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SIDELINES //

Share Your Thoughts: CELTA vs. TESOL Programs

by Mike Richard

Fellow traveler, Aimée, writes in to ask a bit of advice on CELTA versus TESOL teaching programs:

I’m focusing on confronting my fears of navigating a path in the world alone and getting a plan of action into place. I’ve been investigating teaching English in Asia and South America and have decided to get certified abroad – my first baby step.

As far as I can deduce from the world wide web, CELTA and TESOL programs are everywhere. I can’t seem to get an answer about which program might be the better choice. Or perhaps there’s another I haven’t considered?

Any articles from the past or recent opinions out there about teaching abroad with either a TESOL vs. CELTA certificate? Is one worth more than the other?

Very very best to y’all
~ Aimée

Anyone have any thoughts on either of these programs? Which one might be more appropriate or worthwhile? Any pertinent resources? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Related topics: Language, Sidelines

About the Author


Vagabondish editor, Mike Richard, lives in Rhode Island - a spit of land in the northeastern U.S. He is a professional web designer and travel junkie with an unhealthy addiction to backpacking, camping, hiking and seeing the world. He enjoys knit hats, small, declarative sentences and speaking in the third person.

Share Your Thoughts

Carlton
April 16th, 2009

According to my students and friends in Central Africa, it is the TESOL, which, at least there, is the basis for language education. One of my dear friends runs a translation and language learning center for officials and personnel of the various N.G.O. institutions located in Goma, North Kivu, D.R. Congo: the AMANI LANGUAGE CENTER.

And he, along with others, mentioned recently this fact. He is fluent in English and about 7 other languages.

Jessica
April 17th, 2009

It depends on where you want to travel with your certificate and how much you want to earn. Theoretically, you *could* get a job anywhere with a basic TOEFL degree, but a lot of places–mainly europe–will prefer or even require a CELTA, or its equivalent. (and example of its equivalent would be the BridgeTEFL “IDELT”, which you can look up at http://www.bridgetefl.com)

The reason some employers want CELTA certification is pretty simple: The “C” in CELTA stands for Cambridge, so the classes are Cambridge certified and overseen, so the employer knows exactly what kind of training you´ve been through. Also, it´s pretty rigorous: 4-weeks and practically 12-16 hours a day, when you throw in classes, teching practice, planning, and outside class work.

If you´re just getting your feet wet, I´d suggest trying an online certification (which, although just basic, is cheaper and you can still find jobs with it) to make sure you really like the TEFL path before you drop the $2000 on a CELTA course (+ expenses!) I personally got mine online certification through BridgeTEFL and will probably get my IDELT or CELTA (i´m still deciding which, too!) through them when I graduate college next year.

So yes, it can be a tough choice, but rest assured that no matter what your decision, you´ll be able to teach SOMEWHERE with WHATEVER you do. If you find you need CELTA certification or just want it, you can always go back and get it.. ;)

I hope this helps! :D

Aimee
April 20th, 2009

Hey – thanks to you both!

Jessica – i think it makes sense to go whole hog when it comes to education. I’m going to find as reputable a program as possible. Online courses on the internet look like a crap shoot…

Does anyone out there have an opinion about courses with SIT?

The CELTA or the SIT…

and particularly – the courses offered in Chiang Mai?

this is my specific and particular dilemma.

I live in the US and will eventually return to the US – does it make sense for me to pursue the CELTA?

Of course – teaching in Europe would be a dream…

Any American ESL experts out there who advise for or against the CELTA for eventually seeking work in the US?

Or are these certificates really interchangeable??

Still wondering ~

Aimée

Kevin
July 16th, 2009

On reading that IDELT and CElTA are like programs I would love to hear from Jessica what her research has found. Is IDELT seperate from a TEFL certification. Should I get both certifications TEFL and IDELT? Or does IDELT include TEFL? I am trying to map out what I wish to do. Thank you

Chris
August 20th, 2009

The “C” in CELTA stands for Certificate not Cambridge. CELTA means Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. It was designed by the University of Cambridge.

IDELT means International Diploma in English Language Teaching.

I’m trying to decide which is better, or if both are equivalent.

edwin
September 11th, 2009

Greetings!
TESOL/TEFL/TESL is the generic name and Cambridge CELTA is a particular brand of tesol/tefl/tesl, just like the Trinity Cert TESOL. Another “brand” is the SIT TESOL which claims to be an equivalent of the celta and trinity, although based on my recent research the latter two are more widely recognized.





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