teaching tefl here I come...

[makiboy]

So I'm starting an online TEFL course thing and it suggests I get some books. I'm gonna look them up on free cycle and such but thought maybe someone out there would like to make some space on a book shelf and there's always a small possibility one of you has one of these

Comments

[urbankat]

I have most of those books, but since I now like in Montreal they aint much use to you.
Which online course are you going to do and have you thought where you are going to teach after? I only ask cos if you're going to Asia it's fine but if you want to work in the EU you're gonna need a TEFL course with face-to-face teaching time, such as the CELTA.
Kx

[urbankat]

I'm doing the i-to-i course. One of my friends had said she'd met lots of tefl people and i-to-i seemed like one of the best. They do an intensive 20 hour weekend course which is all face-to-face stuff I imagine and they can get you placements in Spain and all over the world apparently. I want to go to Spain because I want to learn Spanish.
Apparently to be a teacher there it is really competitive but I've never tried to be the best at anthing so maybe it will motivate me.
So if you have all the books are they all as useful as the TEFL people say?

[makiboy]

oops, that's me.

[urbankat]

I've taught TEFL for 5 years and I'd say that Swan and Harmer are useful books imo. Murphy is something I recommend to students rather than teachers.

Some useful info here on the TEFL LJ community: http://community.livejournal.com/tefl/10474.html
I just hate to see people waste money on an online course, when most reputable schools ask for a 120 hour face to face course. There are places you can do CELTA in Edinburgh.

[makiboy]

Now I wish I'd asked sooner. I've given i-to i my money and started the course now. I was worried the situation would be something like this but had dreams of getting away to teach english and live somewhere new and see the world. Curse my over eagerness and lack of planning (probably not good qualities for a teacher to have).

Well I can't really afford not to be working atm so doing an online course means I can do it all in evenings and stuff and I'm not actually living in ed any more. They find me a job as well, apparently, so maybe if I can get a years contract and some experience then I can find out if I actually like it or not. If it's all good after that I can still go do a CELTA.

I'm glad you got back to me. At least I know the reality now rather than the shiny lies of the glossy pamphlet i-to-i sent me.

[urbankat]

Don't worry. I taught in Korea with a 100 hour online certificate and a 20 hour f2f course and I was fine. Just like you said, after a year I decided I wanted to continue and then I did my 120 f2f hour Celta. Doing something like the Celta is cheaper in Spain anyway so that's a plus. And if you do end up in Edinburgh again you can do the Celta part-time in the evenings and weekends. That's what I did cos I was working a regular IT job during the week. You'll be fine, I just wanted to make you aware of the bigger picture. :-)

[makiboy]

Thankyou :-) It sort of feels like the wheels of fate are clicking into place a little bit. But then I can get philosophical about everything.