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Suzanne Furstner Scholarship 2014 – Winning Entry

Congratulations to Shervin Hejazi who has won this year’s Suzanne Furstner Scholarship. Shervin wins a 4-week CertTESOL course in Prague with Oxford House TEFL during 2015.

‘My Dream Teaching Job’ by Shervin Hejazi

“Time up!”

The class of students put their pens down, except the odd one or two who frantically try to finish their last sentence. It is my weekly intermediate English class to young Spanish students who wish to be fluent in the English language, and today’s exercise is to write about your ‘dream job’.

“Alex,” I call, “would you like to start?”

Alex beams as he elevates his notebook and begins to describe his dream job. “My dream job,” Alex begins proudly, “is to be the President of the United States!”

Suddenly the class erupts into laughter.

“Alex,” his colleague Cris whispers, “you know you’re not an American citizen, right? Kind of importante.”

“Oh,” Alex bemoans, his head sinking as the beam disappears from his face.

“Hey,” I interrupt the class’s unanimous laughter, “let’s not put Alex down. If he wants to be the President, he can be the President.” I look directly at Alex. “Alex, I challenge you to be the first Latino to be the President of America. That’s definitely a dream worth having.”

Alex’s beam returns.

“How about anyone else?” I ask, “who would like to share their dream job?”

One by one, my class of students share their hopes, dreams and passions. There were future lawyers, teachers, psychiatrists, athletes; as well as the less typical: circus clowns, comic book artists and ghost writers. It was a diverse class of optimists and enthusiasts, all determined to make their mark on the world, all possessing that young belief that the world is truly their oyster. Suddenly, I felt a pang of pride. Here I was, witnessing the development of a new generation of bright minds. I felt truly grateful that they accepted me as a tutor in aid of their journey.

The ‘dream job’ question then comes to Clara, one of my more cautious students. I noticed several scribbles on her notebook, and a conflicted look on her face. “Would you like to share your dream job with the class, Clara?”

“Well, Sir,” she begins, “I’m not really sure.”

“That’s OK,” I advise, “you don’t have to know what you want to be. My parents still don’t know, and they’re retired!”

The class laugh again.

“Well,” Clara continues, “I don’t know what job I want, but I know how I want to feel. I want to feel like I’m helping people, like I’m making a difference, that people can maybe depend on me, look up to me, and trust me to be there for them. If I have a job where every day would be like this… well, I think I would like that.”

And then there was no laughter. There was only silence. A universal silence, as each student knew that what Clara had said was something worth pondering. It was a noble endeavour, a reasonable dream, and my previous pang of pride could be felt once again, even stronger.

“And what about you, Sir?” Clara asks, returning the question. “What is your dream job?”

I look around the class of students, watching their faces as they eagerly anticipate an answer. A knowing smile forms across my face.

“Well, class. It seems I’m lucky.”

“Why’s that?” asks Alex.

I pause to smile again.

“Because I have already found it.”

The Suzanne Furstner Foundation was set up in memory of our much-loved friend and colleague Suzanne Furstner. The annual Scholarship reflects Suzanne’s love of TEFL, languages and travel, awarding a full time TEFL course in one of our best worldwide locations. Please visit www.cactustefl.com for details of all our TEFL courses and the Suzanne Furstner Foundation.

CELTA course in Philadelphia: 2013 scholarship winner’s blog

Rumina Iftikhar won our Suzanne Furstner Scholarship in 2013, and this summer she took her prize of a 4-week CELTA course in Philadelphia. Here is Rumina’s blog article telling us about her experience. Congratulations Rumina – we’re delighted you gained so much from it!

The Cambridge CELTA certification! It had been my dream for the longest time. This year that dream came true and I got the opportunity to go to the US to do my CELTA. Back home now, I often think about those four weeks that I spent in Philadelphia. It was a memorable time and has left me with many fond memories. At the time, of course, there was no opportunity to think of anything beyond the CELTA. Would I pass? Would I make it through the next teaching practice? What if nobody liked me? It was a new place I was going to and I didn’t know much about their ways and customs.

