Hi Turnoi. As I have finished all my assignment marking, after a mammoth two days of intensive reading and marking of student scripts, I have time to comment on your post. If you look at some of my previous posts I have covered aspects of both CELTA and TKT.

You make some interesting and valid points about both qualifications. However, they fulfill different criteria and should not be seem as alternatives, but as complimentary to each other. The grammar focus in CELTA is covered by the requirement to produce a language analysis sheet to accompany each lesson plan for the observed teaching practice. The focus therefore, is on being able to identify language components ( lexis) and their grammatical structure in the context of what the trainee will be teaching. The course does not attempt to cover all of the grammar rules because additional study is required for the grammar assignments that are set. The course does not aim to make everyone a "complete" teacher and this is stated in the publicity material. How could it do this in 4 weeks? I happen to think that CELTA is an excellent foundation in preparation for teaching and would recommend it to anyone. Most of the trainees on the course I took were qualified teachers - i.e they had graduated from a College of Education, (previously known as teacher training colleges), in the UK. Other students were subject specialists that had completed a PGCE (Post-Graduate Certificate in Education). Only two students were in the category you describe as pizza managers, plumbers etc.

As for the Teaching Knowledge Test, this was developed in 2005, and is slowly gaining acceptance as a precursor to further TEFL study and qualifications. I have recommended this course for people with no background in teaching or training so that they can begin to understand the terminology and special requirements of teaching English as a foreign/ second language.

Both of these courses are useful and I think are worth more than the paper they are written on. But being a good teacher is not about academic prowess but is about passion, life experience, confidence and a willingness to go on learning. I have sufficient qualifications and experience to teach anywhere without having a CELTA, and although valuable I don't think an MA(TESOL)and other specialised postgraduate qualifications) are major requirement to teach in China. Subject specialists, however, are in demand in China. People who can teach Maths, Finance and Economics for example. I doubt if there are enough jobs that pay well for people with a Master's degree in TEFL.