How to spot a decent TEFL certificate?

**gazoobo** · 23rd November 2005 17:28

In a recent reply to a message posted on here:

[quote] Schools want degrees in order to employ you legally and employers are getting good at spotting the decent TEFl certificates from the ones that any Tom, Dick and Harry can get.

How do you spot a decent TEFL certificate? I'm looking at taking a TEFL course but the last thing I want to end up with is a C..P certificate. Can anyone recommend a recognised and reliable institution to study this course with.

Gaz

**Bangkok Phil** · 23rd November 2005 17:36

Schools want degrees in order to employ you legally and employers are getting good at spotting the decent TEFl certificates from the ones that any Tom, Dick and Harry can get.

I wrote it so I guess I should answer. I was talking about the online ones that have no observed teaching practice, If someone comes to me with one of those, it's in you go son - your demo lesson awaits.

**Ajarn-Andy** · 24th November 2005 07:13

I heard the ITTT course was decent. ITTT is run out of the same place as TEFL International's course in Phuket.

You study online first. Then you can take a one week or two week practicum. The 2 week course will give you 8 hours of TP. The only thing is you'll only teach adults.

**kenkannif** · 24th November 2005 09:52

TP or OTP? TP is kinda pointless otherwise

**Ajarn-Andy** · 25th November 2005 05:53

OTP

**myruinedxmas** · 11th August 2006 13:14

[QUOTE=Bangkok Phil.If someone comes to me with one of those, it's in you go son - your demo lesson awaits.[/QUOTE]

I thought you didn't employ teachers.

**kenkannif** · 11th August 2006 13:21

It's not so much the certificate rather the teacher.

Met shit teachers from most courses (CELTA 'downwards'.....even shite BEds) here....can't blame the course as often people just do it 'their' way once qualified.

**DunceCap** · 11th August 2006 23:24

well according to some recent news, knowing what the letters stand for would be one of the criteria to look for when scouting a course. (my advice is avoid the TOFEL)

there are a lot of courses out there, but as Phil points out-stand and deliver! (if i'm the door way, even polished credentials, eons of exp-stand and deliver) attitude, posture, conveyence, concern and organization....they should be recognizeable

**Bruce** · 12th August 2006 14:09

Most "good" courses around the world have:

100+ hours of instruction
6+ hours of OBSERVED teaching practice
Some form of external validation
International recognition

**Matthew** · 12th August 2006 16:34

Originally Posted by kenkannif

Met shit teachers from...the...CELTA 'downwards'.....

There's a rule about naming and shaming me on here Kk.

**laoshi** · 12th August 2006 18:31

Originally Posted by Bruce

Most "good" courses around the world have:

100+ hours of instruction
6+ hours of OBSERVED teaching practice
Some form of external validation
International recognition

You wouldn't happen to know of such a place would you?

...

**soijetcornergirl** · 13th August 2006 07:55

Originally Posted by kenkannif

It's not so much the certificate rather the teacher.

Met shit teachers from most courses (CELTA 'downwards'.....even shite BEds) here....can't blame the course as often people just do it 'their' way once qualified.

Couldn't agree with you more.

And I disagree with the notion that just because you get someone who has a certificate that indicates he or she did 6 or more hours of OP that they ipso facto know how to teach and so are immune from providing a demo lesson.

Such an assumption could and has taken a chunk out of more than one DOS's butt.

**kenkannif** · 13th August 2006 11:17

Originally Posted by Matthew

There's a rule about naming and shaming me on here Kk.

I'm not am I mate??? Just spoke about a brand name and pretty much covered them all.....now if I mentioned a specific provider fair enough...but I didn't....did I?

All I mentioned that even with the BEST training and BEST certificate it's no guarantee that the individual will do as they've been taught (if that was the case no one would ever speed in a car or break any road laws as they'd have been 'taught' not to....but life doesn't work like that...does it?).

Surprised at you Matt I thought you'd 'understand' this and what I was implying.

**kenkannif** · 13th August 2006 11:18

SJCG,

Yes I wish more places would ask for demo lessons....but to be fair sometimes if you need a place filled you don't really want to give yourself reasons not to fill it.