Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach - ESL Teaching

Willie · Thu 04-Oct-07, 05:50 PM

Hi guys I hope the weather is good where you are residing atm. I can tell you for sure that Brissie has been pretty hot, and yes, sunny as well.

I stumbled upon to this internship program, backed by Monash? It allows applicants to go abroad and do a 4 week language course based on what country they go to. I've been looking at China because they are the only country which offers a teaching internship.
China | ISPC :: International Student Placement Centre

Program Fees
4 weeks Mandarin course + 1 - 3 month internship: AU$2500 + GST
Internship 1 – 3 months : AU$1595 + GST
Internship 4 – 6 months: AU$2050 + GST

I was wondering, to all you ESL/EFL teachers, is this course worth taking?

Your opinions would greatly help me in my decision. Thank you

gfell · Thu 04-Oct-07, 06:22 PM

Oh, so you have to pay to have the opportunity to teach? Wouldn't it be better to get paid instead? There are plenty of English teaching jobs in China, so why pay a school to work for them?

If you are after the training, then I suggest doing an intensive teacher training course prior to heading abroad.

I would only pay for these services if it was a hard to find a job in the country I want to teach in. Eg: Africa or South America etc.

Willie · Fri 05-Oct-07, 10:14 AM

Well the language course is optional i think. I really should find out because i don't need to do as I am fluent in mandarin anyway.

Gfell, when completing a teaching degree, the individual must go on pracs anyway in order to give him/her experience in the real teaching world right? I have to do 80 days of free teaching. That's done in 4 week blocks. Would that be considered the same as this program?

The only difference I can spot is that this program places more importance on teaching ESL and also places you in another culture. I DO plan on teaching ESL overseas or domestically when i complete my degree. Therefore, having some experience with ESL teaching would be great. Hence this course. Lolz

gfell · Fri 05-Oct-07, 01:18 PM

Oh, I see... you want to tie it into your degree. If you have to do 80 days FREE teaching, then you could always do it for free rather than paying to do the teaching. I'm sure you can always find work in China as a volunteer teacher or donate your pay back to the school for better student resources.

I just don't like the idea of paying a fee in order to be given the opportunity to teach.

Willie · Mon 08-Oct-07, 09:50 PM

HAHA true eh, I never thought of that. Paying to teach?...or paying to work...sorta idea. However, at the end of the course, you do get a good reference and if you desire future employment, you can always go back there. I believe this program provides a stepping stone for those who want to become ESL/EFL teachers....or for those who are still completing a degree of any kind, like yours truly.

Anyway, I will think about it again, whether or not to do it. There is this OTHER course as well...BLCU, something about mandarin immersion schooling in China....12 week intensive course....

eric_canada · Tue 09-Oct-07, 05:50 AM

I hate to sound like a skeptic when I don't know anything specifically about the organisation, but it sounds weird. It reminds me of one of those scams where you have to send them a cheque to get your millions of dollars in winnings.

I'm probably wrong. But it just seems odd you would pay to teach. And if that is the case, do you think they'll pay you to go back when they have people lined up paying them to teach there? I just think it sounds strange. They don't even list information about their company on the website in a conspicuous location.

Like I said, I'm probably wrong.

Margy · Tue 09-Oct-07, 10:25 AM

I feel the same as eric.

I don't see the need to pay to get a teaching job. I would only pay if it was like a volunteer job where I help out those in Africa or something.

EF English First · Mon 15-Oct-07, 08:31 PM

I must agree that given the need for teachers in China, it seems wrong to be paying for the honour of gaining experience. Someone, somewhere is getting paid twice in that arrangement.

I see you have mentioned that it is a requirement of your degree, can your university not help? If not I'd try someone like International Volunteers for Peace Workcamps in Australia or Abroad - they should be able to point you in the right direction.

Best of luck.

waixingren · Tue 16-Oct-07, 04:06 PM

You don't need a course to come to China. To be qualified for most jobs here you just need to be foreign. If you want to get some qualifications, I suggest taking a TEFL course. Even some of the online ones are useful.

Willie · Sat 20-Oct-07, 09:25 AM

Lol...thanks for you're replies. I guess after reading all you're comments and doing more research, it would be safer to actually find an International college that has ESL as a subject and where there a lot of international students. Surprisingly, there are a few my city.

That website doesn't look very convincing does it?....

