I'm looking into taking a course this summer or perhaps sooner and I'm wondering what kind of experiences people have had with this kind of stuff. There seem to be a lot of companies that will offer the certification for not a lot of money (I've seen as low as $295 and up to $995) but then there are programs that seem more legit like Columbia University's, but that shit costs $10,000. With the degrees I already have and this certificate I could feasibly live abroad and teach English. I've pretty much decided that I don't want to teach high school French in the United States but I think the challenge of being overseas is much more motivating. I had a much better time working in a French school teaching English while I was over there than I do in American classrooms. I think this might be my way into having an actual job...

Just go to Japan or China where you don't have to have that certification.

I deal with a lot of international students who have to take the TESOL/TOEFL, but I have never met or known anyone who was certified in it.

10,000 seems like a lot, especially for just a certification in something.