A University degree in Australia is either 3 or 4 years. A TESOL certificate ranges from a few days to a few weeks depending on the TESOL provider. Hence, a university degree is
definitely not a replacement or even equivalent for a TESOL certificate.
A
TESOL certificate would not get you a visa when teaching abroad. An
Advance Diploma however would suffice in some situations as would a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma. However, "Graduate" level courses require a Bachelor degree as a prerequisite OR a few years equivalent work experience. A Graduate Certificate can be completed over 1 year part-time at an Australian University.
I do know of teachers in Japan that have a work visa and only an Advance Diploma.
However, an Advance Diploma is usually 2 years full-time study in Australia. It seems you don't however have time to go back and complete these studies.
As you are Australian, less than 30 years of age, you can apply a Working Holiday visa to teach in Japan for a maximum of 18 months. You can also teach in China without the need for a University degree. Depends on which country you want to teach in. Places like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia etc. aren't really strict on requiring a University degree.
Quote:
|
He told me that without a degree, an Advanced Diploma in TESOL (sounded like a bit of a sales pitch, really), with lots of extra credit subjects would be just as good.
|
Possible. But what is the duration of the Advanced Diploma he is selling? I would suggest asking him for referrals of past graduates that are teaching overseas and don't hold a University degree.