TEFL/ESL certification...

[YO212]

What is the difference between TEFL/ESL certification?
And is there a significant difference in salaries if you are certified or not?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[DragonChan]

I'm assuming you mean TOEFL (that's the big ESL exam as far as I know.) I'm not sure if it makes a big difference whether or not you have it for salaries, but I think it effects what jobs you can get, and if you can go to university or not. Don't quote me on this though.

EDIT: Whoops, looks like I messed up. Look below, they seem to have a better idea than I do...

 

[mr.sumo.snr]

What is the difference between TEFL/ESL certification?
And is there a significant difference in salaries if you are certified or not?
Any help would be appreciated.

A TEFL certificate is a qualification for Teaching English as a Foreign Language 窶 as you would do if working in Japan. An ESL certificate is a qualification for teaching English as a Second Language 窶 for example, if you were working in a language school in North America 窶 perhaps teaching immigrants.

In practice the two are interchangeable in the EFL environment. ESL institutions could and should be a bit choosier about what qualifications their instructors have.

The vast majority of English teaching jobs in Japan DO NOT require an EFL/ESL qualification 窶 JET doesn窶冲 and they must be the largest. Other schools vary in their attitudes 窶 depending on demand. Some, such as the British Council, will always require certification.

Seasoned unqualified teachers will tell you that certification is pointless, very seasoned over-qualified teachers like me will also tell you that certification is pointless窶ｦbut that窶冱 just so I can tell all my students how English Language School XYZ has piss-poor unqualified, ill-educated instructors (note that I would never call them teachers!).

If you have some money saved, have a spare 2 months, and would like to teach English beyond your first job in Japan 窶 perhaps in Europe 窶 then get qualified. If you just want a year or two living in Japan, teaching at high school, before going on to graduate school or something else then save your money.