This post will be a little more informative, covering topics like what it takes to teach English abroad, the types of schools, classes, and certifications, and how I chose the route I am taking. ITA stands for the International TEFL Academy, and that is the name of the school that I will be getting my TEFL certification from in 2019. There are dozens of options for schools and the types of certifications that can be attained to teach English around the world, but I chose ITA for a few reasons.
ITA, as per its name, is an internationally recognized school as it follows and exceeds the standards required to become a certified English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. The school needs to be an accredited school and must meet the following guidelines. As a student the course is required to have 100 hours of instruction by an instructor with a Masters degree and a background in ESL, and 6 hours of practicum (live teaching experience) in order to be certified. ITA's online course is 150 hours of instruction from a qualified teacher with training on how to teach, how to create a lesson plan, how to work with students, etc. as well as a 20 hour practicum (170 hours total). Their online course is part time and will take 11 weeks to complete. They have a few 4-week courses that are full time in a few different states and countries, but they are more costly and intensive. I, personally, would rather learn at a slower pace here in the States, while I can still work and generate an income and save a few thousand dollars. Once I graduate with my certification I plan to start teaching English online on the side. Doing this I can gain some experience to make myself more marketable, while also becoming familiar in a new role. That way I will at least be comfortable teaching when I get to a new country, there will be enough stressors of trying to acclimate to a new country, culture, language, and more. If I am at least comfortable in my job I know I will do well. There are 3 main ESL certifications, TESOL, TEFL, and CELTA. Respectively, Teaching English as a Second Language, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and the Cambridge University ESL Program. From what I understand, CELTA is one of the original programs, and most widely recognized, however, the others are becoming just as recognized and accepted. I liken it to an Ivy league degree versus a degree from any other university, just as good, just not Ivy League. Certain countries may have a preference for which certification you have, but overall, having any of these is going to be good enough to get hired as an ESL teacher. The certification along with a Bachelors degree is all that is required in most countries, however, some schools or countries may be more selective. They may require a higher degree of education, a specific certification, a certain number of years of teaching experience, a degree in Education, etc., but these extra requirements are the exception, not the norm. I was also drawn to ITA because of their continuous support of their students. From the first request for information about their certification program to post-graduation life-long Job Search Assistance, they care about their students and want to see them succeed. Since I don't have much experience traveling abroad I would appreciate some guidance from those who have been there, done that. I am happy they have advisors that are willing to show me the ropes of how to build a resume, which schools to contact, how to navigate a contract, and more. My advisor Chelsea Hendrickx ([email protected]) lived in Japan for 2 years, so she is able to encourage me with personal experience. All of ITA's teachers and advisors have experience living and/or teaching abroad, and they are available to help with questions every step of the way. They have contacts and students in 80 countries and provided a lot of assistance to me before I even enrolled as a student. While there are many cheaper online schools that are accredited, not all of them provide as much assistance or firsthand knowledge. So, that's a summary of ITA, how I chose them, and what my next steps are. If you have any questions about ITA or ESL in general leave them in the comments and I would be happy to help! Thank you for reading! Much love, Jess
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AuthorJessica Marie Cunningham - Intentional lifestyle blogger, aspiring author, and podcast host. All things Slow Living, Books, Writing, Art, creativity, Christianity, and personal stories. Archives
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