Hello Julie
Hope you find what you are looking for.I will be in Switzerland soon starting a job as an English teacher.I did my CELTA the cheapest I could find in Barcelona.Switzerland was to expensive Im sorry to say.Anyway if you need any advice Im always willing to help.Ive also worked in Switzerland as a teacher 2 years ago and cant wait to get back.

Best wishes


Ray

ray.eric.phillips@gmail.com

This is really strange coz I recently applied for some jobs as an English teacher (I have about two years or so of experience teaching back in Malaysia) and the HR officer came back and asked if I had any English teaching qualifications. When I mentioned that I was on the hunt for CELTA/TEFL certification, she dropped a few suggestions - one of them being those online courses. Now, is it because I have teaching experience or what? I'm thoroughly confused.

I'd love to take the CELTA course but I don't have the cash for it - 4,000 CHF is A LOT of money for me & my hubby. I hate to sound like a cheapo but are there any alternatives?

__________________
Am blogging & cooking [at] thescarfer.net

Hi everyone.

I am new to Geneva so i am still trying to get my bearings.
I have the CELTA certificate which i did intensively earlier in the year in England,but as yet i have no experiance.From my searching so far everyone requires 2 years experiance.
Does anyone have any ideas about where and how i should be looking?
Any ideas appreciated.

simon

Yeah, right, the celta course, TLC Baden, nicknamed by my co-trainees:
'the weakest link' for its basic attitude to us,
'clear as mud' for its unclear directives,
'moving the goalposts' each time we tried to improve one point of our teaching, 3 new negatives appeared in another direction so we always felt defeated.
The last time I was in a room with so many people in tears or close to it was in kindergarten when it was time to say goodbye to Mommy on the first morning.
Some of the input sessions were at primary school level which is a shame because some other sessions were good.
Several of us wish we had been given the tip to investigate more thoroughly or to trust our misgivings at interview before we paid our four thousand dollars. We were too intimidated by the whole atmosphere to speak to the celta assessor and just wanting to get away quickly....

Hi
My name is Aadish Jain and I am a qualified english teacher. I had done masters in English from India and taught english for three years in a government school recognized by the goverment of India.

If anyone require coaching in English please feel free to contact me. Also, I need to review your level before i promise you the time you will take to learn the language.

My charges are only 15 CHF per hour and I reside in Geneve. Please feel free to contact me @ aadishswiss@yahoo.com or 0767574330.

Regards,
Aadish Jain

Can anyone explain the difference between CELTA and TEFL?

Would the TEFL certificate be honored in Switzerland? I understand that there are some poor online certificate programs. But I know of several TEFL programs in the US that are extensive 40 hours a week month long courses that are all hands on.

Thanks1

Hi All
I've read a lot about English teaching in Switzerland (I'll be living in Geneva) and I've realized the system in my country (Hungary) is very different. Here most (quality) language schools only employ teachers with Masters or equivalent Teacher Training. Well, I'm writing my MA thesis in English Applied Linguistics at my home university and I've been teaching at one of the biggest language schools for two years. Do you think I could find a teaching job with such qualifications? I'm looking for internships for the time I'm writing my thesis, but I'm looking forward to earning some money as soon as possible...
Thx

Hi everyone,

I am really sorry, but I was just wondering if anyone could help me.

I recently passed my CELTA at International House London and have now returned to Zurich to find work. I hold a B permit and a full driver's licence and am free to start work as soon as possible.

Can anybody give me any advice on how to go about finding a job? Any advice at all would be greatly received.

Thank you all so much,

Soph

Dear All,

To teach English in Switzerland would you also require to speak German or French??

Thank you all......

Hi All,
I'd like to gather more info on being able to work as an English teacher w/o certification. I know English as a native speaker (grade school through university) and I have a degree in psychology (which definitely helps with teaching), and some teaching experience as a substitute teacher and tutor. So basically all the necessary qualifications except a TEFL or other certificate. Are my chances limited to private tutoring through random ads? or are there institutions (I assume most likely private trade and business schools, or similar) that would possibly recruit someone without a qualification?

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Matt

I'd like to join in
I know there are lots of native speakers in the area (GE), just by looking through the threads. But as I've been teaching English (adult company classes, language schools) for almost 5 years and have native-like proficiency as well as a degree in applied linguistics (research in language learning and teaching), I'd really like to give teaching a shot. I've studied English teaching methodology, pedagogy and psychology, and could pass the CELTA blind folded. It's just that if it's not an absolute must (e.g. experience and practice can be substituted), I wouldn't spend all that money on a piece of paper. Do you guys think I should?
Thx and have an awesome Monday!

__________________
"Nothing is impossible. Some things are just less likely than others."

yes, if it's a state school, generally no if it's a private one but better to speak.

