TEFL/CELTA or PGCE? What's best?

Hi, I'm in my third year of university, studying English Language and Communication. My plan was to do CELTA for my masters and then start my career as a teacher abroad. I don't plan to teach in the UK, apart from maybe tutoring later on.

However, I was advised by a teacher to do my PGCE instead, as you get higher pay, you're more employable and can work in real international schools.

So, I wanted some more opinions on this or advice or whatever! I feel like I'm being told so many different things when all I want is what's best for my future.

Reply 1

SarcAndSpark

20

Original post by teaching098

Hi, I'm in my third year of university, studying English Language and Communication. My plan was to do CELTA for my masters and then start my career as a teacher abroad. I don't plan to teach in the UK, apart from maybe tutoring later on.

However, I was advised by a teacher to do my PGCE instead, as you get higher pay, you're more employable and can work in real international schools.

So, I wanted some more opinions on this or advice or whatever! I feel like I'm being told so many different things when all I want is what's best for my future.

Who are you looking to teach abroad? Have you looked at any job adverts to see what they are asking for?

I think the different qualifications would suit different career paths- but a PGCE might give you more choice.

Reply 2

teaching098

OP

2

Original post by SarcAndSpark

Who are you looking to teach abroad? Have you looked at any job adverts to see what they are asking for?

I think the different qualifications would suit different career paths- but a PGCE might give you more choice.

So I have had a lot of experience luckily, teaching Japanese and Korean students, mostly college/university level. I would like to do teach students in further education, rather than younger ages.

Reply 3

SarcAndSpark

20

Original post by teaching098

So I have had a lot of experience luckily, teaching Japanese and Korean students, mostly college/university level. I would like to do teach students in further education, rather than younger ages.

I'm not an expert, but if you're teaching older/adult learners, I think TEFL/CELTA may well be the way to go, although you could do a ESOL further education PGCE.

Reply 4

markova21

21

In Northern Ireland here, so it might be slightly different. To teach FE students here you have to have, at least a BTEC Level 3 in Education and Training. The majority of people then go on to do the Level 4 Certificate in Teaching at Ulster University. It says it is a pre-requisite that you have this qualification before you are allowed to study the PGCE ( FE). You should check with your own area as it may be different.

Reply 5

mark68

5

Original post by teaching098

So I have had a lot of experience luckily, teaching Japanese and Korean students, mostly college/university level. I would like to do teach students in further education, rather than younger ages.

The thing about teaching that I have found is that a CELTA is very well regarded as is the DELTA (just a bit more than the CELTA but a whole different ball game when it comes to studying it) I have a PCET PGCE specialising in ESOL and I found that no one has been remotely interested in it apart from the first job I got straight out of university. I taught in lowly positions and I have felt that people simply didn't really understand or respect it as they should have, so I would say the CELTA is your best option but in a way it's a fig leaf compared to a PGCE FE.

Reply 6

teaching098

OP

2

Original post by mark68

The thing about teaching that I have found is that a CELTA is very well regarded as is the DELTA (just a bit more than the CELTA but a whole different ball game when it comes to studying it) I have a PCET PGCE specialising in ESOL and I found that no one has been remotely interested in it apart from the first job I got straight out of university. I taught in lowly positions and I have felt that people simply didn't really understand or respect it as they should have, so I would say the CELTA is your best option but in a way it's a fig leaf compared to a PGCE FE.

That's so interesting. I've been talking to some other people about it (r/tefl on Reddit) and they say that with a PGCE, I will be able to teach at proper international schools and also, the wages you earn are significantly higher.

Have you found this not to be the case then?

Reply 7

mark68

5

Original post by teaching098

That's so interesting. I've been talking to some other people about it (r/tefl on Reddit) and they say that with a PGCE, I will be able to teach at proper international schools and also, the wages you earn are significantly higher.

Have you found this not to be the case then?

I found the wages were fairly low anyway but I did apply unsuccessfully for positions in various schools, I ended up working in a language centre where people didn't have much of anything but it was the best I could do. In this country a funny thing happened when I graduated with my PGCE in ESOL they told me I wouldn't be considered qualified as the ESOL was level 2 and the standards for teaching ESOL had recently been placed at level 4 and then level 5 (which was absurd but it was also a fact that i couldn't seem to argue with) So there I was one of the most qualified people to ever teach in an FE college at the time (2003/05) and yet something as traditionally neglected as ESOL I wasn't to be considered qualified, I was amazed but I had to go into my first position apologising that although I had just passed a PGCE I was under qualified so they put me forward for a DELTA which was soooo difficult along with what was a fairly strenuous teaching load anyway so I dropped out of the DELTA. Years later I verified my qualification with life long learning UK and they told me that I was qualified after all :smile:

I never earned enough for a comfortable existence as a single person in a bedsit with a car let alone a family man with aspirations of some comfort, I personally put it down to a failing in the system but there's no arguing with it, working poor is all I ever got which quite simply was never right.

Reply 8

sp00kymcflukey

8

PGCE in English.Then a CELTA afterwards?

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 9

mark68

5

Original post by sp00kymcflukey

PGCE in English.Then a CELTA afterwards?

A house and a car with the job even in a city like London with its population of 8 million and other cities around the world

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 10

mark68

5

I found a really useful document at PwC which gave me a comparison for being a newly qualified teacher and an experienced teacher. I taught in FE but I had a PGCE so I think I compare about the same. My point is that it's a good job and the person who has quaffed at that level certainly deserves somewhere reasonable to live and a car but my consideration is in London and other major cities that I have visited or taught in you can't afford anything on a teacher's pay. I've lived most of my adult life on someone else's subsidies, normally my family, it may be capitalism but it stinks.
comaprison 1.jpg

TEFL/CELTA or PGCE? What's best?

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