Opinions of part-time+online+practicum TEFL Certifications
Posted: 18 Feb 2012, 23:38
I am planning to take a TEFL Certification course within the next few months and have been extensively researching options of all types. I have pretty much ruled out the online only certifications for both my own reasons and the limitations they inherently have with regards to real life human-human interaction in teaching, job opportunities overseas (I am looking at Asia), flexibility, and even salary. The three big name, full-time options of CELTA, Trinity, and SIT are all great for very obvious reasons to me. I understand how valuable they are, yet it isn't appealing to me to quit my already full-time and decent job (albeit growing increasingly unsatisfying) in order to get either of these before seriously applying for jobs. This has lead me to wondering why there aren't more part-time TEFL certifications over 2 or 3 months for those that would like to have a source of income during training and aren't concerned with cramming as much material into as short a period of time as possible in attaining a TEFL certification. I understand the business aspect of CELTA in taking four weeks... they can have more classes and train more people in a given year which ultimately is more profitable for them, but I would like to better absorb what I am being exposed to and learning.
Has anyone here done combination part time programs such as the one at TEFL Institute's website? They have a 120 hour program that is 50 in-classroom onsite, peer to peer training, 50 of online, and 20 of practicum. Some others I have discovered don't have the practicum but are still considered 100 hours total but all are over the course of several weekends over the course of several weeks. For those of you that have more experience in the TEFL world, how would you rate something like this? Pros and Cons? I really appreciate any advice and thoughts you have!
Has anyone here done combination part time programs such as the one at TEFL Institute's website? They have a 120 hour program that is 50 in-classroom onsite, peer to peer training, 50 of online, and 20 of practicum. Some others I have discovered don't have the practicum but are still considered 100 hours total but all are over the course of several weekends over the course of several weeks. For those of you that have more experience in the TEFL world, how would you rate something like this? Pros and Cons? I really appreciate any advice and thoughts you have!