I soon realized that the CELTA is a lot more than a course that just teaches you ESL techniques. It forces you to challenge yourself, to improve, to grow, to be more, more professional, more determined. It teaches you about life. You are thrown together with complete strangers and these strangers become your family for the next four weeks. You grow to love them, to rely on them for comfort, support and encouragement. For me, it was not easy leaving my family and going off to a country half way across the globe from mine. On the first day I was sure I would fall flat on my face walking in through the door, or say something incredibly stupid and become the butt of all jokes. Instead I found a group of people who, though as uncertain and unsure of what to expect as I was, were incredibly warm and open. For the next four weeks, though I missed my family, I never felt alone. For one, you don’t have much time to feel or think about anything else and secondly, should you stumble or make a mistake, your colleagues are there for you. Always!

During the CELTA, we were thrown into the deep end of the pool almost immediately! Now I didn’t know much about the course so it came as a shock when I was told, on the first day, that I would be the one to teach the first class. Of course, the trainers helped. Their advice and help was invaluable. But the thought of teaching a class while being assessed not only by my trainer, but also by my group members, was daunting! However, if you prepare well beforehand things never go as badly as you fear. I did a lot of things I shouldn’t have done and it was not a perfect class, but the students seemed to enjoy it and that gave me the courage to keep going.   During the feedback session, I was gratified by the encouraging and supportive words of my peers and trainer. Of course that doesn’t mean it’s all praise and nothing else. If you do the CELTA, please leave your ego at the door. Because the feedback is meant to point out not just what you did well, but also what you didn’t do and should have done! So, though couched in the nicest possible way, it is brutally honest. It has to be! You need to learn and quickly. The course simply isn’t long enough to give you time to nurse your ego or learn at your own pace!

The input sessions in the morning were a lot of fun. We got to learn by being the students, by first-hand experience. There was a lot of laughter and a lot of bonding. Then lunch break and the teaching practice. Did we go out for nice, leisurely lunches? No! We ate on our feet and then got down to preparing for the teaching practice. The ‘lunch break’ saw me running between printer and photocopier nonstop. And I had to be quick because everyone else needed the printer too. Actually, I think I had lunch a grand total of ONCE during the course!

The best part of my day was the long walk home. In the morning I would just take the bus, to ensure I wasn’t late. But in the evening, I’d walk back. I still get nostalgic when I think about those walks. It was the only time of the day when I’d put all thoughts of studying out of my mind and the lovely sunshine, the beautiful Philadelphia skyline and the smiling people helped me unwind and prepare for the long homework sessions. For once at home you DO need to put in a few hours to prepare for your next teaching practice. And you should. You don’t want to enter a class unprepared and not ready to deal with questions the students may have. That can be embarrassing and, of course, will affect your grade.

But when it was done, I was almost overwhelmed by the sense of achievement that washed over me. It was over. I’d done it! What did I take away from the course? The knowledge that if I can survive this then I must be made of tougher stuff than I thought, a head teeming with new ideas and creative teaching methodologies and friends who’d warmed my heart. People I didn’t know even existed a month ago, and yet they’d seen me at my worst, at my best, seen me stumble, picked me up and encouraged me when I didn’t think I was doing anything right.

Since I’ve been back a lot of people have asked me if the course was as grueling as people say it is. My answer is, yes! It’s not a course for the fainthearted or for those who think that they will sail by with a modicum of effort. It takes everything out of you and you do NOT have a moment to relax! But is it worth it? I’d answer (again) with a resounding YES!   These four weeks have taught me more about myself than I could have ever imagined. Most importantly, I learned that teaching can be fun! My pet peeve against teaching had always been that I felt that conventional teaching techniques never left much room for the students to enjoy learning. But after the CELTA I have learnt to incorporate fun in my lesson plans. I can’t wait to use all I’ve learnt on my students, to watch as they take charge of their own learning and see how interactive and lively the classroom can be! To watch as attitudes change from resigned boredom to active interest and they grow to love the language as I do. The CELTA has opened my mind! Not only has it given me oodles of confidence, it has also left me thirsting to learn even more and keep growing and improving as an ESL teacher!

Rumina won a CELTA course through the Suzanne Furstner Scholarship, which gives away a prestigious CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL course each year.

