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Online TEFL courses vs onsite TEFL courses by Sami Taalas A cost-benefit analysis has two main applications, firstly, to determine if an investment or a decision is sound, and by how much its benefits outweigh its costs. Secondly, a cost-benefit analysis can provide a basis for comparing investments or decisions comparing the total expected cost of each option with its total expected benefits. I will use this approach loosely to compare taking an online TEFL course vs onsite TEFL course in Bangkok 2019. Firstly, it is clear that taking a TEFL course was beneficial for me. My employer made it mandatory for all teachers to have a bachelor's or master's degree and a teaching certificate. The yearly teaching contracts will not be renewed without appropriate certificates in 2019. There are plenty of teaching jobs in Bangkok or at least in Thailand, S-E Asia, and China, but the pay is often significantly lower for non-native speakers without accreditation. China has implemented a new rule that states that teachers can’t get a visa without international well-known teaching certification. (These rules tend to get implemented sporadically depending on the region.). For me personally, not having a TEFL or similar certificate would have meant having to look for new work, possibly relocating AND taking a 50% pay cut. Therefore, to me, the value of my newly acquired TEFL certificate in monetary terms is 50-100% of my monthly salary … every month. Other benefits or taking a TEFL or similar course and certificate are many, for example, personal development, professional upgrade, increased knowledge and confidence, improved teaching capability that benefits the students, open doors to new assignments, new work opportunities, higher salary, etc. I also believe in life-long learning and continuing education. So far, great! How about onsite vs. online TEFL courses? There are intensive onsite master TESOL/TEFL packages in Bangkok and they cost about the same as a good monthly salary working as a teacher. However, they consist of intensive full-time classroom studies and commuting there in a metropolis like Bangkok would add 2-4 hot and sweaty daily hours in public transportation system during the rush-hours. There is also homework which means that I wouldn't have been able to work for one month. The online master package that I took allowed me to study and work flexibly and I didn't lose any salary at all during this time. All in all, I saved one month's salary, time and monetary cost of 40-80 hours of rush-hour commuting, and also the price difference between online and onsite course which was almost a monthly salary and it all adds up to approximately saving two monthly salaries and time. What difference would it have made for me to take an onsite course instead of my online course? Well, I would have been in a classroom setting which for many is the most efficient way of studying, and I would have been able to practice classroom activities hands-on. However, prefer to work solely online as a teacher and I get easily distracted in classroom settings due to my extroverted nature and short attention span unless I am the teacher. I have done my absolute best and most meaningful university art, BA and language studies and teaching online, and it suits me very well. I feel that taking these TEFL courses online was as good, or better than taking them onsite for me personally. If I look at the cost-benefit analysis model, I can conclude by saying that I have gained tremendously by taking these courses and certificates, and I made further savings (approximately two monthly salaries) by taking the courses online, while avoiding the inconvenient commute. Besides, I now know all the basic theories and practices that a language teacher needs to know, and I can continue improving my teaching skills continuously online. Perfect. Thank you.
