How can English teachers get TEFL certification?

What is TEFL certification?

Beyond it's one of the most recognizing and respected certificates to get a job, it's a great way to enhance knowledge in teaching to find an approach to students. TEFL is the famous acronym among ESL tutors and stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It means that having such certificate you may help people speak English in countries where this language isn't the main. Just imagine how amazing might be teaching in Japan or Thailand.

The best thing in the course is that it fits everyone. Whether you are still a student, you may complete it and start working either abroad or online to start you adult life and earn enough. More experienced ESL teachers opt for TEFL course to improve their knowledge in teaching. For example, they have been taugh English to kids, and now, they are ready to take the next step, to teach grown-ups. As the training provides information about learning approaches for students of different ages, everyone will know something new during the course.

Searching ways to move abroad or just to change your life, probably, you have encountered many other terms in teaching. Despite that there are many international certificates, TEFL is considered to be one of the best for teachers with different backgrounds. It is so important that employers will pay attention to it rather than anything else in your CV. The knowledge you get during the course allows you to easily adapt your teaching style depending on students' age and goals. What else will you get?

What are the benefits of TEFL certificate?

It opens so many opportunities to teachers to develop their professional life. As the course perfectly fits tutors with different skills, experience, and background, it contains much information about teaching. Depending on your preferences, you may choose a way of teaching and a category of students.

There are some options what you can do with TEFL certificate:

• teach children at school;
• teach adults;
• provide face-to-face lessons;
• conduct online sessions;
• gather people to have a group session;
• teach General English;
• teach Specific English;
• work with entrepreneur or people from different business realms.

Some people successfully work without such qualification, having the same lesson structure for all students. But you may become special. It will give you information on how to make your lessons engaging and interactive. It doesn't matter, where you work, either at school or on your own, people will notice that you differ from other teachers.

In addition, being certified, you may rely on the best work conditions abroad, especially in Asian countries. There are many cases when people have got well-paid positions having nothing but TEFL. It may replace a bachelor's degree in English, relevant experience, and academic achivements. Just imagine that you get everything you need to teach effectively with the only practicum. Having this, you automatically may consider yourself a part of the League of the best educators.

TEFL program

If you have attentively checked the options that TEFL offers you, you probably wonder, what should the program be. That's true, the course doesn't last eternity and even years. Some options as online training gives you a chance to study at your own pace. If you spend an hour, you can finish the course in a month. If you may learn information only two days a week, you may complete the course in a half of year. Depending on your free time and determination to devote yourself to teaching, there are many options in terms of duration. It ranges from 60 to 300 hours, but 120 hours are considered the enough amount of time to get familiar with the most important methods of teaching.

As you may guess, there are a few options of studying:

• online;
• in person.

The last one includes two possible ways, to study in your hometown in an accredited local center or abroad. Despite that the programm is the same in terms of the most important topics, they entail different costs and efforts. Studying abroad means, you should think of not only the trustworthy provider, but also of accommodation, food, and flight. However, such experience is incredible hands down. Not only will you get international experience immediately, but also feel the vibe of studying abroad. It will help you to imagine yourself as a worker in a new country.

As usual, the program includes the following topics:

• developing students' receptive and productive skills;
• making well-structured lesson plans;
• searching relevant materials;
• adapting course books and exercises according to students' level;
• rational assessment;
• providing feedback;
• ways to motivate students;
• online teaching;
• individual and group sessions;
• teaching kids, teens, and adults.

Where can you teach with TEFL certificate?

While this qualification doesn't allow you to teach in any country around the globe, it has much to offer. You can choose any place where English isn't the official language. Moreover, such countries as Vietnam and Thailand willigly hire ESL tutors even with no experience. However, TEFL is considered a must-have. Some countries even included such international certificates as TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA in a mandatory list that has something to do with visa regulations. In other words, even being qualified and experienced enough but with no TEFL certification, you won't be able to work legally in most of the Asian countries.

If you aren't ready to pack your stuff and leave your motherland, TEFL qualification still can help you a lot. Wherever you work, it will become your doubtless advantage among other educators. Having it, chances are, you will get a well-paid job easier and faster. Due to the course program, you shouldn't worry that you don't have much practice. All learning approaches will help you to adapt your lessons depending on where you teach, at school, university, or online.

As TEFL is used interchageably with TESOL, some employers don't pay too much attention to the subtle difference. They can hire both applicants to work in an English-speaking country. We know that only TESOL and CELTA allow doing this. However, if employers don't mind, you have a chance not to limit yourself in a choice of location.

In a nutshell, you have a variety of options where to teach:

• Italy;
• Greece;
• Argentina;
• Costa-Rica;
• South Korea;
• Indonesia;
• Spain;
• Japan;
• China;
• Vietnam;
• Thailand;
• Cambodia;
• Mexico;
• Germany;
• Taiwan;
• Chilie.

In order to know more about places where you can work getting the best offers and perks, read our article.

How to get TEFL certification?

