Are ONLINE TEFL/TESOL/CELTA Certifications legitimate?

Question

If some are and some aren't, and you have knowledge of these, please let me know what ones are a scam and what ones are going to qualify me to teach English as a second language. This is a dream of mine, I am just having a hard time determining whether or not these programs are legitimate. Also, if you are aware of any work available in: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Phillipines, I would much appreciate the assistance. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

I took a TEFL course a year ago through http://www.teflworldwideprague.com I did some research before deciding which course to take and decided against an online course for the following reasons:



First, online courses are really not recognized by most employers. For one reason, you won’t get the necessary teaching practice during the course and you won’t be able to be observed by experienced trainers in order to find out what you are doing right or wrong. For another, most online courses are less than 100 hours. TEFL courses in general are recognized internationally as long as they meet the industry standard of being at least 100 hours, having a minimum of 6 hours of teaching practice observed by an experienced trainer, and having qualified teacher trainers. My course was 120 hours and included 8-10 hours of supervised teaching experience. I found that experience along with the feedback I received to be one of the most important parts of my TEFL experience. Nothing compares to standing in front of a class of non-native English speakers.



Secondly, when you take a class abroad you are already there, so it is much easier to go about finding work. I took the class in Prague and was then able to go around to language schools in person to hand out my CV. I found a job within a week of finishing the course. Also, my TEFL school offers lifetime job guidance so I can get in touch with them at any time and they will provide me with all of the information they have on the countries I am interested in. Many online courses do not provide you with this and leave you to find a job on your own.



Overall, I was very satisfied with my choices and am glad I did it how I did. I think the best way is to decide where you want to go, go to that country to take a course, and then you can begin searching for jobs right away. The initial experience of living and teaching abroad is much easier when you have the support of your school to help you along!

Answer 2

Yes, if you are looking an international job, make sure you choose the internationally accredited ones. The INTESOL Courses in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) are fully accredited and internationally recognized TEFL / ESL certifications that will equip you with the English teaching knowledge and skills you need to secure a job teaching English with reputable schools worldwide.

By completing an INTESOL online TEFL / TESOL course you will be taking your first step towards TEFL certification and living and working overseas. Realise your dreams of exploring new cultures, meeting new people and making a real difference to the lives of thousands of students by teaching English. An INTESOL certificate will ensure you land a paid English teaching job with a reputable school where you will really be able to make the most of your teaching adventures.

Answer 3

CELTA and Trinity are the most recognized in the world. A TESL Canada certificate is necessary to teach in Canada and highly recognized worldwide. SIT TESOL, ACTDEC, and ASCENTIS are also reputable accrediting organizations. Schools in Asia ask for a BA in any area (For work permit reasons) and a minimum of a 100-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate.

Salaries vary depending on the country, Korea offering the highest pay ($2,000 to $3,500/month), but then places like Thailand and Malaysia ($700-$1,500) offer paradisaical landscapes and a lot of adventure. Take into account that most schools also offer free or subsidized accommodation and return airfare.

www.ontesol.com

Answer 4

I'm not sure which ones are scams but part of my TEFL training was online and my course was really good- I had my own personal TEFL tutor who marked all of my work, 6 months to do the course in & got all my books and resources sent to me for free via pdf! I would highly recommend TEFL Org UK to anyone who wants to become a TEFL teacher. Afforable, good quality and it got me a job teaching Business English in Spain :)

Answer 5

Tefl certificate is about teaching methods and Technics with real situation personaly I don't prefer online courses

beside there is a lot scum in online certificate

Answer 6

In my experience teaching in Asia most schools will accept online courses. And the ones that won't will usually want teachers with experience or even better qualifications like a master's or licensed teachers. So I wouldn't worry about it. There are lots of schools out there that will.



There is not much of a market for English teachers in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Phillipines. English is already spoken there by many and most jobs wouldn't pay much there.

Answer 7

I recommend checking out independent reviews of Online TEFL certification programs, written by graduates:

http://www.teflonlinereviews.com

Answer 8

to travelgirlcz27 - you are wrong in saying that online courses are not accepted by most employers. This is simply not true. If you check our forums, for example, you will find that our graduates are finding work all over the place and there are thousands upon thousands of teachers who hold online certificates working all over the world, especially in Asia.



Plus, please note that the original question was asking about online courses and not moving to Eastern Europe to study!