TESOL

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

TESOL is a multi - billion dollar industry - It is, on the whole, unregulated on a global scale. Over 1 million English teachers can be counted across the globe at any one time teaching English. Most are run with teachers' training at the fore front.

TESOL membership organizations are set up across the glob with a lose legal connection to the parent TESOL.org (a U.S. based group of teachers involved in TESOL related business's.) Before joining any group, determine what benefits you get for your membership fee and determine how the membership money is spent. Check the organization's bank balances per published Audits - see where the money is being spent and how that organization is advancing teacher's conditions. The newest TESOL Organization (TESOL PHilippines) has been legally set up with 7 Directors, office and staff. They provide TESOL certificates and training supported by the Philippine government.

TESOL CERTIFICATES: Caveat Emptor

Be aware of Korean Universities running TESOL: Certificates who claim to be affiliated with U.S. Universities. Inquiries have shown some Korean Universities to be falsifying the claim. Some Korean universities have established TESOL courses in order to 'cash in' on perceived 'cash cow' industry whilst offering courses that are of little value or use, but ply them with deceptive and false advertising so as to lure the applicants who pay high fees. Also be aware of some Korean Universities running TESOL Certificates who claim to be affiliated with U.S. Universities. Inquiries has shown some Korean Universities to be falsifying the claim thus you must contact the U.S. based university directly to check if the claim is true.

However, There are some very very good courses. Please carefully check each course's claims carefully. Also inquire about money back policies if the Course Provider does not have qualified instructors OR if you wish to pull out in the first 1/3 of the course.

If the TESOL certificate you are undertaking does not have clear provable links to Universities who in turn offer Credit for further study, you may be wasting your money. You need to carry out extensive checks about your TESOL provider.

Before undertaking any course, ask the question:-

(a) Is this course really necessary {only a few EFL/ESL countries require a recognized certificate}
(b) Is the Certificate recognized in the country I am going to and has the course been accredited by the I-TAA independent authority?
(c) Is the Certificate recognized or even required by my prospective employer?
(d) Am I buying a Certificate for the sake of having one, or am I learning something practical that will help me teach and advance my skills.
(e) Does the course have an ironclad money back guarantee should you decide to withdraw or find the course to be substandard.
(f) Most Important! Is the Certificate recognized by any University? Will you receive CREDIT - if not, save your money and time and keep shopping around.
(g) There are, however, some excellent on-line courses that are accredited. Potential employers (universities and many government EFL programs -EPIK, NET, JET) will NOT consider an on-line certificate that has not been accredited by the I-TAA.

In most cases, you will find that if you have a University degree, you do not need the Certificate as you will get on the job training - but confirm this with your employer to be.