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COURSE SYLLABUS
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Our 120 Hour Elective TEFL Course is a fast-track option to get qualified to teach English online or in any classroom around the world. As a fully trained and qualified TEFL teacher, you can be teaching English as a foreign language in as little as four weeks. But, don’t worry, you’ll get six months to complete your course for ultimate study flexibility.

Embark on a new chapter with a lifetime qualification, training yourself in the primary areas of teaching English as a foreign language. All you need to complete our 120-hour advanced TEFL course is fluent English (minimum level c1) and a device to access our award-winning learning platform.

Flexible and engaging! Packed full of interactive quizzes and videos, this accredited online TEFL course will give you all the training you need to become a professional TEFL teacher. The course is accessible from any device, anytime, including the world’s first TEFL app.

To earn a competitive salary and secure employment, TEFL employers expect at least 120 hours of TEFL tuition. This TEFL course is the fastest way to gain that international standard. This TEFL qualification is also internationally respected and recognised. Employers can authenticate the qualifications of any TEFL Institute teacher online via the employer’s verification page, giving them the confidence that your TEFL qualification is official.

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Module One: Introduction to TEFL and the English Language

Understanding your students’ motivations and needs for studying English, as well as common teaching methodologies used inside TEFL classrooms. Get to know the basic principles behind TEFL teaching.

Module Two: The Role of the Teacher

This module teaches you about the various “roles” teachers play in the classroom and how to effectively deal with classroom management. You will also learn all about the different types of “needs” your learners will have, as well as errors and error correction.

Module Three: Teaching Grammar

Grammar is always a prickly topic, but it’s a must in the TEFL classroom! Not to worry though, this module explains all about the most important aspects of grammar that you will need to know to get you grammar-ready, as well as teaches you different grammar approaches and how to apply them in the classroom.

Module Four: Teaching Vocabulary

Did you know that there are 150,000-200,000 words in the English language? Don’t worry, you’ll only be asked to teach a few hundred of those! Vocabulary can be a lot of fun in the TEFL classroom, and in this module, you’ll learn all about how it’s grouped, how to teach it and different activities that you can use to make it fun in your lessons! 

Module Five: Teaching Receptive Skills (Reading & Listening)

Reading and listening are both skills that involve your learners “receiving” language. By the end of this lesson, you’ll know the most effective ways to engage students in reading and listening in English, and you will be proficient in the types of activities and materials that make for a successful receptive skills class. 

Module Six: Teaching Productive Skills (Writing & Speaking)

Now that you’ve covered “receptive” skills, “productive” skills are next – Speaking and writing. You’ll learn plenty of useful ideas about how to get your students up on their feet and engaging in dynamic discussions, as well as how to approach learning writing, and the best materials and activities for each.

Module Seven: How to Teach Pronunciation and Phonology

Phonology is fascinating! This module will help you to master core phonological concepts such as word stress and connected speech, and build your confidence in teaching this often mysterious TEFL topic. Pronunciation is hugely important to some English learners, and you will become fully fluent in teaching these important concepts in no time! 

Module Eight: Lesson Planning

Being the best teacher you can be is down to planning. In this module, you’ll learn lesson planning techniques that will not only save you time but will ensure that your lessons run smoothly. You’ll gain students’ respect which of course is great for reviews (especially if you are teaching online).

Module Nine: Teaching Young Learners, Testing, Exams, and Business English

Teaching English is not all about learning grammar and lexical rules, there are so many fascinating pathways to specialise in! This module teaches you how to teach young learners, the ins and outs of teaching English for exams, how to approach testing in the classroom, and deliver a great business English lesson! It’s definitely not one you want to miss…

Module Ten: From Course to Classroom

As you near the end of your course, you’ll no doubt be thinking how to secure that first job and begin your exciting new adventure… In this module, you learn useful resume writing skills, understand how to search for TEFL jobs, build up your own personal repository of TEFL resources, and master the importance of continuous professional development. In no time at all, you’ll be a fully-fledged TEFL teacher!

Highfields Qualifications

The TEFL Institute’s Level 5 accrediting body is the  (Highfield Qualifications). This qualification is aimed at those with little or no experience teaching English or those with previous experience seeking a recognised qualification to validate their knowledge. This qualification provides learners with a certificate recognised worldwide and can be used to secure teaching positions, visas and other employment-related to English language teaching. For a more general overview of the units, we recommend Highfield Level 5 Certificate in Teaching as a Foreign Language (TEFL). To learn more about Ofqual or verify Highfield’s status, visit their website: Ofqual.

The Accreditation Council for Distance Learning:

An is accrediting body specialising in distance learning courses. Their ethos promotes the utmost standard of excellence among providers bearing a seal of approval assures students that ACDL-accredited educational providers offer the best in certified quality standards. The accreditation number is 2854-2540.

The Vital Consular:

What is this verification seal, and why is it different to an accreditation? The TEFL Institute is a verified UK TEFL provider, meaning that you can study any one of our courses with the knowledge that it will be fit for purpose when you need to use it overseas for your new teaching role. The Vital Consular verification scheme ensures that the members are all recognised by the UK Government. All certificates they issue can be used for an overseas work permit; not all TEFL providers meet these requirements!

