Do you need a TEFL/CELTA if you are an experienced, qualified teacher?

Dec 7, 2011 · paul_h · 4 replies · 3478 views

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Can anyone help me?
i am looking to go and live for maybe 2 years in spain but not in areas where the international schools are based.(my partner is spanish and i would live with her - so to start with i am only looking for part time work, and money is not too much of an issue to begin with),
I am considering teaching english as a foreign language, maybe in an academy or private tuition. Many people seem to recommend CELTA as the ultimate, however its expensive and does not seem to be available in a pure online version. I am an experienced teacher of 13 years and i am currently employed full time in th uk teaching A level ICT, i have also worked in 11 to 16 schools, so i dont feel i need the classroom experience side of things, however i do need the grounding of english grammar etc. So, would an online tefl be acceptable? (much cheaper and convenient), or would it limit my opportunities / rule me out of applying for certain jobs?
So, i would like your opinion, would an online tefl course be enough? would it help me get work? Would there be opportunities for someone in my position?
any help welcome!
thanks

Dec 11, 2011 · Campana

This is a useful website.

http://www.multilingual-matters.com/

C

Dec 13, 2011 · CalpeVillas

I think with your other teaching experience and your ability to do the job that anyone looking for an English teacher should be happy with a TEFL certificate.
HTH

Jan 19, 2012 · SpainExpat member

Hi Paul

Just got the following piece of feedback from a graduate of our Barcelona CertTESOL course (http://www.oxfordtefl.com/Trinity-Cert-TESOL.html):

" I have met other teachers who have struggled to find work, as they hold a less credible qualification, but the TESOL from Oxford House has always impressed potential employees." -- Grace Cunnington.

I think that sums up the situation well. It's not impossible to get a job without a accredited certificate like the CertTESOL or the CELTA, but it's more difficult, and you might have to settle for a lower paid or worse conditions.

Here in Spain, there are loads of native speakers hoping to make a living teaching English, so there's a lot of competition, and a decent certificate will really help you stand out.

Not that there's anything wrong with doing an online course, if you want to get a feel for what teaching TEFL is about. But it's no substitute for practising with real students. Your previous teaching experience will stand you in good stead, of course, but the skills you'll need to acquire to teach a language go beyond grammar knowledge. How do you explain a concept to learners who have very basic English? It's not until you actually get in front of a room full of beginners that you really start to learn how to do it. Think about it this way: how would you go about teaching IT without speaking or writing anything?

Even the very best online course (and we do offer an online "taster" course -- http://www.oxfordtefl.com/Online-TEFL-Starter.html) can't give you that experience.

Best of luck!