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.

120 hour Elective TEFL Course
International Standard 2115
Tuition Fee:

Tuition Fee: €320.62

LET YOUR STUDENTS LEARN THE THEORY OF TEFL AT THEIR OWN PACE

This comprehensive 120 Hour Elective online TEFL course will give your pupils an excellent grounding of the theory behind TEFL. There are several quizzes, homework tasks and activities to complete throughout.

Students have access to the course for up to six months to study at their own pace and in their own time. Teachers also have access to the online system to track their student’s progress. Upon completing the course, students will be certified to teach EFL abroad or privately. The online course is an excellent addition to the classroom-based options, or it can be completed in isolation.

All students will receive an electronic certificate and support finding work.

Personal Job Coach

Live TEFL job coaching seminars

Global Recognition

Earn one of the most trusted certificates in the world

TEFL Jobs Board Membership

Lifetime access to our TEFL jobs platform

COURSE SYLLABUS

what will i learn

course content

accreditation

why us

faqs

Free English
Level Test

Take the English level test to see which is the best course for you.

Test your english

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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Modules One-Three:

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.

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Modules Four-Six:

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.

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Modules Seven-Ten:

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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Had a great experience working with the TEFL Institute and have completed my level 5 Diploma. The course itself is well put together, very comprehensive and professional. I had fast responses from any of the team whenever I had a question - they're all very nice and extremely helpful. Overall, big thumbs up - I'm getting into the Business English module at the moment.

Jennifer P.

15:16 14 Nov 25

I'm delighted to have passed the 180 hour Level 5 Tefl course. Many thanks to Elaine with whom I was in contact in the early stages and to my tutor, Laura whose advice was invaluable throughout the course. I highly recommend Tefl.ie to anyone interested in teaching English as a foreign language.Anne Marie K, Carlow

Anne Marie K.

12:23 14 Nov 25

customer service/chat extremelyhelpful i had many question and elaine was very enthusiastic with helping me thank you

juleczkaxvio

11:38 12 Nov 25

So helpful and informative

CJ G.

09:00 12 Nov 25

I attended the 180 hour Tefl Diploma course with The Tefl Institute of Ireland and I had a very positive experience. The course is very well structured and inclusive of everything you need to learn to become a good teacher. The staff is very kind and ready to fix any problem (thanks to Jenny and Lisa).

Anita T.

15:04 06 Nov 25

Just attended an eye-opening webinar on TEFL carreers. Very appealing to me. Thank you for your clear explainations !

Laviec M.

13:18 06 Nov 25

Thanks very much Jess, John and Emos for the inspiring TEFL Career Conference Webinar. It was truly inspiring!

Michael B.

13:17 06 Nov 25

Great session via zoom with Jess, John and Emos. Good tips on where to find work but also on how to improve your cv and confidence. It was lovely to hear about John's experiences abroad.

Margaret P.

13:15 06 Nov 25

I have just completed my 10 hours practicum course with Michelle Benson from the TEFL Institute of Ireland and I cannot thank her enough! Michelle is great, she is fun and professional, she is great at what she does and she has managed to take us through the course and have actually really enjoy it! Thank you Michelle!

Thea A.

12:49 26 Oct 25

Wonderful experience with the TEFL Institute! Elaine is incredibly helpful, offering the best advice and making everything effortless. Laura is a fantastic source of knowledge and a great support. Thanks to everyone - highly recommended!

Néidín

18:42 20 Oct 25