Advice on Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) courses?
I'm a 3rd level student and would like a job teaching abroad during the summer.
Has anyone completed a TEFL/TESOL course here in Ireland?
I have been looking at the 120hrs with i to i, but I'm not sure what my job prospects would be, it seems that the course is not as recognised as others. http://www.i-to-i.com/tefl-courses/combined-tefl-courses-120.html
Would doing CELTA TEFL in Dublin or the Trinity London TESOL in Cork be worth it? It costs about three times as much, and is 4 weeks full time.
Almost any certificate will do for an entry level job. The CELTA is VERY intensive and I wouldn't attempt it without at least a couple of years experience.
Take a look at http://teflcoursereview.com where you can see what former students say about courses.
CELTA is far better than TEFL in terms of a teaching certificate. Firstly, it is standardised and therefore welcomed by many more institutions. Secondly, it takes place over an intensive month long course that gets you in front of a class from the very first day. This is ideal as you have to see how you cope in front of the students before you know what you are doing. Most universities and many language schools offer these courses throughout Europe. I took mine at Bath Spa University and I now teach in the English department of a Polish University so it worked for me. CELTA will give you confidence because it will show you that you can do it and prepare you for most eventualities by giving you as mmuchteaching experience as possible in a cconstructiveand educational environment.
It's a few years ago now, but i did a TEFL course at the TEFL College Blackrock in Dublin - it wasn't very expensive at the time...don't know if the college still exists (we're atalking14 years ago!) but it might be worth a shot - they also helped with job placements afterwards.