I had the online part-time Celta recently. I believe face to face is definitely better. However, in some counties, like Saudi Arabia, I cannot find a face to face celta course. And If I find one, it will be almost three times as expensive as having it online from somewhere. I plan to do the Delta in the future hopefully, and definitely I want to do it face to face( module 1 particularly). I had the celta in a way that made me want to finish it and get the certificate thats it. - I plan to do the Certpt too, since it is level 6 Ofqual).
Trinity certainly offers some great courses. In fact I used to be a Trinity Cert-TESOL trainer back when I was living and teaching in Brazil. I would be very interested to hear how the CERTPT course went for you. Yes, the online course certainly comes with its own set of challenges, there is no doubt about it! However, it is worth saying that it does provide a very good option for some people where the face to face is not an option or affordable.
@@FergusFadden Sure, I will share my Certpt experience whenever I enroll in it. First, I need to make sure that I am in a teaching context, because the fourth ( final ) assignment is based on making a 15 or so minutes lesson based on the needs of learners I am teaching, and then teaching the lesson to them. It is difficult to have the course if I am not teaching in a particular context when I reach the final assignment.
I feel like you've listed the disadvantages of online teaching, not ways in which teachers who learned online are any less qualified to teach in person--I don't think it's fair to hold that against us when online is often the only option post-covid. I can't overhear every student online because of breakout rooms; in person, I'd simply be able to overhear all students, no new skill required. Same with banter: online lessons make this a bit awkward at times, but we do it nonetheless and suddenly being in a physical classroom would only improve the situation. I think it's more a matter of a very short adjustment period, while teaching online does require specific additional skills and major adapting of group activities. Would you similarly not consider a teacher who learned in person for an online teaching position?
Thanks so much for taking the time to repsomd with such a well considered point of view. I would respond with saying a few things: 1- I started off the video with a disclaimer about what "my own personal preference" is on the question. I felt this would be more honest rather than just giving a "sit on the fence" kind of answer that doesn't help anybody come to a conclusion. 2- My first substantive point I made after making my disclaimer, was that the f2f and online courses have equivalent standing. 3- When it comes to my comments about hiring somebody based on whether they had done online v f2f, I would make this example: if I wanted a teacher to teach an IELTS prep or business english class, I would look for someone with experience in that regard. Yes, the online and f2f do cover the same content in terms of input, however, I stand by my point that the contexts are very different and they do make a difference. However, I will also aknowledge that online CELTA does equip you with many skills that are transferrable to the f2f context. 4- Regarding your point on overhearing ss whiile in the f2f context, this is a very big difference. The reason being that a significant part of our jobs as teachers is to monitor students and make approprriate interventions based on what we observe the ss saying or doing. 5- No doubt there is still some banter in the online context. However, at the very least this is very teacher-focused, much less organic and with a greater likliehood that someone who might speak up won't when the online banter is happening. It's a very different thing to make eye contact with somebody online than in a f2f situation. 6- As to you last question; " Would you similarly not consider a teacher who learned in person for an online teaching position?" my answer would be this: Most of us, regardless of whether we've trained to be a teacher online or f2f, use the internet/computers/tech. And so, I can be fairly confident that the person who has done a f2f course would have some tech literacy. However, that's not to say that in either case I would hire based on one criteria alone (having online or f2f) there are many factors when it comes to hiring the right person. Also, at around 2:35 in this video I do say that "if I were hiring a teacher to teach mostly online ss, then the person with the onlince cert would be in a better position.". Later around 4:19 I list some more of the benefits of taking CELTA online. 7- what did you think about my comments in the video around drilling pron? Once again, I'm ever so grateful for your well-formed response to this video. Stimulating this kind of conversation was something I very much hoped to achieve with this video as, in my experience, I've met quite a few people that felt they didn't have the full picture before deciding which course to take. I think comments like yours will help in this regard! Thanks! Fergus PS are you currently taking/have you taken CELTA? And what part of the world are you in?(I am alway curious about where people contact me from :)
I had the online part-time Celta recently. I believe face to face is definitely better. However, in some counties, like Saudi Arabia, I cannot find a face to face celta course. And If I find one, it will be almost three times as expensive as having it online from somewhere.
