TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It is primarily teaching non-native speakers English without the use of translation. This means you won’t need to know their first language. TEFL teachers will need the knowledge and know-how of the methodologies to teach this way. This is why teachers must first complete a TEFL course and gain the qualification. TEFL is widely used to teach virtually in one-to-one or small group scenarios or to teach English abroad and is sometimes even used as an easier way to travel.

Who can do a TEFL course?

First and foremost, aspiring TEFL teachers must be outgoing, confident, and not afraid to make themselves look silly, especially when teaching children. Expression is a massive part of the methodologies to get your point across. You’ll warm up to this in time; it all takes practice. We suggest people 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 recommend people who work on their initiative as it is an online course, and you will need to be your motivation.

What do I need to teach online?

If you have no experience in teaching online, a good idea is to get some teaching practice in, as they may ask for “experience” hours, which are unpaid. You can alternatively complete our 10-hour Methodologies course, which has a section focused on teaching English online. Most online companies will ask for your TEFL certificate and teaching practice, accessibility to good WiFi, a laptop or other computer devices, and headphones. Some online companies may ask their teachers also to have a Bachelor’s Degree. This is evident in Chinese online companies, as it is a government regulation (no matter where you live).

How are the courses laid out?

Our courses contain content, videos, podcasts, reflective tasks, and tests. They are online courses and can be completed independently and from home. Our specialist courses are much shorter than the main TEFL qualifications. They are all completed online and in your own time. All tests are done online and corrected instantly. They have course content and tests throughout the course. They can be completed before or after the main TEFL qualification.

Are the courses accredited?

The TEFL Institute is fully accredited by ACDL. Our 180 hour Level 5 TEFL course is regulated by OFQUAL.

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 hard copy. We have options available, but there is an extra cost for print and postage.

30 Hour Teaching English Online Course

Tuition Fee: Original price was: €185.00.Current price is: €85.00.

Learning to teach virtually or online is quickly becoming an appealing option for anyone interested in teaching English as a foreign language in an ever-increasing online world.

Enrol in this course to learn about the skills, knowledge, digital tools and resources you need to design and deliver practical online English lessons. Gain insights from online teachers, trainers and learners and share ideas with other course participants.

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

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English Level Test

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Get Ready to Succeed in the Virtual Classroom – Enroll in Our 30-Hour Teaching Online Course

Unlock the potential of a flexible and rewarding career by teaching English online. Our 30-Hour Teaching English Online course is designed to equip you with the skills and strategies needed to thrive in a virtual teaching environment. With online education booming, more students than ever are looking for qualified teachers, and this course ensures you’re prepared to meet that demand.

Whether you’re looking for a side hustle or a full-time, remote career, teaching English online allows you to work from anywhere, set your own schedule, and earn a steady income. This course will give you a comprehensive understanding of how to succeed in the virtual classroom, from mastering the best teaching techniques to knowing how to apply for jobs on top learning platforms.

Although a minimum of 120 hours of TEFL training is required to teach English, this 30-hour course is a specialized addition that focuses specifically on preparing you for the online environment. By the time you complete this course, you’ll feel confident and ready to start your online teaching career.

Why This Course is the Perfect Addition to Your TEFL Training

A Great Entry Point: This course is ideal if you’re exploring the world of online teaching for the first time. It introduces you to key concepts and skills in a structured way, ensuring you feel confident, even without previous experience.

Enhance Your TEFL Certification: If you’ve already completed a 120-hour TEFL course, this 30-hour course is the perfect complement. It sharpens your ability to teach in a virtual setting and equips you with the strategies needed to engage students online effectively.

No Prior Teaching Experience Needed: You don’t need to be an experienced teacher to take this course. As long as you’re fluent in English, have a laptop, and access to a stable Wi-Fi connection, you’re ready to start your journey toward becoming a certified online English teacher.

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30 hour Teaching English Online

1-2

Modules One-Two:

Module 1: Introduction to Teaching English Online

Kickstart your online teaching journey! Learn the key differences between face-to-face and online teaching, the must-have skills, and the tech essentials. This module sets you up for success in your virtual classroom.

Module 2: Teaching One-to-One Online

Master the art of one-on-one online teaching! Learn the core principles, tackle common challenges, and discover effective strategies to help your students thrive in personal, focused lessons.

3-4

Modules Three-Four:

Module 3: Engaging and Teaching Language Skills Online

Unlock the secrets to keeping online learners engaged! Learn how to teach core language skills, manage virtual classrooms, and create collaborative activities that boost interaction and success.

Module 4: Planning and Structuring Online Lessons

Learn how to create effective lesson plans for the virtual classroom! This module covers strategies for time management and adapting lessons to suit different learning styles, making your classes more dynamic and inclusive.

5-7

Modules Five- Seven

Module 5: Digital Tools and Platforms for Online Teaching

Discover the best digital tools for online teaching! Learn how to troubleshoot technical issues, enhance lesson interactivity, and explore resources that make your online classroom more engaging and efficient.

Module 6: Assessment and Evaluation in the Online Classroom

Learn how to create effective online assessments and provide constructive feedback. This module equips you with the tools to track learner progress and ensure successful outcomes in your virtual classroom.