Can I teach English without a CELTA?

If you want to teach English, it pays to arm yourself with the best qualification you can get

You can teach English without a CELTA (or equivalent) but it is advisable to obtain some kind of English teaching qualification if you are intending to earn a proper living as a teacher for a decent amount of time.

The Cambridge CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults) is one of the two most prestigious and internationally recognised teaching qualifications – the other being the Trinity CertTESOL – and it is these two certificates that will open the door to the most competitive teaching jobs the world over. Read more information on the CELTA and CertTESOL here.

After these two certificates you have equivalent and online ELT (English Language Teaching) courses. Equivalent courses include certificates such as the TESOL, the SIT TESOL and the TEFL certificate and they cover teaching skills, language awareness and teaching practice much like the CELTA and CertTESOL. They are generally cheaper and are sufficient for teaching jobs in parts of the world where there is less competition or if you intend to teach on a voluntary, informal or temporary basis.

Online courses are a flexible and convenient way to learn about English Language Teaching (ELT), but as they do not provide teaching practice they are more appropriate if you already have teaching experience.

In summary, you don’t necessarily need a CELTA to teach English: a CELTA (or CertTESOL) will give the best chance of finding work upon completion of your course, but other qualifications and factors such as teaching experience and previous education (see Do I need a degree to do an ELT course?) will also affect your job prospects.

Visit Cactus TEFL or call 0845 130 4775 for advice about any aspect of ELT courses or jobs.

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. Cactus TEFL also offers free post-course careers advice and support, as well as access to our very own TEFL jobs board and job alerts.

 

Do I need a degree to do an English Language Teaching course?

ELT Course Requirements

Although the Cambridge CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL are classified as Level 5 qualifications within the national framework (university level), you do not need a degree to apply.

Applicants are usually university graduates or have attained a standard of education that would allow entry to higher education in their country. That said, each applicant is judged on his or her individual merits. Factors taken into consideration with every application include motivation, language awareness and previous work or teaching experience.

ELT Job Requirements

A degree is not essential to obtain work teaching English upon completion of your course. It may, however, help – for example in locations where competition for jobs is high, or in obtaining a work permit.

If you don’t have a degree, you have better chances of finding work in locations where there is less competition and at a time when teachers are needed. Equally, if you don’t have a degree but have some teaching experience on your CV, your job prospects will improve dramatically.

For further advice and support on ELT courses and jobs, visit Cactus TEFL or call 0845 130 4775.

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. You will receive free, impartial advice every step of the way, and you can trust us to help you choose the right English language teaching course for you.

 

Is the CELTA or TESOL difficult?

Challenging, yes, but very rewarding

To complete the Cambridge CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL successfully, you need to be committed and devote your full attention to the course. The 4-week full-time course is intense and demanding, with lessons and teaching practice during the day and several hours’ homework on the evenings and weekends. You are unlikely to have much free time or be able to think of much else apart from English language teaching!

You will feel challenged, tested and also immensely rewarded. You will see the hard work pay off and you will thrive on the support and friendship of your fellow students, who are likely to become and remain good friends. The sense of achievement you feel at the end, combined with the ability to find decent, paid work in far-flung corners of the globe, will far outweigh any late nights studying or initial trepidation at standing up in front of your peers to deliver your first lesson.

It is a difficult course, but many people pass each month and it is certainly within the reach of the majority of people who have an interest in people and language.

Good luck, and for further advice and support visit Cactus TEFL or call 0845 130 4775.

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. You will receive free, impartial advice every step of the way, and you can trust us to help you choose the right English language teaching course for you.

language skills to succeed

Is it better to do a full-time or a part-time ELT course?

Train to teach English when and where it suits you

A full-time ELT (English Language Teaching) course is of equal value to a part-time course, as the content, teaching practice and end qualification are all the same. The only difference is the time over which you take the course, so it is completely up to you as to which course suits your schedule better.

If you are not working, have the time and/or want to gain your qualification quickly, a full-time course makes sense. This is also the obvious option if you are planning on taking your course overseas, as you will complete your training within 4 or 5 weeks.

