- What is TEKA?
- What if I teach adults?
- Won't I learn what to do in any course?
- Is it accredited?
- Will schools accept this?
- Are there any benefits to taking an unaccredited course like TEKA?
- Why is there no 120 hour course?
- Isn't it expensive?
- How long does it take to complete?
- Is it difficult?
- What is the best motive to take this course?
- Who's the pink guy?
What is TEKA?
"TEKA" was derived from teaching English to kids in Asia. It's a specialized TEFL course.
What if I teach adults or some adult classes?
TEKA focuses more on teaching children and some things will also apply to teaching adults too.
In my experience most other courses tend to be general and focus more on adults than they do children unless specified.
Children are the more difficult age group to teach.
Won't I learn what to do in any course?
You'd think so, but not enough in my experience. The two courses that I took spent considerable amount of time on teaching theory, grammar study, jargon, and other useless facts.
This isn't just a problem with TEFL courses this is a problem with education. How many classes did you take in high school and college that were pretty much useless?
For me geometry, most history, chemistry, biology and others went in one ear and out the other.
Sure some courses should or will teach you some practical things however, online you've got a few problems:
- No visuals means you are unlikely to remember much of what you study even if it is practical, but...
- Chances are you're going to study a lot of theory and English grammar which is pretty useless when it comes time to teach so...
That's why you won't really learn what to do.
Is it accredited?
No, it isn't.
I decided not to because I value independence and I didn't want to try to trick you into thinking my course was more official or better because of some mostly superficial label.
And since...
- Accreditation in TEFL is done by 3rd party businesses (some are fake too).
- Accreditation seeks to maintain the status quo (it's not progressive).
- Accreditation involves an exchange of money.
- Accreditation does NOT guarantee quality.
- Accreditation is secretive.
- I’ve taken 2 TESOL/TEFL courses that were “accredited” and they weren't worth it for me.
- I decided I didn't want to be part of the system and there's not really a system in TEFL to begin with, but I just don't want to be another "TEFL" course.
"...they are in bed with the people they regulate..." - Douglas B.
If you decide that ESLinsider is too much of a renegade for you then that's cool, but if you think it's not another copy cat just for show TEFL course that's going to make your experience teaching English to mostly children better then you're totally right.
The choice is yours.
Read:
- Why accreditation doesn't work (GOACTA non-profit organization)
- Accreditation is a waste of time
- Why TEFL accreditation doesn't matter
Wait, are you telling me that accreditation doesn't matter because your course isn't accredited?
No, for your information you can buy an "accredited" TEFL course on Groupon for less than $50 and you don't necessarily have to take a course to get a job.
Getting a job and doing your job are 2 different things though.
Will employers accept this?
There is no certificate out there that guarantees you a job everywhere including this one. I haven't heard of anyone's certificate not being accepted. I'd also say that most employers in Asia care far less about TEFL certification than you've probably been told.
What do they want?
Every employer is different, but the majority of them want someone who is experienced and/or "good with kids" (more so than any TEFL qualification).
Here's a review from a teacher who took ESLinsider's course and not only taught in Asia, but also the Middle East.
"This course saved me thousands of dollars and reminded and taught me lots of new activities and games that work...
Right after I took this course I was offered a job in Saudi Arabia that had stipulated they needed an in-person TEFL in their ad, but when I looked at their paper work after the interview, it looks like they counted this certificate as valid, and I was offered a job. I was really glad I had stumbled upon Ian's site. Thanks, Ian. - Emily M.
Are there any benefits to taking an unaccredited course like TEKA?
Accredited or not...
- It's more progressive. I don't have to follow any outdated norms or try fit into someone else's mold.
- ESLinsider's Youtube channel has 7,890 subscribers. While not a course "accreditation" it is a testament to the quality of videos used in the course and unlike accreditation it's a TRANSPARENT metric.
- TEKA is targeted. An employer would rather you have more related experience than less and your future self will too.
- You know that it's not a fake accreditation.
Why is there no "120 hour" TEFL course?
Because I want to tell the truth. Online "120 hours" has no real meaning and it is not representative of anything real. It is a superficial label. All of these online TEFL courses are asynchronous courses which means they are "work at your own pace" type courses and there are no class times.
But I was told that I need a 120 hour course?
Who told you that?
Possibly, but the TEFL/TESOL course providers are the ones telling you need it, BUT they are not employers. They are salesmen.
Will this work for EPIK in Korea?
EPIK in Korea asks on their application about how many "hours" the course was, but I know several teachers that have taken my courses that worked for EPIK.
Again it depends on the school.
Isn't it expensive?
If you just want a certificate, yes, but if you want to learn no. A plane ticket to Asia might cost you a $1000 and that gets you there, but would you pay more for a better experience while you are there?
For less than $500 TEKA will impart all the practical knowledge I've learned to you in days vs. the many years (that it took me). Instead of stress and confusion in that classroom imagine feeling clear and more confident.
How long does the course take to complete?
It depends on you. I've seen people in the past complete it in 2 weeks, but most seem to take more time. If you want to work fast then I can work with you, but it's best to pace yourself for better results.
There's long term access and you'll get future updates.
Is it difficult?
I try to make the delivery of information in the course easy so that you learn and I don't intentionally make it difficult. In fact I try to make it fun. Some parts of the course are automated and others like the assignments are more challenging since you have to put more effort in.
Those may take multiple attempts if your first one is not suitable.
How does this course work?
Once you pay with Paypal you'll start on Level I and then as you progress through it and complete each level the next one will open up.
Why is learning the best motive for taking this course?
Because getting a job is just the beginning and as you saw here your problems won't go away when you get that job. And if you are just focused on external rewards like a certificate that's "accredited" then you are focused on extrinsic rewards which are short term benefits.
Extrinsic rewards don't have long term benefits.
They might make you happier today, but not tomorrow.
If you really want to be happy you should focus on intrinsic rewards.
Who's the pink guy?
That's me.