Best Way To Get Started With TEFL?

Thanks for the input Gonzo.

I'm curious if anyone here has taught abroad with just a TEFL certificate, or a CELTA?

That would be me. I did the 60 hr. online course with i-to-i. I don't have a degree and even worse, I don't have US, UK, or AUS in my passport
I chose the online TEFL program, because it was the cheapest. I figured I'd get my experience on the job and sure enough, the first few days of teaching I was quite nervous. It all worked out well though. From what I actually learned in my course, less than 10% was actually useful in real life or applicable in the Chinese classroom. In the end I'm glad that I didn't take a 'better' classroom type of course, because I don't think that those courses would in anyway resemble real life classroom situations. With these credentials it hasn't always been easy to find a (good) job, but until now things have always worked out for me.

Jarrett, I'm about to confuse you.

Martin and I have had opposite experiences.  Like him, I decided to avoid the expense of a TEFL course and learn on the job.

Unlike Martin, the decision blew up in my face.  For the first 2 months i was an incompetent teacher; for a third I was distinctly mediocre.

My school teachers along the year; each had taken a TEFL course WITH CLASSROOM PRACTICE.  They looked nervous shaky for the first week, then settled in and taught well- their lesson plans were sound.  Their textbooks were chock full of great, useful stuff that I stole from constantly.

Maybe you're a Quick Martin, maybe you're a Slow Con.  Do you wanna throw the dice?  You know my take.

Haha, you guys are great.

First of all, I'd love to praise all of you for lending me your ear, and giving me some advise. I'm currently looking into volunteering as a TA at a local school (Thanks Monk).

Second.  Martin, thank you very much for providing the little bit of hope I was looking for!  Someone who actually took the course and is working.  How is getting a job/etc. going for you anyway?  Staying busy? 

I hear you guys, and a lot of other people saying there are a lot of sketchy jobs out there.  I assume, for the jobs I would be elligible for, would be mostly along those lines.  Martin, or anyone; what do you look for in a job?  Any tell-tale signs?

Con- You didn't confuse me, you helped me.  I thank you!

You've all been very gracious in my time of confusion, thank you so much.

The best way to suss out good vs. bad schools is simply to correspond with them.  Send them your resume, then ask questions abour the gig they're filling.  When you get answers, ask another round of questions; repeat until satisfied.The Chinese, cautious and methodical by nature in negotiations, understand and respect this approach.

Do this with several schools at once, whittling them down until you settle on one.

Is this ethical?  Yes.  Schools will negotiate with you, promising the moon and stars and trying to emotionally blackmail you into signing with them- then suddenly stop replying to you because they got someone else.  So you need to field multiple offers.

One last thing: many schools employ the bait-and-switch strategy to FT recruitment: promise them whatever it takes to get them over, then offer them a crap deal and try to scare them into signing.  A good tip is to watch for any school that says NO to one of your requests.  They at least aren't just shinola'ing you.
 

In China, my MINIMUM requirements would be

1.  4,000 RMB per month
2.  Single, furnished accomodation (with basic utilities and Western-style toilet)
3.  Z-visa and/or Resident Permit
4.  maximum hours = 20 per week

Second.  Martin, thank you very much for providing the little bit of hope I was looking for!  Someone who actually took the course and is working.  How is getting a job/etc. going for you anyway?  Staying busy? 

I have just started my fourth job since I arrived in China. I have to admit that without a degree and being one of the elusive non-native English speakers, I've had my fair share of frustration. At the end of one term and the beginning of another I'm always busy writing stacks of emails and posting my resume where ever I can. However, since schools will start looking for the ideal candidate first and only when they haven't found someone when the term is about to start, they will loosen their demands on qualifications. So for me it has been a combination of waiting (which has been stressful) and boldly marketing myself in my emails.
 
I must also add that I am quite picky. 'Even' with my credentials there are more than plenty of jobs out there, but I don't want 'a job'; I want a good job. Upto now I have always managed to secure a good job at the last minute. I've worked at nice schools in interesting cities with nice students and (relatively) good salaries.
The sad thing for me is that at the end of a term, students and management always tell me that I've done such a wonderful job and ask (sometimes beg) if I want to stay for another term. Once I'm in, all is good. To GET in is the challenge.

Oh, and despite the fact that some TEFL certification centres might warn you that some schools won't accept an online certificate, I have never had problems or questions about that. It might become the case with prestigious schools or in other countries, but my guess is that for most schools the fact that it says 'TEFL' is enough.

I hear you guys, and a lot of other people saying there are a lot of sketchy jobs out there.  I assume, for the jobs I would be elligible for, would be mostly along those lines.  Martin, or anyone; what do you look for in a job?  Any tell-tale signs?

First of all I won't work at a language centre because of the high hours vs. low pay AND small class sizes (5 to 10 sts/class at most). I like the energy in big(ger) classes. Besides, you have to prepare less material in big classes.
Secondly, it greatly depends on what age you want or think you want to teach. I have taught just about all grades in primary, middle school, high school and college. Primary was fun, but exhausting. Some people swear by teaching non but kindergarten. Middle school didn't do it for me. You're more of a police agent than a teacher there (in my experience anyway). I had a blast with high school and after my last term of great college students I decided to stick with college or uni. I just had my first day at my new college today; the teaching is a bit more challenging, but a I have lovely contract.
So when I was surfing for my last and forlast job, I only looked at high school or above.
At last, the salary. Ok, if you want to make money you shouldn't come to China, but if I have a choice, I will of course choose the job with the best salary package I can get.

