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Posts: 85

Governor

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Q: What is the best accreditation to look for from online TESOL?

I need to do my certificate online and am trying to be sure that I get it done through a properly accredited program.

 

I have seen:

ITAA

ACTDEC

 

Are these the two biggest ones to look for or is there another one that is more recognized?

 

Perhaps the future also holds teaching in Japan or Korea (if that may also be important).

 

Thanks!

11 years 49 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
Answers (7)
Comments (4)
Posts: 35

Governor

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The disadvantage with most online courses is that you do not get any teaching practice, Some of the online course may have an opportunity to do some teaching practice.

 

This is a course where holders of TEFL certificate can get teaching experience.

https://www.tefl-online.com/teachingpractices/

 

Also some TEFL courses are part time which may make it easier for to study in a TEFL school in person.

 

I don't know which is the best online one. Check to see if they are accredited by anyone or have some body that approves them. I did a course in person and not online that was accredited by ACELS.

 

Good luck with your future.

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11 years 49 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1008

Shifu

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i to i, it has schools on line and can also do a practicum in Shanghai or Beijing along with taking the courses their also. But, it's not worth the price unless you do a trip to Prague

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11 years 49 weeks ago
 
Posts: 7715

Emperor

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Where do you want that qualification to take you? Once you decide that, take a look at the reputable jobs there, and see what they require. Most will say no online certificates. As Techezee said, they don't really give you much teaching practice, which is why the CELTA and Trinity are regarded well - you do a stack of teaching practice (and evaluate other learner-teachers).

 

Unless there's a stack of video, and plenty of correspondence opportunites, I wouldn't bother with an online.

 

And, given that I just mentioned the 2 most world-widely accepted programs, and you can do them close to here, why would you bother doing online? (yeah, I get the need for online, but still... sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet!).

 

If you want Japan, they want quality! Which means, you'll need to back up your good certification with something decent...

 

OTOH, if you've been teaching for a few years, you could go for the DELTA - there is an online program for it (but you'll need to nominate someoen to oversee your teaching).

MissA:

What he said!

11 years 49 weeks ago
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FruitIsGood:

I currently have 7 months 1:1 teaching experience and about 1.5 months classroom teaching experience. It is hard for me to do an in-person program because I am also a full-time editor for a Chinese company. Thusly I am contemplating the online option in whatever "free-time" I have left. 

 

I'd really like to get two years of company editing experience before I make a shift to teaching (and then I'd still do editing P/T).

 

That being said, are there any online ones that you think are better than others? The one that I mentioned was:  linguaedge.com

In regards to Japan or other locales that have higher standards, I would say by the time I consider those places, I will have partnered with an English school in China. I'll probably have added a Master's Degree to the online TESOL by then (and I agree, the online TESOL only goes so far--which is why I am already accumulating some experience without it). -FruitIsGood

11 years 48 weeks ago
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steve0sha:

summed up well, Online are normally not worth the paper they printed on but if you are using it just for visa document purposes then its up to you if you do it.

11 years 48 weeks ago
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Shining_brow:

Well Fruit, if that's your plan, may I suggest - just get a dodgey TESOL now (as cheap as you can, as long as it's something (or nothing!), and then do one of the 'real' ones later.

 

I suspect it's actually what a few people do... I certainly did! Dodgey TESOL in Australia, followed by the CELTA after a couple of years here. The first gets your money and foot in the door here. The other gets youi to the rest of the world (and, I doulbt too many would look too closely at the date of it... not that it would really matter if you've got reference letters and all)

11 years 48 weeks ago
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11 years 49 weeks ago
 
Posts: 703

Shifu

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I did mine online with 'linguaedge'.

2 thumbs up

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11 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2186

Emperor

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I haven't seen much call for it in China as they seem to only really want a degree (any degree), however, CELTA (Cambridge English Language Teaching for Adults) is widely recognised as being the best entry-level qualification out there, but as has already been stated it is not available online due to the fact you have to teach live classes as part of the course.

 

My course was a 2 week course in British Study Centre in Oxford and I  can highly recommend it.

 

The absolute top level qualification is DELTA (Diploma in English Language Teaching for Adults) however, while you can get this online you need CELTA first and you then need 2 years teaching experience before being accepted, (it is administered by the same organisation that administers CELTA i.e. Cambridge University). The course is 4 weeks residential (my CELTA tutor advised against this as he says it is EXTREMELY challenging) or 9 months online. There may be some APL or equivalents accepted for entry to DELTA but I am not sure.

 

In my opinion these are both excellent qualifications that will prepare you quite well for teaching adults, but I haven't seen many places in China asking for them, most places I have come across will take virtually any qualification, additionally many schools in China will want you to teach children regardless of the fact CELTA (and DELTA) are adult teaching qualifications.

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11 years 35 weeks ago
 
Posts: 50

Governor

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I agree with the comments about CELTA and DELTA.  However, you can consider an online programme if you have already been teaching for a while to get a foundation.  I have found that most schools who do not directly ask for CELTA or DELTA will accept an online foundational programme as long as you have verifiable practical teaching experience.  Just ask your current employer to write a "letter of experience" noting the number of hours you have taught, and ask them to allow an experienced teacher/trainer to assess you and write some comments.  Personally, if I were just starting out [which I'm not], I would choose a programme with a solid grammar base.  I would also look for a programme that had hands-on inputs about teaching reading, writing, and speaking.  The other stuff is not too important.

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11 years 17 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1968

Emperor

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Frankly, if you are thinking of doing an on-line TESOL course to get the TESOL certificate to get the work permit as now required in some provinces here, then most schools are all alike.  If you are in China and have time, then there is the Will-Excel program in Harbin which is on site with a  paid practicum.  The Brits push the CELTA and the DELTA but a TESOL certificate is still more universally accepted in terms of simply getting the visa.  If you have the time and want a higher level, sure the CE LTA, but then again, if you have the time, why not do a Master's degree?

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11 years 17 weeks ago
 
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