Are there any such programs, aside from the one provided by Hess? I think there’s a demand for a cheap and easy Summer and Winter TESOL certificate class for FOB college graduate foreigners that would help them prepare for their jobs, get a candid idea of what to expect, etc. Does the Hess cert have some kind of local accreditation? How would one go about securing accreditation for such a program? Since no one here is an expert on Taiwan law, perhaps this post belongs somewhere else, but I thought I’d try here (Teaching English in Taiwan) first because maybe someone might know who to ask, even if you didn’t know the answers all yourself.
I think the only organisation in Taiwan that would run a CELTA/CELTYL training programme properly would be the British Council. I assume that they aren’t running a course for financial reasons - it just isn’t viable. You would need a fair number of students (I’m pulling a figure out of my arse of at least 10) to cover the costs of DELTA qualified teacher-trainers and the rest of the course costs. The MOE doesn’t demand even the most basic TESOL certificates for people to teach in Taiwan, so therefore I would assume that there simply isn’t enough demand from the people who throw the sticky balls.
If you’re looking to get accreditation to run your own CELTA programme I guess that you would have to contact Cambridge ESOL (UCLES).
americantesol.com/tesol-accreditation.htm
i-taa.com/
tesol-direct.com/accredited- … f-teachers
ottsa.org/
I was referring to simple accreditation like this.
Eveything seems to be distance courses in Taiwan. It is a shame, but just a case of supply and demand. It’s also particularly ridiculous when you consider the fact that the MOE refuse to recognise distance qualifications of any sort. I’m not sure how easy it would be for you to set up a programme, but I doubt it would be unsurmountable. I just feel that if there was any money in it one of the chains would have set up a programme by now. It’s not as if there aren’t enough teachers in Taiwan with the right qualifications and experience to pass as teacher trainers. Even I’m qualified enough to do it judging by the UCLES website.
I’ve no idea what HESS offer. Is it something above their standard 2 week induction? Whatever it is, it’ll be worthless in any other country: “But my certificate has a picture of a hippo on it!” 
Yeah, I understand your critique on the fact that it may not seem very profitable, but I have to assume that, aside from the accreditation, the start-up cost would be quite low for a distance TESOL Class with an in-person tutoring option. Anyway, there’s money in it that’s proportional to the demand and cost, I think. For example, lots of people use Reach to Teach to come to Taiwan these days, and they recommend an online TESOL class because it helps candidates to stand out… so there’s a demand BEFORE you come here, and by starting a distance-based Taiwan specific TEFL certificate program I can seize some of that market and then make extra cash offering a tutoring option to people who’re already here.
Anyway, just an idea. Don’t steal it, or you’ll burn in hell.
[quote=“dashgalaxy86”]
Anyway, just an idea. Don’t steal it, or you’ll burn in hell.[/quote]
I don’t want to go to heaven. None of my friends are there.
The way to do it would be to run it through a Taiwanese university during the Winter/Summer break. That way you have classrooms, halls of residence, and a pool of students for the teachers to practise their craft on. Also, being in a uni would add more weight to your marketing.
Might just work, if you can sell the need to teachers over here. I would run some more market research first, if I were you, to see if there is enough genuine demand.
I do it already, but it is not profitable and just an extension of my school. Everyone wants to get better qualified but everyone has an excuse.
Tomthorne,
There are other organizations that would be able to run CELTA here. Except for IELTS, the BC here runs nothing associated with Cambridge ESOL.
YMCA does, so does LTTC and so does Caves education and Acumen.
I think BC would be the last organization to do that here.
[quote=“heimuoshu”]I do it already, but it is not profitable and just an extension of my school. Everyone wants to get better qualified but everyone has an excuse.
Tomthorne,
There are other organizations that would be able to run CELTA here. Except for IELTS, the BC here runs nothing associated with Cambridge ESOL.
YMCA does, so does LTTC and so does Caves education and Acumen.
I think BC would be the last organization to do that here.[/quote]
Sorry, heimuoshu, I stand corrected. Google searches only brought up distance qualifications in Taiwan.
The irony is that CELTA can now be done 50% online. The world is moving in that direction. All I can say for now is that I know of at least one organization that is seriously considering running CELTA here in te next year or two.
So, heimuoshu, where’s your accreditation from and how was getting it?
In the school where I teach, a CELTA is an essential pre-requisite. Some teachers also have DELTAs. This is rare for schools here (apart from the BC). We even encouraged one teacher to go back to the UK and do a CELTA. He did and is a better teacher for it. Unfortunately, because so many schools don’t recognize it in Taiwan, teachers think it’s pointless, especially lifers. If teachers have the cash and are serious about EFL teaching as a profession, I think doing a CELTA/or equiv cert at a recognised school overseas is much better than doing it on-line because you get to meet other teachers from different walks of life, co-teach with them, observe them, socialize with them etc … You learn so much (I did anyway). I would love to see CELTA courses in Taiwan … it would be a step in the right direction.
Dougster, I agree with you totally. Delta is much more than most teachers think.
The hassle with completely online is the simple fact that there is no observed teaching. You can neve be sure that you really “get” it.
Dashgalaxy, I’ll PM you.
If my understanding is correct CELTA can be done only 50% online so you still get to meet other teachers.
Who might we be able to contact about getting a CELTA in Taiwan? Someone said a CELTA center might be coming here.
The online celta doesn’t start until September 2011 as far as i know.
cambridgeesol.org/resources/ … nline.html
Not sure which centres will be running it. I’m also not entirely convinced that it can offer the same level of teaching practice experience that attending a centre in person does. Just my opinion though 
The online celta doesn’t start until September 2011 as far as I know.
cambridgeesol.org/resources/ … nline.html
Not sure which centres will be running it. I’m also not entirely convinced that it can offer the same level of teaching practice experience that attending a centre in person does. Just my opinion though [/quote]
Almost exactly the same. The theory is done online (60 hours) and the practical part is done in a classroom (60 hours). Cambridge ESOL will not cheapen this qualification, it is not in their best interest 
If a CELTA centre opens here I’d do that option, just because of time. I’d really like to get a CELTA and Delta in the next several years. Delta can be done totally online now, but you need a Celta first…
how about TESOL by American TESOL Institute? tesoltaiwan.com/english_/TES … Course.php
30 hrs in-class + 60 hrs online + 10hrs observation
This is a fake TESOL.
I wouldn’t call it fake, but like most other qualifications available in the TESOL market, you are not going to be employed by British Council or Cambridge ESOL or the likes after that one.