Footprints Recruiting

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Home Required Qualifications Do I need certification or TESL?

Do I need certification or TESL?

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ESL - EFL - ELT - ESOL - TEFL - TESL - TESOL - CELTA - B.Ed - M.Ed

HELP!!! This industry is full of acronyms (click here for ESL acronyms defined). Should I take a TESL course or where should I start with things...

Often enough, Korean ELT employers are unaware of the standard, internationally recognized ELT training programs and certificates. Unfortunately, some Korean employers view language-teaching as something that people do for a couple of years after finishing university, and they are surprised if one pursues it as a career. This attitude tends to favor the unqualified and inexperienced applicant but certainly does not benefit Koreans trying to learn English.

On a personal note, I started teaching in Korea without a teaching certificate, without any experience and without TEFL/TESL or TESOL, in fact I hadn't even heard of the acronyms and ESL was still undefined for me. It took me all of about a week to realize I was in over my head. Yes, the school had textbooks and workbooks but I received no training on how to put a lesson together or manage a class. It took me about 2 months to actually figure that out and that was only because I was driven to succeed and I felt terrible for my poor students who were received sub-par English lessons. I highly recommend taking a TEFL course before you go or starting one a couple weeks after you arrive.



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