TESOL Certificate, Part 1
Teach English Now!

So I would recommend with something basic like Cambly to build up some confidence, and highlight that in your profile (conversation practice only).

Look at getting an online TEFL certificate, there are some cheap and half-decent ones around. I have no experience of it but there's even a TESOL course on Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/tesol

Books you should acquire: English Grammar/Vocabulary In Use (Pre-Intermediate/Intermediate); Teaching English. You can find these online.

After you feel confident, you could apply for one of the Chinese companies (avoid people in this thread spamming their referral links, look for those discussing companies who don't feel the need to post them).

Will this Coursera TESOL course stand up against other TEFL certificates?

I was browsing free/paid courses on Coursera and came across the first of two (I think) specializations culminating in a TESOL certificate from Arizona State University. The price seems very reasonable compared to other programs. But is it worth it?

I'm skeptical of the weight of a program like this. Do any of you have any thoughts?

Link to course: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/tesol?utm_medium=email&utm_source=recommendations&utm_campaign=recommendationsEmail~recs_email_2015_10_18

IMO most of those online certs are the same, but they can get your foot in the door for a first job. Coursea has an online cert from Arizona State which I think is more prestigious than certs like this. I have an online cert and the ASU cert. The latter is more theory focused, IMO.

https://www.coursera.org/specializations/tesol

There is a wonderful 6 course series on Coursera called Teach English Now https://www.coursera.org/specializations/tesol. It isn't free, but it is relatively inexpensive (and financial aid is available) and it is focused on the communicative method of teaching, which I think would be a great approach for you to explore. If you complete all six courses successfully, you get a TEFL certificate from Arizona State University.

You mentioned wanting to leave the country. Have you looked into ESOL teaching? I don't know how well it pays. I've heard some people love it and some not so much. I do know that I was able to get my TESOL certificate through the Teach English Now! specialization offered on Coursera. That's not accepted in all countries, but it's a foot in the door to see if you like it.

I get the feeling from your posts that you are very frustrated and feel trapped and it seems like there's no way out. That's an awful feeling but I understand it. Know that you can get out. It takes work and intention but it's doable. DM me if you want to talk. I'm transitioning from K12 to corporate right now and expect a job offer this week. It's doable.

Work/volunteer experience vs online course?

I'm interested in doing a program like JET or EPIK next year, and I'm wondering about the best ways to improve my candidacy. I got hired for one of those online teaching schools because I figure the experience looks good even if the pay sucks. I'm also trying to get involved with an ESL volunteer program in my city and considering one of these 2 online courses:

Coursera's TESOL specialization

ITTT's 120-hour online certification

I have experience tutoring (mostly math though) and volunteering with kids. I'm not interested in a long term career so I'm hesitant to spend money on the CELTA or even an in-person course, and I also work full-time so traveling somewhere to do the course is a no-go as well. I'm mainly interested in ESL teaching as a way to see new places and cultures for a year or 2 before going back to my regular career (IT).

So my question: what is most valuable to help me get into one of these cultural exchange and teaching programs? Should I focus on work experience? Volunteer experience? An online course? Given my time and money constraints, what's the best use of my resources?

Why don't you just do something like this: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/tesol and NOT pay for the certificate. If you don't care about a cert and just want to learn, don't waste money.

I find that it depends on where you want to teach. If you want to go somewhere with a decent salary, you need to have a certification or a Master's degree. Countries that are less strict about visitor or employee visas and that have a lower cost of living tend to have lower standards for experience and education. Sometimes you can find short-term EFL courses that have difficulty hiring highly qualified candidates because they're temporary, e.g. a four-week summer course at a university, so they will hire people without certificates.

Cert recommendations: I highly recommend this program from The Pennsylvania State University: https://ed.psu.edu/tesl-ecuador but it is expensive and not a quick-and-easy TEFL cert. It is 15 credits of graduate coursework, some of which can be completed online, and some of which must be completed in-person at Penn State and during summer field experience in Ecuador. I did it in 2014 and learned A LOT. Another recommendation is this program, Teach English Now! from Arizona State University, offered as an open-online course from Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/tesol. It's free, or you can pay a fee to have a "certificate" (not comparable with official university courses). I used this program to refresh my memory before starting a Master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and I found it to be very thorough and educational.