go teach's TESOL primer

The benefits to obtaining a TESOL credential are many but they generally contribute to a teacher’s career in one of two main ways: 1) teaching ability and; 2) employability. First and foremost, TESOL courses train you to teach. The key word here is “train.” Programs are generally very practical in orientation and execution, the goal being the production of a classroom-ready EFL teacher. That readiness is coveted by schools worldwide, most of which are private language schools - businesses in the business of teaching English.

Time is money in this context. Teachers with certificates are seen to be professionals with a good foundation in TESOL methodologies, approaches and techniques. That’s why more and more schools request and even require a TESOL certificate of some kind.

For many people then, the question is not whether to take a teacher training course but which one to choose. That said, beforeexploring the avarious types of programs in greater detail it is important to point out that both people and places are unique. If you are a university graduate with a BA or BSc in anything and you want to teach in Japan, teacher training might give you a leg up on the competition BUT it definitely isn’t a necessity. The same can for the most part be said of Korea, Taiwan and even China. As stated above, however, teacher training is only partially about employability. If you’re serious about teaching English and planning to do so in better schools for more money over a longer period of time, teacher training is your ticket regardless of your educational background or country of choice.

As is the case with almost every other aspect of the teach abroad experience, teacher training requires research. Not all programs are the same, much less equal. Many people take for granted that “a certificate is a certificate” but that isn’t the case. Programs range in length, method of delivery, recognition value and focus. There are time and travel commitments to consider and of course the cost of tuition as well.

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