Teach English in TaojiA Zhen - Chongqing

online tefl courses vs onsite TEFL coursesTypically, it is necessary for a young English tefl teacher pursuing their first teaching job to obtain an accredited tefl certification. This can seem a bit daunting at first, as there are an abundance of programs to choose from. A simple Google search will reveal a staggering number of programs and a perspective student is left to wonder, ?Which one of these choices will be the best for me?? Naturally, this answer will vary from person to person. However, I strongly believe that you should weigh a number pros and cons before arriving at a decision. Monetary cost of a program is perhaps the largest factor. I know that it was for me. In fact, most tefl teachers starting out are younger people typically fresh out of college and most likely have a need to budget their funds very carefully. Some of these TEFL programs come with extremely large price tags. This may make a program that looks wonderful on paper take a back seat. In my hometown of Pittsburgh, there are several world-class universities nearby that offer outstanding programs using Cambridge methods. However, the $3,000 price tag of these programs made them unreachable for me. I have monthly bills and student loans to repay and thus, I had to choose a program that could fit into my budget. I?d advise anyone else to do the same. Time is a factor. I believe that this is the second largest factor in making a TEFL program decision. A perspective student must consider exactly what can be squeezed into what may be perhaps, an already be a hectic schedule. An onsite tefl course will have a set schedule, which may offer the stability that some students will need. These classes will meet on set days and times for (potentially) 6-8 weeks, until students complete the 120-course hour requirement. However, some students (like myself) may struggle to fit such a regimented program into a busy schedule. An online program can offer you the flexibility to complete a program at a much more relaxed pace and in your own free time. This can be a huge difference maker in you own decision. How well do you work on you own? This is something that you will need to know about yourself before you make a final decision on this subject. Some people are very capable of learning on their own, reading all the necessary materials, doing all of the practice work and displaying a sound understanding of the knowledge that they have gained. However, this is not true of everyone. In fact, a lot of individuals will struggle in such a non-traditional classroom situation. There is a lot to be said for having the personal touch of the in classroom experience and having the personal support of your instructor as well as your peers. This can be a difference maker when you are struggling with a course?s materials. If you work well independently, you may be suited for an online tefl course, if not you will need to consider other options. The greatest advice I can give to anyone hoping to make a final decision would involve two last tidbits. 1) ?Word of mouth?? Consider what your peers have to say. Talk to people who have participated in both types of programs and see how they feel about them in hindsight. 2) Accreditation- MANDATORY! Before beginning any program, make sure that their teaching credentials are recognized. When I did my interview for korea?s EPIK program they didn?t care where my training had taken place, but they did want to know that the program I participated in was legitimate. Here are a few Internet articles that I found to be helpful in making a decision: http://www.tefllife.com/certificate-course http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/sec_document.asp?CID=27&DID=2557