If you are in full-time employment and living in the location where your course will take place, a part-time CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL course gives you the means to keep working and attend lessons in the evenings and on weekends. It is exactly the same as the intensive course, except it is stretched over a longer period of time.

Features Full-time TEFL course Part-time TEFL course
Total hours Min 120 hours incl. 6 hours’ teaching practice Min 120 hours incl. 6 hours’ teaching practice
Duration 4 weeks intensive 12-20 weeks
Timetable 9am-5/6pm, Monday to Friday
Lesson preparation & assignments at home
Evening & weekend classes
Lesson preparation & assignments at home

For advice on all full-time and part-time English Language Teaching qualifications, visit Cactus TEFL or call 0845 130 4775 to discuss the options available to you.

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. You will receive free, impartial advice every step of the way, and you can trust us to help you choose the right English language teaching course for you.

How much does a CELTA or TESOL course cost?

The price you pay to qualify as an English teacher will vary enormously from course to course and country to country, so what is the average CELTA or TESOL course cost?

As a general rule, you will pay more for the two most prestigious courses, the Cambridge CELTA and the Trinity CertTESOL, as these are the key qualifications recognised by the British Council and reputable English language schools worldwide. If you intend to make your living out of teaching English abroad, you should aim for one of these two qualifications.

Prices for the Cambridge CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL vary substantially from school to school, according to:

  • The location of the centre
  • The facilities available to trainees
  • The level of prestige associated with the school

There are also equivalent TEFL courses (e.g. TESOL and SIT TESOL) that do not hold the prestige of the Cambridge CELTA or the Trinity CertTESOL, but which are usually cheaper.

It pays to do your research as prices can vary even within the same city: in London, for example, a 4-week TESOL in Bloomsbury Square costs just £845, while a 4-week CELTA in Covent Garden is almost double the price, at £1,635. Don’t just take the prices at face value, though: if you really want to train in a particular city, look at all the courses available and you may see why some are more expensive than others. Depending on your preferences, it might be worth paying a little more. If budget is important to you, it’s useful to know that there is sometimes a cheaper option, even in the bigger cities.

Sample prices of ELT courses worldwide

Course / Location Price
4-week CELTA in Sydney, Australia £1,755
4-week CELTA in Covent Garden, London, UK £1,635
4-week CELTA in Manhattan, New York, US £1,604
4-week CELTA in Barcelona, Spain £1,314
4-week TESOL equivalent in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica £1,188
4-week Trinity CertTESOL in Prague, Czech Republic £1,129
4-week TESOL equivalent in Phnom Penh, Cambodia £1,042
4-week Trinity CertTESOL in Eastbourne, UK £997
4-week CELTA in Chiang Mai, Thailand £952
4-week TESOL equivalent in Quito, Ecuador £893
4-week CELTA in Buenos Aires, Argentina £857
4-week TESOL in Bloomsbury Square, London, UK £845

NB. Prices valid at time of publication and are subject to change. Please note that there may also be alternative options in these locations.

Cactus TEFL enables you to compare courses and prices of CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. We offer free, impartial advice every step of the way, and you can trust us to help you choose the right English language teaching course for you. Visit Cactus TEFL or call us on 0845 130 4775 to discuss the options available.

Where is the best place to take TEFL?

The world is your oyster when it comes to training and teaching English, but where is the best place to take TEFL?

With ELT (English Language Teaching) or TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses available in locations ranging from London and New York to Buenos Aires and Shanghai, your teaching qualification really is your passport to a new life elsewhere, if that’s what you wish. The question is, where?

If you don’t already have a strong preference for a particular country, location or course, a good starting point is to think about where you eventually intend to teach. There are various advantages to taking your ELT course in the same place you hope to teach, as follows:

  • You will be perfectly placed to start looking for a job before you have finished your course, with good access to local job vacancies
  • Schools prefer to see teachers face-to-face, so you will be able to visit and attend interviews in person
  • Some training centres guarantee you a job if you pass your ELT course with them
  • It makes sense logistically and financially
  • You will meet people on your course who also planning on staying in the city/area, meaning that you have a ready-made network of people; this is particularly helpful if you are venturing on your own

If you speak a foreign language, you might naturally gravitate towards a location where that language is spoken; this will enable you to keep up the language and it will prove incredibly useful when it comes to settling in to a new place.

