of certifications. In the end, we can't stop any one from doing something that they have their heart set on doing, especially when the wallet and a budget are involved.

Shawn

quote:

Well, I have an MA in Spanish, 14 years of language teaching and tutoring experience combined, have given numerous seminars on language methodology, study abroad and careers, have 1 book published and will have a second published next year. I don't have a TEFL, Trinity, RSA or Cambridge and I never had a problem getting any job in Madrid either.

You tell it sister!

Thanks to everyone who responded. He doesn't have much teaching experience but just wants to come to Spain for a year or two to do something different, so I think TEFL will probably be sufficient for him. I've sent him a link to this thread. Thanks a lot!

quote:

Originally posted by Redwood:


And this is why you can't turn this thread into a long discussion. You have one type of certification and many people have another.

Yawn. Yet again you misinterpret what I say.

I'll spell it out in simple Redwood-English:

1) 'the TEFL' = doesn't exist. There are dozens of TEFL courses, not a single one.
2) Cambridge = RSA (no difference, they're the same company)
3) Trinity or Cambridge/RSA = Good
4) MA in Spanish, 14 years of language teaching and tutoring experience combined, numerous seminars on language methodology, study abroad and careers, book published = Better than everything else. Better than anything I could achieve.
5) Other TEFL certificates - such as Canterbury - difficult to tell. Even if the course is great, it may be hard to convince some employers of its worth. Therefore probably a waste of money if you are doing it to guarantee yourself a job. But if it is cheaper and all you want it for is some genuine guidance, it may be great.

Is that simpler for you to take in now, Shaun?

quote:

It asked about TEFL, not alternatives. Many people do a TEFL because the price is cheaper, many times, than other types of certifications. In the end, we can't stop any one from doing something that they have their heart set on doing, especially when the wallet and a budget are involved.

See above. There is no 'alternative' to what is a genre of certificates. They are ALL TEFL. And we aren't trying to 'stop' anyone, we are offering the advice that was asked for.

Shaun, please read my posts properly before you reply, you do this every time.

Damian

Cervantes,

I will not spend my time responding to you. You love to debate and I simply have better things to do with my life. His friend will end up doing a TEFL and that's the end of it. Rememeber that in the end, you can't change people and what they want to do in life.

By the way, thanks for sending me a private message entitled GET A LIFE, which I didn't read. It was deleted and I have nothing against you because I don't know you. I will not get into an argument with you and please, no more PMs with titles as such. Life is too short for me to harbor ill feelings against anyone. I move forward in love and wish you all the best in life.

Have a great day,

Shawn

ouch! that pm was out of line. the pm system is not meant for that kind of foul play Cervantes (i am sure Shawn would not make this up).

please don't make me revoke your pm privies as i can do at the click of a mousy.

in the meantime shawn, if you enter your profile you can add anyone you do not want to receive private messages from to your ignore list.

now let's all play nice.

saludos,
jer...

quote:

Originally posted by Redwood:
Rememeber that in the end, you can't change people and what they want to do in life.

I actually thought someone had come here for advice? It wasn't about changing anyone. That's what they CAME HERE for. So is all your advice on here aimed at just reinforcing what the person first said? Isn't that slightly pointless?

Damian

Damian

Wow, Jer, thanks. That ignore option will really be put to use.

Thanks again for having such a great board with many useful otpions.

Cheers,

Shawn