In comparison to other practicumes, TEFL doesn't have many requirements. The main thing is the language comprehension. As usual, it includes an entry test or exam to check whether you have sufficient amount of knowledge to understand the course information. However, mostly, it's an applicant's responsibility. C1 is considered the minimum level to complete the course, but many teachers start learning from B2, improving their knowledge during the course.

Whereas many trainings require teachers to have a bachelor's degree or previous work experience, TEFL doesn't do the same. That's why it's perfect for both, qualified tutors and newcomers with no practice. As it gives enough knowledge in each aspect, there isn't anything to be worried about. You can enroll in it without degree.

Summing everything up, it requires teachers:

• to have sufficient English level to understand the course;
• to be at full age.

Depending on a way of studying, the price may range from $300-$1,500 for the course. As we have already mentioned, most of on-site courses cost more than the online. Moreover, learning in person is more intensive and takes more time to spend. Whereas an online course is cheaper and allows to study at any day and time. But the choice is up to you.

How to choose the best TEFL course?

If you try to search an online way, there will be abundance of relevant offers. Unfortunately, not all of them are trustworthy and provide decent knowledge. Some sell two-hour trainings, whereas they are nothing but waste of time. That's why it's significant to turn to only famous and respected providers. Such situation seems difficult because TEFL program doesn't have the only accrediting body, like CELTA has Cambridge English Assessment. So, there are many scammers who are trying to convince inexperienced newcomers that they have accreditation. In fact, it's easy to check, if a company really can boast its accreditation.

You should know some respected accrediting bodies that are famous around the globe:

• Accreditat;
• ACCRIN;
• Trinity College;
• British Council;
• OFQUAL;
• TQUK.

Knowing this fact you may calm down and be sure that your certificate will be legit.

We have made a guide for you on how to choose a trustworthy provider:

• do some research and find a few companies;
• check their accreditations;
• compare the offers;
• exclude those that are too cheap, as the good course can't cost little;
• contact to a company representative to ask some questions;
• pay attention to how much information the course advisor provides;
• check the reviews of course-graduates;
• ask what kind of assistence the company provides;
• check whether the company helps get a job.

As you see, there are many things to do before you pay for the course. As soon as you have found something interesting, try to know as much information as possible.

Is there any difference between online and offline TEFL courses?

Online education is getting more popular and requested each year. Not only is it convenient enough, but also there are more people who can enroll in online studying rather than offline. But some applicants doubt, whether the certificate that is delievered online legitimate enough. Truth be told, there isn't any difference. If you have found a trustworthy provider and know how to check the identification number of your certificate, you may be sure that all employers are tolerant to online education. Most of the certificates don't mention online studying, so you are the only who will know this fact. By the way, it doesn't expire, so you will never have to prove your competence again.

As for working abroad, some countries require candidates to provide the hard-copy of the certification. It isn't a problem at all, as recognized providers offer such opportunity to their TEFL-graduates. It may cost some money, but will be delivered with all original stamps, QR codes, and signatures.

If you don't care about money, you may choose an in-person learning. However, the online allows you to have your lifestyle rather than to adapt it to the studying pace. Needless to say that online way is cheaper and more convenient.

Conclusion

In comparison to other tranings, TEFL provides more opportunities to pursue a teaching career worldwide. The good news is the course doesn't take much time, effort, or money, everything you need is motivation, sufficient English level, and to be adult. With such qualification you can earn such salary $1,000-$4,600 a month.

Why you should become a certified teacher:

• to get students' respect;
• to attract new students;
• to earn more;
• to easily get well-paid offers;
• to be qualified enough;
• to work with people at different ages;
• to teach not only General English;
• to work at school and on your own;
• to get a job abroad.

As you know how to check companies to know if the certificate they provide is legal, you may remember what options help to define decent practicumes.

Things which will help to identify reliable sources:

• quick replies to your questions;
• reviews;
• a well-structured website;
• feedback from a professional;
• the simple way to check the accreditation;
• assistance in applying for a job.

Fortunately, online TEFL/TESOL course contains all of those options and even more. As you see, the course includes both, ESL and EFL methods, which means that you will be able to teach people in any country with no limitations. Additionally, you will be provided with help of qualified native speaker trainer, who is going to check your lesson plans and give rational feedback to make them better. As soon as you complete the course, you may turn to employment assistant, who will be glad to make your resume brilliant and advise on how to pass an interview.

Online TEFL/TESOL course offers three possible options:

• 120 hours;
• 150 hours;
• 250 hours.

The good news is whatever course you enroll in, you will be given help of specialists, whose we have mentioned before. The minimum duration is enough to get essential knowledge about teaching and land a job abroad. You can control the pace of learning, as you have either six or eight months to finish the course. In a couple of months, you will become a professional English teacher who can easily teach all types of students both, online and in the classroom.

Don't waste your time and enroll in online TEFL/TESOL course at a 50% discount.

We hope, you have mentioned all advantages of getting a certified tutor. As the other trainings take more and give less, TEFL is the perfect opportunity to start your teaching career abroad. If you have questions, leave them in the comments section below. We are always glad to help.