Getting Tesol/ Tefl certificate. Please Help!

[jenndavidson007]

I am looking into getting my Tesol/ Tefl certificate. I will be trying to get a job in Costa Rica. Does anyone know is it better to take the course in the country you plan on living in. I know Playa even has a course you can take. I just want to know if there is a certain company to go through that's better than others? Is $1,600.00 to much money for a 4 week course? I will not have to pay for lodging since I have friends that live in C.R. and would be staying with them. Aisha!! Do you know the answer to any of the questions? PM me if you have info. Thanks J

[PlayadelSoul]

International House, in Playa, offers the CELTA certification. It is, for me, the best certification to have, if you are looking to work in a university or private school. If you are planning on working in a language institute, the TESOL certificate will work, as well.

You need to check what certification, if any, is needed by Immigration in Costa Rica. In Mexico, one used to be able to work as a teacher without any certification. This is not the case, anymore.

There are some on-line TESOL courses, that can be done rather quickly. Some of them are diploma mills, but they will give you the paper you need to pass Immigration in Mexico. $1600 is about average. The CELTA course in Playa, is more expensive.

[jenndavidson007]

Originally Posted by PlayadelSoul

International House, in Playa, offers the CELTA certification. It is, for me, the best certification to have, if you are looking to work in a university or private school. If you are planning on working in a language institute, the TESOL certificate will work, as well.

You need to check what certification, if any, is needed by Immigration in Costa Rica. In Mexico, one used to be able to work as a teacher without any certification. This is not the case, anymore.

There are some on-line TESOL courses, that can be done rather quickly. Some of them are diploma mills, but they will give you the paper you need to pass Immigration in Mexico. $1600 is about average. The CELTA course in Playa, is more expensive.

Thanks! Some schools in C.R. don't specifically require the certificate but, I am looking at doing the 4 week course for the hands on. I have no prior teaching experience so, I thought it would be a good idea. Unless you count raising 3 kids?

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by jenndavidson007

Thanks! Some schools in C.R. don't specifically require the certificate but, I am looking at doing the 4 week course for the hands on. I have no prior teaching experience so, I thought it would be a good idea. Unless you count raising 3 kids?

The certification can only help. We train our teachers for a month before we let them have their own classes. The training includes methodology, grammar and classroom management. We do team teaching during the training period, so that the candidate can get used to the classroom atmosphere. I think you will find that this training is pretty common in language institutes. If you teach at a school, they are likely to hand you a book and wish you well. In that case, it would be very important to have had some training.

[maestranba]

Jeez, I did my Master's Degree in TESOL and it took me 5 years part time!! Unfortunately I let it lapse after I started my family and didn't want to work nights anymore. Someday, after I retire, I plan to reinstate it, move to Mexico, and work part time teaching English. Of course, that is in ten years!!

Will you hire me, James?????

[Michele]

Originally Posted by maestranba

Jeez, I did my Master's Degree in TESOL and it took me 5 years part time!! Unfortunately I let it lapse after I started my family and didn't want to work nights anymore. Someday, after I retire, I plan to reinstate it, move to Mexico, and work part time teaching English. Of course, that is in ten years!!

Will you hire me, James?????

I'm afraid, by then, English will be the official language of Playa del Carmen.

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by Michele

I'm afraid, by then, English will be the official language of Playa del Carmen.

That would certainly help me with early retirement.

[maestranba]

Originally Posted by Michele

I'm afraid, by then, English will be the official language of Playa del Carmen.

Then I'll have to go further south, I'm afraid!