Module 7: Professional Development and Career Pathways

Explore the career possibilities in online teaching! Build your portfolio, discover freelance opportunities, and learn how to promote yourself as a successful online educator.

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 recognized qualification to validate their knowledge. This qualification provides learners with a certificate recognized 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 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 recognized 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 traveling to China, Vietnam, Taiwan and other destinations where your documents will need to be legalized for your visa. If your certificate doesn’t get past the first stage of legalization 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 recognized 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 caliber of training and for producing TEFL teachers of the highest standard. It is ranked as the number #1 training provider by employers worldwide.

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Because 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 and have the right qualifications and the skills necessary to realize your ambitions. The TEFL Institute assists you at every step and offers guidance to ensure you take the right course or internship that best suits your needs. From the moment you get in touch, we are here for you, and you will 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 programs and internships, and generating new content to help meet our client’s needs.

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

Partnership & Collaboration – We work with various 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 continuously strive to develop new and lasting partnerships to serve our clients best.

Integrity – We believe in doing everything with integrity and honesty. To uphold the highest moral standards, we serve our customers as trustworthy and reliable sources.

What is TEFL?

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It is primarily teaching non-native speakers English without the use of translation. This means you won’t need to know their first language. TEFL teachers will need the knowledge and know-how of the methodologies to teach this way. This is why teachers must first complete a TEFL course and gain the qualification. TEFL is widely used to teach virtually in one-to-one or small group scenarios or to teach English abroad and is sometimes even used as an easier way to travel.
Who can do a TEFL course?

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

We suggest people 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 recommend people who work on their initiative as it is an online course, and you will need to be your motivation.
What do I need to teach online?

If you have no experience in teaching online, a good idea is to get some teaching practice in, as they may ask for “experience” hours, which are unpaid. You can alternatively complete our 10-hour Methodologies course, which has a section focused on teaching English online.

Most online companies will ask for your TEFL certificate and teaching practice, accessibility to good WiFi, a laptop or other computer devices, and headphones. Some online companies may ask their teachers also to have a Bachelor’s Degree. This is evident in Chinese online companies, as it is a government regulation (no matter where you live).
How are the courses laid out?

Our courses contain content, videos, podcasts, reflective tasks, and tests. They are online courses and can be completed independently and from home.

Our specialist courses are much shorter than the main TEFL qualifications. They are all completed online and in your own time. All tests are done online and corrected instantly. They have course content and tests throughout the course. They can be completed before or after the main TEFL qualification.
Are the courses accredited?

The TEFL Institute is fully accredited by ACDL. Our 180 hour Level 5 TEFL course is regulated by OFQUAL.
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 hard copy. We have options available, but there is an extra cost for print and postage.

Please see the full FAQs through this link:

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

who can take the course

Aspiring Teachers: Those who are exploring whether teaching English is the right career path.

TEFL Graduates: Those wanting to expand their teaching credentials to include online opportunities.

Digital Nomads: Individuals seeking flexible, location-independent work.

Anyone with Fluent English: If you're looking for a convenient way to earn income online, this course is for you.

Online TEFL Courses

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I am impressed by the 180-hour TEFL course I completed. The content was well-structured, the platform user-friendly, and the team support excellent. I gained additional qualifications and improved my use of online tools, which enhanced my confidence in teaching diverse age groups and in different environments.Special thanks to my personal tutor, Rachel Hammond, for her ongoing support.I now feel fully confident teaching English as a foreign language and will choose the TEFL Institute for future training.

Sandra C.

00:05 06 Dec 25

Really enjoyed my course, was able to complete it in time, and it was easy to follow along! I recommend the TEFL Institute if you want to upskill your teaching!

Amber B.

12:38 04 Dec 25

I can't recommend the Level 5 Advanced Diploma enough. The information is delivered in an easy, digestible way that allows you to go at your own pace. It also arms you with a ton of resources you can save to use in your future classes or to further study in preparation.I can also recommend the 30 Hour Teaching English Online, the 30 Hour Teaching Young Learners, the 30 Hour Teaching Advanced Grammar, and the 10 Hour Advanced Certificate in TEFL Classroom Methodologies courses (in the Classroom Methodologies course Michelle Benson's kind and straightforward guidance makes you feel ready to take on a real class!). All of these courses make me feel very prepared to teach English in front of real people.

Liz S.

01:56 03 Dec 25

From the very beginning, and even prior to enrolling on the 300hr course, all the TEFL team have been supportive and encouraging. The 180hr course which I’m currently doing is of a high standard and quality. The tutors offer invaluable personalised and prompt support, are excellent role models and motivating; making the course enjoyable. Thank you all very much!

Maria G

16:22 27 Nov 25

To The TEFL Institute, I'd like to say thank you so much for the best student experience I've ever received. Good service and student support all the way is very hard to come by these days. So, really I appreciate the good service I've received from this Institute and would recommend it to anyone ready to start their TEFL journey. Lastly Jenny O' Sullivan (Academic team) was such a great help I'm forever grateful for patiently guiding and for taking the time to explain with such detail whenever I got stuck. Once again just a great big thanks to The TEFL Institute.

chriszonia B.

16:25 20 Nov 25

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