Thu 04-Oct-07, 05:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
Willie ESL Rookie Join Date: May 2007 Nationality: Australian Occupation: Student Location: Posts: 20	Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach Hi guys I hope the weather is good where you are residing atm. I can tell you for sure that Brissie has been pretty hot, and yes, sunny as well. I stumbled upon to this internship program, backed by Monash? It allows applicants to go abroad and do a 4 week language course based on what country they go to. I've been looking at China because they are the only country which offers a teaching internship. China \| ISPC :: International Student Placement Centre Program Fees 4 weeks Mandarin course + 1 - 3 month internship: AU$2500 + GST Internship 1 – 3 months : AU$1595 + GST Internship 4 – 6 months: AU$2050 + GST I was wondering, to all you ESL/EFL teachers, is this course worth taking? Your opinions would greatly help me in my decision. Thank you

Thu 04-Oct-07, 06:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 654	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach Oh, so you have to pay to have the opportunity to teach? Wouldn't it be better to get paid instead? There are plenty of English teaching jobs in China, so why pay a school to work for them? If you are after the training, then I suggest doing an intensive teacher training course prior to heading abroad. I would only pay for these services if it was a hard to find a job in the country I want to teach in. Eg: Africa or South America etc. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Fri 05-Oct-07, 10:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
Willie ESL Rookie Join Date: May 2007 Nationality: Australian Occupation: Student Location: Posts: 20	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach Well the language course is optional i think. I really should find out because i don't need to do as I am fluent in mandarin anyway. Gfell, when completing a teaching degree, the individual must go on pracs anyway in order to give him/her experience in the real teaching world right? I have to do 80 days of free teaching. That's done in 4 week blocks. Would that be considered the same as this program? The only difference I can spot is that this program places more importance on teaching ESL and also places you in another culture. I DO plan on teaching ESL overseas or domestically when i complete my degree. Therefore, having some experience with ESL teaching would be great. Hence this course. Lolz

Fri 05-Oct-07, 01:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 654	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach Oh, I see... you want to tie it into your degree. If you have to do 80 days FREE teaching, then you could always do it for free rather than paying to do the teaching. I'm sure you can always find work in China as a volunteer teacher or donate your pay back to the school for better student resources. I just don't like the idea of paying a fee in order to be given the opportunity to teach. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Mon 08-Oct-07, 09:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
Willie ESL Rookie Join Date: May 2007 Nationality: Australian Occupation: Student Location: Posts: 20	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach HAHA true eh, I never thought of that. Paying to teach?...or paying to work...sorta idea. However, at the end of the course, you do get a good reference and if you desire future employment, you can always go back there. I believe this program provides a stepping stone for those who want to become ESL/EFL teachers....or for those who are still completing a degree of any kind, like yours truly. Anyway, I will think about it again, whether or not to do it. There is this OTHER course as well...BLCU, something about mandarin immersion schooling in China....12 week intensive course....

Tue 09-Oct-07, 05:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
eric_canada Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Nationality: Canadian Occupation: Student Location: Posts: 10	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach I hate to sound like a skeptic when I don't know anything specifically about the organisation, but it sounds weird. It reminds me of one of those scams where you have to send them a cheque to get your millions of dollars in winnings. I'm probably wrong. But it just seems odd you would pay to teach. And if that is the case, do you think they'll pay you to go back when they have people lined up paying them to teach there? I just think it sounds strange. They don't even list information about their company on the website in a conspicuous location. Like I said, I'm probably wrong.

Tue 09-Oct-07, 10:25 AM	#7 (permalink)
Margy Senior Guru Join Date: Jun 2005 Nationality: Australian Occupation: English Teacher Location: Posts: 106	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach I feel the same as eric. I don't see the need to pay to get a teaching job. I would only pay if it was like a volunteer job where I help out those in Africa or something.

Mon 15-Oct-07, 08:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
EF English First EF English First Join Date: Jul 2005 Occupation: Teacher Recruitment & Training Location: Posts: 80	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach I must agree that given the need for teachers in China, it seems wrong to be paying for the honour of gaining experience. Someone, somewhere is getting paid twice in that arrangement. I see you have mentioned that it is a requirement of your degree, can your university not help? If not I'd try someone like International Volunteers for Peace Workcamps in Australia or Abroad - they should be able to point you in the right direction. Best of luck. __________________ EF English First Teacher Recruitment & Training -- [url=http://www.englishfirst.com/trt/index.html]Teach English in China, Indonesia or Russia[/url] ---- [url=http://www.efteflscholarships.com/index.html]TEFL Courses Worldwide[/url] --

Tue 16-Oct-07, 04:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
waixingren Guru Join Date: Jun 2007 Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 55	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach You don't need a course to come to China. To be qualified for most jobs here you just need to be foreign. If you want to get some qualifications, I suggest taking a TEFL course. Even some of the online ones are useful. __________________ I am the Waiguoren Critic of South China My Travel Photos

Sat 20-Oct-07, 09:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
Willie ESL Rookie Join Date: May 2007 Nationality: Australian Occupation: Student Location: Posts: 20	Re: Internship programs - Paying to learn and to teach Lol...thanks for you're replies. I guess after reading all you're comments and doing more research, it would be safer to actually find an International college that has ESL as a subject and where there a lot of international students. Surprisingly, there are a few my city. That website doesn't look very convincing does it?....

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