| y"> | | | | fact practice taught at satisfactory levels and that you |
| When a reader wrote in to ask, "I wonder what you | | | | understand learner needs and how to approach them, |
| have to offer in the way of advice for becoming | | | | among other essential ELT basic skills. |
| certified to teach before I leave for some other | | | | Third - Almost all officially recognized CELTA |
| country from the USA?" I couldn't help but take the | | | | programs have job placement services for their |
| time to respond a bit to a person poised on the brink | | | | graduates, which means you can land your first job |
| of such a potentially life-altering event as this. The | | | | before you leave the USA. You'll have local contacts |
| reader further added, "Do you think that an online | | | | provided for you and the reputation of the school |
| TEFL course would suffice, or would it be better to do | | | | behind you as well. You may even be able to get |
| a CELTA course?" What a loaded question that is. | | | | leads on a second or even third position from your |
| Can't you just picture the trouble I could get into | | | | CELTA course provider as time ticks on if you need a |
| answering that one? Here's some of what my | | | | change. This offers an excellent introduction to |
| response contained plus a few additions. | | | | teaching while helping to minimize elements of the |
| CELTA or TEFL? | | | | "culture shock" often experienced during your first |
| While a good TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign | | | | overseas job. |
| Language) course from a reputable school or institute | | | | Fourth - A CELTA course is designed to prepare you |
| can be a tremendous boost in preparing you for the | | | | for the realities of teaching EFL abroad to learners |
| rigors and challenges of ELT (English language | | | | who may know little or no English. With the confidence |
| teaching) abroad, my preference is towards the | | | | and ability to teach English to foreign learners without a |
| CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to | | | | knowledge of their L1 is an important skill that will often |
| Adults). The quality of TEFL certificate courses can | | | | place you head and shoulders above many other |
| vary considerably and great care should be taken in | | | | "local" English teachers who frequently rely heavily on |
| selecting a TEFL certificate course. Personally, I | | | | use of the learners' L1 (first language). |
| recommend an official CELTA course first while in the | | | | Fifth - Taking the CELTA in the USA, an |
| USA, Canada or the UK for a more than a couple of | | | | English-speaking country, will enable you to start |
| good reasons. | | | | preparing your own "care package" of materials |
| First - CELTA training will provide you with | | | | before you leave for your new job. It happens that |
| well-founded teaching tools and skills that will stand you | | | | many locations where we find ourselves teaching |
| in good stead once you begin teaching. The CELTA | | | | English simply do not have an extensive array of |
| course is rigorously monitored so quality is highly | | | | materials available. At home in the USA however, |
| constant across a variety of different schools, | | | | virtually any materials you'd like to use is not only |
| institutions and organizations that offer it. | | | | available in abundance, but is usually dirt cheap as well. |
| Second - The CELTA is recognized world wide as a | | | | If you need more information you can check out my |
| solid EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teaching | | | | article series on English language teaching at I sincerely |
| credential, meaning that your English level is high and | | | | hope this offers you some guidance. Best wishes for |
| that you have proven knowledge of English language | | | | a great career in a location that's interesting for you |
| teaching techniques. It also indicates that you have in | | | | ... and good luck, you'll need it. |