Whatever stage you’re at, visit Cactus TEFL or call 0845 130 4775 for advice about any aspect of ELT courses or jobs.

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. Cactus TEFL also offers free post-course careers advice and support, as well as access to our very own TEFL jobs board and job alerts.

What is the difference between CELTA and TESOL?

The Cambridge CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL are the two key qualifications recognised by the British Council and reputable English language schools worldwide.

They are the most prestigious English language teaching qualifications you can obtain, and will enable you to teach English almost anywhere in the world you choose.

In reality, there is little to differentiate the CELTA from the CertTESOL. Both courses can be done over 4 or 5 weeks full-time, or 12-20 weeks part-time, and the overall aim is for you to become a confident, competent teacher of English.

CELTA Trinity CertTESOL
Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Min 120 hours over min 4 weeks Min 130 hours over min 4 weeks
Min 6 hours’ teaching practice Min 6 hours’ teaching practice
Accredited by the Cambridge University examining board Accredited by Trinity College London
Includes a component that teaches you a new language

Teaching practice is a very important component, as this takes place in front of your peers and/or real students, and gives you a real feel for what it’s like to stand up at the front of a classroom and deliver a class.  Whilst 6 hours is little time to actually spend teaching, the preparation involved in planning the lessons, as well as time spent watching your peers in action, ensures that you firmly grasp the process of lesson planning and gain the confidence and ability to teach in real life.

Your CELTA or CertTESOL will also work on your language (grammar) awareness. If you would like to brush up your English grammar and gain confidence in the language you are teaching, the Cactus online English Language Awareness has been specifically created to prepare teachers with the grammar they need to teach English. Normal price £95 / reduced price £50 when you book your 4-week course with Cactus TEFL.

Unless you are already set on a particular course, your decision as to CELTA versus TESOL may well boil down to factors such as location and price. For advice on these and other English Language Teaching qualifications, visit Cactus TEFL or call 0845 130 4775 to discuss the options available to you.

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. You will receive free, impartial advice every step of the way, and you can trust us to help you choose the right English language teaching course for you.

Do I need TEFL?

An ELT qualification is your passport to teach English anywhere in the world, and this is why you need TEFL.

If you want to teach English abroad and earn any kind of living from it, you will need an English Language Teaching (ELT) qualification – otherwise known as Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This will certify that you have trained to be a teacher and understand at least the basics of lesson preparation, class management, language work and activities. These skills will also give you the confidence to stand in front of a group of expectant English learners and deliver a lesson that’s rewarding for both you and them.

As for the level of training you need, that depends on where you want to work. Language schools in popular countries where competition is high – such as the UK, Spain and Italy – will normally require teachers to hold either the Cambridge CELTA or the Trinity CertTESOL, which are the two most prestigious and internationally recognised teaching qualifications. Both of these provide a minimum 120-hour course with valuable teaching practice. If you intend to make a proper living from teaching, this is what you should aim for.

In other countries where demand for jobs is low, in more remote areas or if you only wish to teach on an informal or voluntary basis, you might consider an equivalent or an online TEFL course. These courses are often cheaper and shorter, but they do still prepare you to teach English and may be entirely sufficient for your teaching goals. Note that online courses do not include teaching practice, so these are better if you already have teaching experience.

In summary, you do need to take an ELT course if you want to teach English at home or abroad, but do some research and try to establish what your overall aims are – how long you want to teach for, where you want to teach, how much money you wish or need to earn – and that will help you decide what kind of course you need. Otherwise, the best bet is to take a CELTA or CertTESOL from the outset as this is the highest qualification you can obtain and will enable you to find work anywhere you choose.

Visit Cactus TEFL or call us on 0845 130 4775 to discuss the options available to you and get yourself off on the right footing. 

Cactus TEFL is an admissions and advice service for quality teacher training courses worldwide. We work with the majority of well-known course providers to offer CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, equivalent and online courses in over 90 locations across 36 countries. You will receive free, impartial advice every step of the way, and you can trust us to help you choose the right English language teaching course for you.