In China, my MINIMUM requirements would be

1.  4,000 RMB per month
2.  Single, furnished accomodation (with basic utilities and Western-style toilet)
3.  Z-visa and/or Resident Permit
4.  maximum hours = 20 per week

I would not work for this. Even not when I was just starting in China.
For 20 lessons/hours/periods per week (which is most common) I wouldn't consider less than 5000 per month or maybe 4500 if the location is really nice. 4500 in Yangshuo for example; then at least you have a wonderful scenery to enjoy on your days off.
Z-visa, of course. Preferably provided AND paid for.
For a salary like this however, I would also want a plane ticket reimbursed (usually they offer 8000 for a year and 4000 for a half year contract) and/or some sort of bonus. Some call it travel allowance, some call it end-of-contract-bonus, I don't care but it has to be something. 2000 to 5000 for one year.

When I get serious with a school I always ask for one or two phone numbers of former or current foreign teachers to hear them out about their experiences.

When I get serious with a school I always ask for one or two phone numbers of former or current foreign teachers to hear them out about their experiences.

Amen, Martin.

Jarrett, don't get too cowed by the process.  It's a cool country, and with due diligence you'll get what you want.

Thanks for all the advise, I'm printing and grabbing the highlighter as we speak.

I've heard that for TEFL Certificates, the "Standard" is 100 hours of course-work.  Oxford Seminars is 60 hours.  Does it REALLY matter?  I read a post somewhere that stated schools may just shoo you away if you don't have 100+ hours.

Both of my schools just wanted to see the certificate, they didn't ask how long it was.  BTW, I used Oxford Seminars too and was fortunate in that the person who taught the course had spent several years teaching in Korea.  It might be something to ask about, whether the instructors have practical ESL experience.  Just checked the certificate, it does indeed say 60 hour course on it.  If you've done anything with the scout movement, summer camps, etc. be sure to include it on a CV.

Threads like this are so incredibly frustrating for me...

If you're going to proceed with this, then the particular certificate you get, the hours of course work, and so on don't matter much at all in 99.9999% of cases. Unless you're getting a CELTA or Trinity or a BS in TEFL, all certificates are viewed about the same.

Threads like this are so incredibly frustrating for me...

If you're going to proceed with this, then the particular certificate you get, the hours of course work, and so on don't matter much at all in 99.9999% of cases. Unless you're getting a CELTA or Trinity or a BS in TEFL, all certificates are viewed about the same.

I apologize for frusterating you...

Just trying to understand how everything works.  I'm happy that you understand the in-and-outs of this whole process, but I don't.  I had no idea that it doesn't matter how long the course is, hence why I asked.

Thanks again.

Jarrett, don't worry about frustrating Raoul.  LOL!  Now back to the topic, the missus has a 60 hour i-to-i course backing up her college degree and certificates.  For her, the idea of taking a specific course for teaching ESL (she has taught for around 20 years) was the drawing card - enlarging the comfort zone so-to-speak before heading to China.  Raoul is dead on the money.  Few here care what or where the certificate indicates.  It is simply a matter of having something to make them shine when they are audited.  Certificates in China are like proofs of purchase, not indicating proficiency, but indicating you have paid the price of entry.

So, it becomes more about what do you want to have before coming so that YOU feel comfortable entering into our wild, wacky, wonderful, weird world of teaching in China?

Jarrett, don't worry about frustrating Raoul.  LOL!  Now back to the topic, the missus has a 60 hour i-to-i course backing up her college degree and certificates.  For her, the idea of taking a specific course for teaching ESL (she has taught for around 20 years) was the drawing card - enlarging the comfort zone so-to-speak before heading to China.  Raoul is dead on the money.  Few here care what or where the certificate indicates.  It is simply a matter of having something to make them shine when they are audited.  Certificates in China are like proofs of purchase, not indicating proficiency, but indicating you have paid the price of entry.

So, it becomes more about what do you want to have before coming so that YOU feel comfortable entering into our wild, wacky, wonderful, weird world of teaching in China?

Glad to hear it, thank you for the information.

I'm going to an informational seminar tonight; which contains anything I would ever want to know about TEFL.  Hopefully I'll extract every bit of knowledge I need to make my decision.

I'm looking forward to be nieghbors with all of you!

Cheers.

Asking is not the frustrating part. Asking is wonderful. Just forget I said anything.

Hi Jarrett.  In under 40 days I will be Beijing taking a TEFL class because it was not available in my area.  I am taking it to get some classroom exposure even though I have taught small groups of people computer classes at work.  I also have no idea how to prepare lessons because I've only ever taught from provided materials. 

Many of the postings here are the same or similar to when I asked the question a few months back!  (a good thing!)

I have the means to pay for my TEFL and accommodations in China. Some people don't so that might factor into your decision.