The CELTA is by far the most widely accepted qualification. I recommend doing it at the ITTC in Bournemouth UK, a school with an excellent reputation and much cheaper than in Switzerland. (This is not an ad - I do not have any connection with this school except that I did my CELTA there and got a B grade thanks to the quality of the teaching).

Hi,
Anyone have any thoughts on CELTA and it's use in obtaining a job in east CH? I have many hours teaching Music but am not credited with something recognizable.
Thanks, any help is appreciated, I am looking to change my career.

Try reading the other posts in the Thread I am moving this to!

The CELTA degree will NOT help you in getting jobs in the state system. However, it will in the private sector.

Unfortunately, there are very few full-time jobs available in teaching English with only a CELTA qualification.

Good luck.

What are your language skills?

I think you should. 5years are not that many compared to the people who offer their services in GE, it is an extremely competitive city. If you can pass CELTA with ease, do it, since you are not a native speaker and that might stick out of your CV. With CELTA or similarly recognised degree, you will be much more competitive to the hundreds of teachers that are looking for jobs at the moment.

Putting my ETAS hat on I'm the current Teacher Development Chair for ETAS. I also have a BA, CELTA, DELTA and am currently doing my MA in Applied Linguistics. I'm also an approved CELTA tutor (tutored at a college in York UK) and have over 15 years experience teaching English as a foreign language in various countries not just Switzerland.

I'll try and answer some of the different questions.

In Switzerland you can get a teaching job with no teaching qualifications at all - just being a native speaker and showing some ability to communicate with people can be enough. Some private schools will employ you (the pay won't be great) but you can get work. This is a short term solution - eventually if you want better pay and prospects you'll need to get qualified. The better schools will provide good quality teacher development in the form of workshops and internal training and will eventually encourage you to take the CELTA.

Some schools will not consider you without the CELTA. Certainly in other countries like the UK, Australia, Spain, you would need a CELTA or even a DELTA.

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Generally speaking the online courses might be OK as an introduction to certain teaching concepts but many schools look for evidence of you having done a training course with a minimum of 6 hours observed and assessed teaching practice.

Regarding Masters - clearly they are a higher level of qualification than the CELTA and take longer to do. You need a Masters if you want to work in the Swiss state system.

However as on many Masters there is no practical component - in other words no observed and assessed teaching practice it is possible to get a Masters - be quite brilliant in understanding of theory but still be a poor classroom teacher.

So if you have an MA but not CELTA, DELTA or PGCSE while you may find the theory and assignments on the CELTA easy - you may be slightly surprised that the practical side - the observed teaching practice is not as easy as you imagine.

Another trait that many quality language schools look for is an openness and willingness to learn, regardless of the length of time in service or level of qualification - no-one really wants someone on staff who thinks they have no more to learn and knows it all. Teachers should be life long learners....... and willing to learn from each other too.

The DELTA is the Diploma in English teaching to adults. It is a much longer and more specialized course. The theory component of the DELTA is at a Masters level. The DELTA has 3 modules, a practical assessed teaching practice module which is extremely tough, a 3 hour exam in linguistics also tough and an extended assignment where you can specialize in an area of ELT.

Personally if I have to choose between 2 candidates who are in other areas pretty much equal but one has the DELTA and one has a Masters I would choose the candidate with the DELTA simply because of the assessed teaching practice element. Most reputable providers of the DELTA would insist on a minimum of 2 years full time teaching post CELTA before accepting you on the course. I did my DELTA at IH Newcastle in the UK - they insisted on at least 4 years varied post CELTA experience.

The nature of English teaching in Switzerland.

Getting a "full time" job is pretty difficult. The majority of schools employ by the hour and most work is early mornings, lunchtimes or early evenings. In some of the more reputable schools they will offer "fixed contracts" at 50% or more to select teachers - but these are few and far between. Many people work privately. In many schools you are sent out to work off site - in-company. I did this for a number of years in a particular Swiss bank. It can pay well but if you're a social type or team player the downside is this is a very isolating existence. Good schools will have some form of monthly teacher's meeting, get together, training - if you are employed by the school then these sessions should be for free.

Hope that helps and feel free to PM me if you have any other questions

Steph

Hi Stephanie, I'm new to the forum.
I'm from Newcastle GB, I live in Zurich and have been working as a graphic designer here over the past 15 years. Now I want to change direction and employ my englishness :) to my working life here in Zurich - through teaching English and to do that with young children to begin with.
I was intrigued when you wrote that you'd completed the DELTA course at the IH in Newcastle... I've been weighing up the pros and cons and looking into doing the CELTA there, but only if the school/tutoring is just as good as the training here in CH, on the other hand the schools are - as you said, much cheaper in GB. I know the course (CELTA) is the same everywhere but i was just thinking it may depend on how good the tutoring is too. Having done the DELTA at the IH, how did you rate it as a training school? Thanks for any help.