I agree with a lot of what you wrote. You raise some good points. The problem with CELTA/DELTA is that it is a "one-size fits all" approach, and it's true that if one holds a CELTA certification it is by no means a sign of professionalism.

This whole thread is interesting, but maybe should be moved to the discussion forum in future, as the original topic here is EF.

Cheers,

SB

Many of us FT's would barely know a CELTA or DELTA if they got up and bit us; I don't! However, I don't believe we have to. But first of all I think we should give the devil his due (only an expression) and admit that LondonGirl is one of the few highly qualified teachers to have visited this site. She actually knows her stuff; rather than merely claiming she does. She would line up (on this forum) with the likes of Cunninglinguist and Foxy from hothot.

Now, you, me, concerned teacher and a few others, don't really know our stuff but I don't believe we have to. At some stage in our lives we have all found ourselves with a degree, spare degree doing nothing (legally earned) for studies in the past, and have had a eureka moment "I could be a teacher in China! I could do that" We have packed up our Mr Bean lesson plans and scurried off. In the main as native born speakers we have done fabulous work teaching oral English. Lets face it not many proper teachers actually want to throw away pension opportunities and all the benefits of teaching in the west and slum it in China. And that leaves vacancies for us pretend teachers, and thank god for that.

So okay for us 'acting teacher' to teach; as long as we watch our conduct towards the students.