I plan to do the Delta in the future hopefully, and definitely I want to do it face to face( module 1 particularly).
I had the celta in a way that made me want to finish it and get the certificate thats it.
- I plan to do the Certpt too, since it is level 6 Ofqual).
Trinity certainly offers some great courses. In fact I used to be a Trinity Cert-TESOL trainer back when I was living and teaching in Brazil. I would be very interested to hear how the CERTPT course went for you.
Yes, the online course certainly comes with its own set of challenges, there is no doubt about it! However, it is worth saying that it does provide a very good option for some people where the face to face is not an option or affordable.
@@FergusFadden Sure, I will share my Certpt experience whenever I enroll in it. First, I need to make sure that I am in a teaching context, because the fourth ( final ) assignment is based on making a 15 or so minutes lesson based on the needs of learners I am teaching, and then teaching the lesson to them. It is difficult to have the course if I am not teaching in a particular context when I reach the final assignment.
I admire the dedication to your cause! Good luck with your course!
I feel like you've listed the disadvantages of online teaching, not ways in which teachers who learned online are any less qualified to teach in person--I don't think it's fair to hold that against us when online is often the only option post-covid. I can't overhear every student online because of breakout rooms; in person, I'd simply be able to overhear all students, no new skill required. Same with banter: online lessons make this a bit awkward at times, but we do it nonetheless and suddenly being in a physical classroom would only improve the situation.
I think it's more a matter of a very short adjustment period, while teaching online does require specific additional skills and major adapting of group activities. Would you similarly not consider a teacher who learned in person for an online teaching position?
Thanks so much for taking the time to repsomd with such a well considered point of view. I would respond with saying a few things:
1- I started off the video with a disclaimer about what "my own personal preference" is on the question. I felt this would be more honest rather than just giving a "sit on the fence" kind of answer that doesn't help anybody come to a conclusion.
2- My first substantive point I made after making my disclaimer, was that the f2f and online courses have equivalent standing.
3- When it comes to my comments about hiring somebody based on whether they had done online v f2f, I would make this example: if I wanted a teacher to teach an IELTS prep or business english class, I would look for someone with experience in that regard. Yes, the online and f2f do cover the same content in terms of input, however, I stand by my point that the contexts are very different and they do make a difference. However, I will also aknowledge that online CELTA does equip you with many skills that are transferrable to the f2f context.
4- Regarding your point on overhearing ss whiile in the f2f context, this is a very big difference. The reason being that a significant part of our jobs as teachers is to monitor students and make approprriate interventions based on what we observe the ss saying or doing.
5- No doubt there is still some banter in the online context. However, at the very least this is very teacher-focused, much less organic and with a greater likliehood that someone who might speak up won't when the online banter is happening. It's a very different thing to make eye contact with somebody online than in a f2f situation.
6- As to you last question; " Would you similarly not consider a teacher who learned in person for an online teaching position?" my answer would be this: Most of us, regardless of whether we've trained to be a teacher online or f2f, use the internet/computers/tech. And so, I can be fairly confident that the person who has done a f2f course would have some tech literacy. However, that's not to say that in either case I would hire based on one criteria alone (having online or f2f) there are many factors when it comes to hiring the right person. Also, at around 2:35 in this video I do say that "if I were hiring a teacher to teach mostly online ss, then the person with the onlince cert would be in a better position.". Later around 4:19 I list some more of the benefits of taking CELTA online.
7- what did you think about my comments in the video around drilling pron?
Once again, I'm ever so grateful for your well-formed response to this video. Stimulating this kind of conversation was something I very much hoped to achieve with this video as, in my experience, I've met quite a few people that felt they didn't have the full picture before deciding which course to take. I think comments like yours will help in this regard!
Thanks!
Fergus
PS are you currently taking/have you taken CELTA? And what part of the world are you in?(I am alway curious about where people contact me from :)
Teaching online and using Zoom, break out rooms, etc, is quite annoying 😅.
That's why my final tip in this video is essential I would say ;)