Anyone done a TEFL/CELTA course???

AHAHAHAHAHA I was principal *heaves bosom in matronly fashion* of Aspect in Central London for 5 years and then ran my own school. Still teach at times but got a bit sick of cleaning up vomit and sorting out teenage pregnancies and septic tatoos. (don't want to put you off though.....)

God am a terrible show off, sorry.

You've done all that and you're so young.........wow i'm really impressed Rachel.

thank you! Am now 30 and unemployed but hey ho......

...vomit..septic tattoos.....mmmm well at least my nursing will come in handy.. so if I need help with homework then.....

..... any time! ;-) (oh and should have said, well done for getting accepted - they are really tough about who they take on)

vomit..septic tattoos was that the teachers or the pupils?

Both - I had to deliver a baby once too but that's another story... (and we don't want to put hovis off)

...put me off!!! nooooooo.......sounz hilarious.. not :( so should I got to IH or wot??????? did I say my real name was Indie Cisive

I would say IH. They've accepted you, they're good and they can probably get you a placement afterwards.

You delivered a baby.........Wow again. you're Megatastic Rachey.........perhaps i shouldn't have said that because you might show off again, but i don't care if you do.

Neither do I!! We have a bonafide crystal of excellence within t'midst... now is your head blocking out the sun yet??? lol

Yes there is total eclipse! Hahaha - thanks guys!

Thanks guys - your comments are much appreciated! I've been accepted at Barnet College and International House, both CELTA. It does sound as if it's going to be 4 weeks of hard labour - but I am sort of looking forward to it....homework....mmm I am more drawn to the course at Barnet as it was quite relaxed and friendly - as I did find Int House a bit too slick and corporate. But if, as you say Rachel, they are more likely to guarantee work afterwards I might need to reconsider. Are they supposed to be the creme de la creme or have they acquired the snob value because they're the most expensive?!! Anyway your feedback's definitely helped me.

IH were generally recognised as the best about 10 years ago, and with schools all over the world they can usually get you a placement (you're right though, there is a certain snob value in it and the Piccaddilly - sp?- centre is quite up its own ars.e). Certainly in my DOS days I would choose a recent IH graduate over some others. FE College courses are v. good and more relaxed but make sure that you will get experience teaching multi-nationality classes - some of the FE CELTA / TESOL courses that I know of only teach single nationality and they are v. different and less attractive to certain schools. Also make sure the Barnet course is the RSA qualification and not their own diploma as if you want to work in a British Council recognised school (they pay much better than the bucket shops on Oxford Street) you have to be RSA qualified. Another option which is cheaper than IH but v. well thought of is Hammersmith and West London college (I did my Dip TEFL there and a friend of mine is the head of teacher training there - she is far and away the best teacher I have ever seen at work). Good luck!

Cheer and thanks again Rachel - strangely enough I have an application form from Hammersmith winging its way to me at the mo!!! And I will def find out if Barnet is RSA/multi nationality etc. I'm a bit restricted as to my choice unfortunato as timing is crucial to me - I finish working here end of April and I don't want to hang around for a few months until I get in somewhere - it's the money/drain aspect. I think perhaps I should overcome my inverted snobbery and just got to IH - you're the second person I know that studied there and you've both suggested it's got the best reputation. Trouble is I could seriously damage it!!!!!! So you sound like you're well qualified in esol/tesol/tefal effal - did you work in that environment for a while? and did you enjoy???? thanks again judex

Cheer's'!!!!

Gosh isn't Rachel brainy and wonderful?

...she sure is - the oracle of abc

Where are you thinking of doing it, Hovis? The 4 week is really intensive - proper hard work. However, it's the best way to get it over with. The reason I ask where you are doing it is because some of the bigger schools e.g. International House and Shane guarantee work afterwards (although you can't be choosy where). Email me if you want more info.

Do the Trinity Cert TESOL or the CELTA. They are the only two recognised worldwide *prepares for subsequent backlash*. And snobs say that only CELTA is worth doing. Be prepared to work from 9-5 at college, Mon to Fri, for 4 weeks, with a bunch of sometimes odd people. On the course I did it was a mixed bag of prospective language teachers. Then when you get home you'll need to do at least 2 hours study/making flashcards per night. And at the weekend - well, put aside the weekends as well for 4 weeks. If you like glueing and sticking, and cutting out, ESL/EFL/TEFL/TESOL/ESOL and so forth, is for you. If you like meeting and mixing with people from every land under the sun, and working with them, it's for you (either that or join the royal family). If you like languages, it's for you. As Rachel says, it gets it out of the way. And there'll be a job at the end of it, abroad or maybe even in the UK. And it's a pretty interesting way to spend a month. Well worth the money. If you don't use it immediately, it's pretty good on your CV for a later date. I did the Trinity Cert TESOL and only got to use it two years later, but it got me a full-time job in FE in this country. A good "door-opener"...

I did one too. Used it to travel abroad - Czech Republic, Japan, Australia. It's not really hard work, just that there's quite a lot to do in a short space of time. I'd recommend it although it hasn't opened any doors up for me here - but that's probably me. Feel free to email me if you want any specific info.