ITA's TEFL program in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico is great! The partner school, ITTO, that runs the TEFL Certification course really gives you all of the tools you need to go above and beyond in the TEFL world. The course is intense, don't get me wrong, but it is so worth the long days and somewhat sleepless nights. You really have to work hard- it's 4 weeks of early mornings and late nights, occasional weekend work, homework, lesson plans, student work, a little bit of tears (stress), and tons of laughter. My favorite part of the program was going over to the English language school around the corner for the teaching practicum everyday. Having the privilege of working with students throughout the certification process is something that I am so grateful for. Your fellow TEFL classmates become your family for that month- you eat most meals together, lesson plan together, bounce ideas off each other, and help each other through everything the 4 weeks throw at you. At the end of the 4-week intensive course, you get out there and the job search begins. You not only have ITTO's help, but you also have full access to guidance from ITA- that's double the opportunity to land a job. I highly recommend the program to anyone who is interested!
Response from International TEFL Academy
Hi David,
Thanks for taking the time to write this detailed review and share your feedback. As mentioned in previous correspondence a few months ago, ITA does our best to assist every single graduate with his/her job search - no matter if you’re a native English speaker or a non-native English speaker. It is entirely up to each employer (or entire an country for that matter) if they want to hire someone. ITA as an organization does not set hiring standards for specific schools nor do we have any say in what credentials school’s require.
We also do not guarantee jobs for any English teachers (native or non-native). As you mention in your review, all non-native English speaking students are also thoroughly educated by ITA of the added challenges they may face teaching abroad. We do require all non-native students who plan to enroll in an ITA TEFL class to take a test to ensure his/her English skills are high enough to succeed in the course and ultimately teach the English language. We talk with every student who plans to enroll in one of our TEFL courses, native or non-native. We do this because we don’t want anyone enrolling in a course and wasting their time & money if they aren’t a good fit for the class.
In regards to your job search, it looks like our Student Affairs team has communicated with you 25+ times to assist you with your job search. We’ve worked with you on your resume, a letter stating that you completed the course so you could begin applying to schools before you received your certificate, and in addition to our job search resources available for all students; a list of a few schools in Santiago directly that do hire non-native teachers when we found out that you were having issues finding a job. Another point to note is that the best way to find a teaching job in Chile is by interviewing and applying in-person upon arrival, especially as a non-native teacher. So as previously discussed, because you were emailing schools in-advance instead of applying face-to-face in Chile, you likely saw this impact your opportunties.
We absolutely support each and every one of our alumni (non-native English speakers or not). We are always happy to communicate with you further on your job search, so always feel free to get in touch and we will do our very best to assist you.