This is extremely important if you’re travelling to China, Vietnam, Taiwan and other destinations where your documents will need to be legalised for your visa. If your certificate doesn’t get past the first stage of legalisation by the UK Government, you’ll likely have to start a new course, costing you extra time and money before you can even get things moving.

As a globally recognised TEFL provider, our academic team are responsible for developing and delivering a comprehensive range of accredited and government regulated courses with extensive course material. The TEFL Institute has a reputation within the TEFL industry for its high calibre of training and producing TEFL teachers of the highest standard and is ranked as the number #1 training provider by employers worldwide.

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We care about your TEFL journey from the moment you decide you want to teach English as a foreign language. We want you to be well prepared, to have the right qualifications and all the skills necessary to realise all your ambitions. The TEFL Institute assists you every step of the way and offers guidance to ensure you take the right course or TEFL job that best suits your needs. From the moment you get in touch, we are here for you and you become a member of the TEFL Institute family.

Our Core Principles

Passion – Our team is passionate about travel, teaching and building lasting relationships with our clients. We are constantly generating new leads, creating new programmes and internships, and generating new content to help meet our clients’ needs.

Genuine & Committed – We genuinely care about our clients and interns and are committed to providing them with personal one-on-one help from our dedicated and experienced team to ensure that their TEFL dreams are met.

Partnership & Collaboration – We work with a variety of other companies across the globe to create lasting relationships and partnerships to help service our clientele by providing them with opportunities to live and work abroad. We are continuously striving to create new and lasting partnerships to best serve our clients.

Integrity – We believe in doing everything with integrity and honesty. To uphold the highest moral standards in all we do to best serve our customers as a trustworthy and reliable source.

  • Who can do a TEFL course?

    First and foremost, an aspiring TEFL teacher must be outgoing and confident, and not afraid to make themselves look a little silly, especially when teaching children. Expression is a huge part of the methodologies to be able to get your point across. You’ll warm up to this in time and it all takes practice. 

    We suggest people to be at least 16 with a C1 level of English or higher. If you’re not sure, we have a free English test. We also would recommend people who work on their own initiative as it is an online course and you will need to be your own motivation. 

  • What can I do with my TEFL certificate? 

    As a TEFL qualified teacher, the world is your oyster. Our 120 hour TEFL certificate is fully accredited and internationally recognised, meaning you can teach online or around the globe. If you are looking to teach in your home country at a language centre or would like to go to the UAE, we would suggest you doing our higher level qualification, our 180 hour level 5 TEFL course, as this is the requirement in such competitive countries.

  • What is the difference between the 120 hour TEFL course and the 180 hour level 5 TEFL course? 

    Both courses are your main TEFL qualification and give you the opportunity to start your ESL career. However, there are a few differences between them and the right choice will depend on your story and goals. 

    The 120 hour TEFL course is the minimum standard around the world. It is a lovely laid out course with 10 modules outlined in the course content. This certification can be used primarily to teach online and travel the world. It is the fastest route to getting a qualification. 

    The 180 hour course is a level 5 qualification and can be compared to a CELTA or TrinityTESOL. This course is harder and longer to complete, but worth it in the end as it opens up so many opportunities. This course should be taken if you’d like to teach in your home country or certain places in Asia. 

  • Do I need to be a teacher to teach English abroad?

    You do not need any prior teaching degrees or experience to teach abroad. Once you have your TEFL certificate, you are 100% able to work as a TEFL teacher. A B.Ed. will of course help your resume, but it is definitely not necessary. 

  • How are the courses laid out? 

    Our courses are filled with course content, videos, podcasts, reflective tasks, and tests. They are online courses and can be completed in your own time and from home. 

    Our 120 hour TEFL course has 10 modules with a multiple choice test at the end of each module. You will need 80% to pass. We offer free retests, so if you fail the first time, simply go through your coursework again and retake the test. All examinations are completed online and at your own pace. You are given six months to complete the course to accommodate people who have full-time jobs and dependents, but ultimately it doesn’t take this long. 

  • Are the courses accredited? 

    The TEFL Institute is fully accredited by  ACDL (accreditation number: 2854-2540). The 120 hour TEFL Certificate is 100% accredited.

  • Are the certificates included in the price? 

    All of our accredited courses include a PDF version of the certificate. This is perfect for applying for jobs online or abroad. Sometimes, perhaps for visa reasons, you may need a hardcopy. We have options available, but there is an extra cost for print and postage.

  • How much time do I have to complete the course?

    You have six months to complete your course. As seen in our average completion times, it won’t take you this long but this is to accommodate for people who are, say,  full-time workers or parents. If you require more time, that’s ok! We have extension options. 

