CELTA/ certTESOL/ Teaching English as a Foreign Language

Just want to point out that a level 5 qualification is a BTEC, a foundation degree, an HND. Yes, very good indeed. Definitely better than a BA, MA, or PGCE.

Also, it's not a formal teaching qualification. If it was, it would've led you to a QTS. But you can never ever obtain QTS with a CELTA. It's also not a formal teaching qualification abroad. Proper schools would make a distinction between holding a TEFL qualification such as CELTA and a teaching qualification such as a PGCE. At my school for example, they only recognise bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctorates, and PGCEs. Only PGCE/PGDE/BEd are considered teaching qualifications. I've seen another school offering CELTA holders a payscale higher than that of a BA but lower than that of a qualified teacher. A CELTA will also not help your visa application.

I'm not trying to make CELTA out to be equivalent to a degree or better. It's a 4 week course FFS. The point I am making is that as a freestanding qualification, it commands more respect than a 120hr online TEFL certificate. To be honest, I don't really give a hoot whether people choose to take it or not - but would you not agree that within the TEFL sphere, when compared to a 120hr TEFL certificate it is the more esteemed qualification? It is a fact that it is stated as a required qualification on many job adverts for ESOL roles both in the UK and further afield.

I totally agree that it is not equivalent to QTS. Is it not a moot point as to whether it can be regarded as a formal teaching qualification [of sorts]?

1. Salary good for someone who's unqualified and may be better than the general population, but not even as good as state schools paying their local teachers.
2. No progression usually.



If you think EPIK is an example that can favour your argument, then you have lost your credibility.

EPIK averages out £1100 per month and you think that's good? That's utter **** compares to international schools.

EPIK is £1600 net plus a free flat close to the school, which could easily be worth 800 quid on top of the base salary in certain areas of Seoul and Busan.

I agree it's not the same ballpark as international schools but the principal example I gave - working on ESP projects for Big Oil/Aerospace/Defence - I know for a fact pays more than international schools.

That's not true - I cannot go on the official website, but this says the maximum is 2.7m KRW and the normal range is 2-2.2m. £1600 would be higher than the maximum. This is without saying that international schools tend to pay for the full ticket but the air ticket allowance at EPIK is not enough for anyone who's not already living in East Asia. And of course international schools also provide a flat, usually you can even choose to live close to the school or anywhere else.

And university vice-chancellors get paid more than prime ministers do. So what is your point? Or are you suggesting that anyone with a CELTA can easily get a high-paying job doing ESP? Why don't we talk about being a celebrity tutor then? Most recently in Hong Kong a tutorial school tried to get a celebrity tutor on board with a HKD$30 million head start and $86 million yearly for four years - that's £200000+ per month. Can your ESP projects compete with that? And most celebrity tutors hold a formal teaching qualification with a master's. I've never seen one with a CELTA.

Have you included the completion bonus for EPIK? Because I have. I have an EPIK contract sitting in front of me

It is eminently possible to do contract ESP work with 2+ years ESL experience and CELTA would definitely help. You would not need to be a QTS for these roles. Unlike the (deliberately) farcical celebrity tutor example, these roles ARE readily available - I've seen adverts for such roles on www.guardian.co.uk/jobs - so your original contention that working at an international school is the only option for a decent salary has been shown to be without merit.

Have you included the completion bonus for EPIK? Because I have. I have an EPIK contract sitting in front of me

It is eminently possible to do contract ESP work with 2+ years ESL experience and CELTA would definitely help. You would not need to be a QTS for these roles. Unlike the (deliberately) farcical celebrity tutor example, these roles ARE readily available - I've seen adverts for such roles on www.guardian.co.uk/jobs - so your original contention that working at an international school is the only option for a decent salary has been shown to be without merit.

Allow me to also point out the obvious: If it's so well paid (still don't know how much so far since you've never mentioned it), if it's so readily available, if requirement is so low, if it's so easily accessible...Why isn't everyone doing it?

I'm not doing it because I have only one year's experience and probably won't do it because I don't want a long term career in ESL teaching. No idea about the rest of you but I have encountered people who are doing it.

Are there any CELTA/ certTESOL/ Teaching English as a Foreign Language students who will have completed their qualification by January 2016 and would like a work placement in Essex UK before they go abroad or start full time work?

So so many posts in you have yet to:1. show that they exist;2. disclose how much money you're talking about.I'm sorry but you need to provide more evidence and details to make it believable that a job that is:1. readily available;2. readily accessible;3. easy to get into (ie low requirements); and4. well paidis not being taken up by more people or even talked about.

Hi all,

Seriously thinking about applying for the CELTA. Does anyone have any advice on whether either one of these options would be preferable;

a) Online, 25 weeks with one evening attendance per week.

b) 25 weeks, one day attendance per week.

Does anyone have any preference on whether studying at a College or University would be better? (For anyone familiar with the West Midlands, UK, I'm looking at Coventry University (online) or South & City College Birmingham).

Thanks in advance, any advice appreciated.

Hi all,

Seriously thinking about applying for the CELTA. Does anyone have any advice on whether either one of these options would be preferable;

a) Online, 25 weeks with one evening attendance per week.

b) 25 weeks, one day attendance per week.

Does anyone have any preference on whether studying at a College or University would be better? (For anyone familiar with the West Midlands, UK, I'm looking at Coventry University (online) or South & City College Birmingham).

Thanks in advance, any advice appreciated.