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Posts: 1999 | Location: Retired. | Registered: 30 June 2005
The biggest issue is that most employers won't consider such courses as being valid.
Yes - any training is better than NO training - but employers who request a certificate generally want a cert that has a minimum of 100+ classroom hours of instruction and at least six hours of observed teaching practice.
I think that in terms of giving you a better understanding of TEFL (i.e. grammar, class techniques, ideas for lessons etc) and a mini-introduction to the ins and outs, then it can be worth it. However, as has already been pointed out, many places want you to have a CELTA/Trinity etc with a great deal of assessed classroom experience. (Which quite frankly is fair enough as the theory is nothing like the actual work!).
Personally, I did an online and weekend TEFL course while I was still in other work, to give me a taste so I could see if I liked it! It also helped me to get to know some of the lingo and think about lesson plans etc. Later on I did the CELTA and I think that having the previous certificate was a positive as I was already aware of some TEFL issues.
However, it may be just as useful to read a couple of books, talk to people who've done TEFL courses, and do some voluntary work!!!!!
Posts: 25 | Location: UK | Registered: 15 April 2007
