Celta Snobbery?

[ukplodder]

First things first, this is not a "My TEFL's bigger than your TEFL" debate.

I've got TEFL certificates but intend to do a CELTA as it is the defacto international standard (place your arguments below)

However, do you think it matters WHERE you get your CELTA?

I know they are supposed to be equal, but who can say that they don't think that a CELTA from a UK (I don't know about international uni's) university (Sheffield Hallam, Nottingham Trent and many others provide them) doesn't look more attractive than one from a private school, or one provided by a Thai school?

Your thoughts please, the plodder.

Edited March 13, 2008 by PeaceBlondie
corrected spelling of CELTA; maybe I am a pedant. PB.

[PeaceBlondie]

By definition, snobs will latch on to the most insignificant things to say that theirs is better than yours. I suspect that CELTA itself is rather high in the snobbery category, regardless of which school issues it. And while I am no big fan of Bruce V., I think he said it best: any TEFL certificate (even a CELTA) is kind of like a beginner's driving permit, just a license to start doing something new.

I think it was an operator of a teaching agency in Mexico who recently commented on Dave's ESL World that CELTA is not even known that well (or most highly respected) throughout the world, but it has more snob appeal in Asia. I do not know. I believe once you have taught for six months, your recommendations and your CV/resume and your connections speak ten times louder than your TEFL cert, let alone which branch issued it. I noticed that to teach in Mexico, I need a BA and a TEFL cert with an apostile to get a work permit in most regions.

[garro]

Considering the fact that a TEFL/CELTA doesn't seem to be a requirement to teach in Thailand it probably isn't worth getting too worked up about. I have a TEFL but now just put it under additional qualifications when applying for jobs- right next to my one day course in teaching young learners that I once got from ECC.

Shame that there is not more respect for these courses, although I know that teachers themselves recommend them for those entering the profession. I think that it is probably useful for your own personal development too.

[KhaoNiaw]

As PB points out even a CELTA is no more than a starting point. You need a lot more guidance and experience to develop as a teacher. They always used to make that very clear on CELTA courses. Once you have that experience, you can go on and take a DELTA, which is a much more highly respected professional qualification.

Edited March 13, 2008 by KhaoNiaw

[ukplodder]

Interesting points, that about wraps it up for me, I won't lose too much sleep over it.

I reckon I'm as well to do the part time evening CELTA I've seen over a few months rather than an intensive one then.

DELTA sounds like waaaayyy too much hard graft and is out of reach for the next few years anyway, and yes the 'S' in SELTA was deliberate.