Please see the full FAQs through this link:

teflinstitute.com/frequently-asked-tefl-questions/

who can take the course

You are part of a school program or enrolling individually

You have always wanted to live and work in another country

Interested in teaching but are not sure if TEFL is for you

You are receiving credits from your school

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CUSTOMER REVIEWS
(4.96)
Out of 2897 global reviews
5 Star
97%
4 Star
2%
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1%
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4.9
Based on 2401 reviews
4.9
Based on 100 reviews
I really enjoyed the TEFL course. The teachers explain everything clearly, and the lessons are engaging and well organized. I truly appreciate the effort the team puts into the course.The only issue I have is that I submitted my Assessment 3 on July 6, but I still haven't received the result. I would be very grateful if you could help resolve this issue.Thank you for your support!
Nasiba O.
13:46 24 Jul 26
A relaxed yet buzzed up, non intimidating environment that lent itself to learning easily. Host & tutor Michelle Benson was exceptionally welcoming, pleasant, encouraging & entertaining, smiling & supportive throughout, which is why I consider 4.7 an accurate star rating; I would just like to have engaged in more than a few minutes of teaching practise during the course. Sincere gratitude to Michelle and the TEFL team, Anthony.
Anthony Mc G.
16:33 22 Jul 26
I had an excellent experience with The TEFL Institute whilst completing my 180 Hour Diploma and learnt so much. There was a broad focus on both face-to-face and online teaching. This made the course useful for different settings. The in-depth study of the various lesson structures has equipped me to plan lessons accordingly. Plus, throughout the modules, the amount of additional websites offered really helped to point me in the right direction, most of which would use in the future.My tutor, Laura Graham, was easily available when I needed to communicate with her and she was extremely quick to assess my work. She gave clear positive feedback and provided ongoing support and encouragement. I felt very confident in Laura as a tutor. She was always more than happy to advise. Laura was so easy to converse and so friendly. There were occasions when Laura responded to my queries late at night when I did not think i would get a reply until the next day. She most definitely is not a 9-5 tutor. When I had been having difficulty with the platform, without hesitation, she added additional time. It was so clear that Laura is dedicated to her role and I really appreciated this.When I needed to freeze my course, the institute was so accommodating and did so without question and without charge. Also, whenever I needed to make contact, John was very helpful.I would most certainly recommend The Irish Institute.
Louise
19:49 21 Jul 26
Such a fantastic course that puts theory into practice in a way that is fun and meaningful. I was a bit unsure beforehand but Michelle Benson made me comfortable from the very beginning and helped me feel more comfortable with lesson plans. She helped give me more confidence in my teaching. She made the course engaging and interactive while also bringing humour into it. I would highly recommend this course to anyone and everyone!
Kirsty M.
23:04 17 Jul 26
Yesterday I finished my 10 hour Virtual TEFL course (with teaching practice) and, even though I was pretty anxious at first (what with it being online and with people I knew nothing about), it went amazing!Michelle Benson is a wonderful teacher and a wonderful human being, and you can actually feel how much she loves her job and her passion for it!So yeah, this was a 10/10 and I would 100% recommend this course to you if you want to get a taste of how teaching could feel like ^^PS: wish the course could've been longer, I'm already missing Michelle and all of my classmates, they were simply wonderful
Alba
14:41 17 Jul 26
As part of a hybrid 180 hour diploma, I did a 10 hour practicum course with TEFL institute. Not only was did the short two days of learning provide us with all the basics for effective teaching methodology, it was also just such a blast; a rewarding time all-around. The 10 hour practicum course is an incredibly fun and educational add-on to any certificate or TEFL journey in general, I think. Michelle Benson, our instructor for these classes, was very experienced, patient, and knowledgeable. She made the classes feel approachable and super entertaining. It’s apparent that the TEFL team is full of genuinely passionate professionals, and Michelle is no exception! You’d be surprised how quickly you feel like you start to get to know people in these short courses too! I feel so much more encouraged to keep learning so that I can apply more and more knowledge, using the skills I learned here, in teaching.
Vasili E.
00:11 17 Jul 26
I had a follow up call with Jessica after completing the 120 hour TEFL certificate and she helped me so much. She made me feel calm and excited to be an ESL teacher. I have had a ton of success as a result of our meeting so I am very grateful!
Mae
22:27 13 Jul 26
Good intro to teaching work abroad / foreign countries. John’s reassuring manner is encouraging!
Lorenza A.
13:00 09 Jul 26
I purchased the 310 hour course and completed the TEFL 180 hour Level 5 course through the TEFL Institute. I am continuing to work on the additional courses. The material for the 180 hour course was comprehensive and relevant. I especially appreciated links noted in lessons to websites useful for future lesson material. When I contacted the TEFL Institute with a concern or question, my tutor responded quickly and the issue resolved. Also, the general webinars on TEFL teaching have been very helpful as I move forward as a TEFL teacher. I choose the TEFL Institute after a comparison of the top TEFL schools and visiting the school websites. The TEFL Institute website, for me, was sensibly laid out, the information was straight forward and overall not too "busy". When I contacted the school requesting a phone call, the call was scheduled, the staff member was friendly and my questions were answered. A caveat is the time frame for completing the entire course; it is short and I struggled due to obligations and unexpected events. I purchased a time extension but there should be more time allotted.
Laurel G.
14:00 07 Jul 26
A very impactful webinar.. John was really helpful...
Maureen U.
13:03 07 Jul 26
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