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Comparative employment guide for TEFL teachers
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faqs
TEFL is an acronym for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. The goal of a TEFL teacher is to teach English as an additional language to non-native speakers. TEFL teachers often don’t speak the first language of their students and instead use specific knowledge and skills to teach English and communicate using it. You can use a TEFL certification to teach English online from the UK or you can teach abroad.
Yes, you can teach English online and not possess a degree. There are lots of opportunities out there once you’ve gotten your TEFL certification. You can start looking for work at either an online school or as a freelancer. You may want to build up experience in the UK before going solo; however, it makes a big difference.
Like any role in the world, your income is usually driven by your experience. Typically you’ll start on the lower rates – between £10 and £15 an hour, and this can be improved by gaining experience and growing as a teacher. Freelancing affords you more freedom with regard to what you charge, but you’ll need to build your reputation to get steady work.
Earning a qualification and becoming a TEFL teacher is a good way to travel and see the world while earning money. Most TEFL certification programs aim to help give you the skills and knowledge necessary to start your career teaching English abroad. You don’t need to have any previous qualifications to take a course either, so it is easy to build up a skillset.
The best TEFL certification is whichever one works for you in this part of your career. However, you’d be wise to pick one which is regulated by the right bodies and ticks all the boxes for securing jobs. We would recommend our Level 5 course, equivalent to a CELTA course, but for a fraction of the price.
The courses which we provide for people are recognised across the world, and they have gained official approval from regulatory bodies in both the UK and the USA. Once you have completed the course, you will have a qualification recognised all around the world. Right now, our 180-hour course is DEAC-approved, having obtained AQC status in the US. On the UK front, there is the Highfield accreditation and Ofqual approval.
The Level 5 TEFL Courses which are offered by us here at the TEFL Institute all have AQC Curriculum Approval by the DEAC. This means that our Level 5 TEFL course, as well as our 180-hour, 4 x 60-hour and 300-hour Advanced Diploma courses are all also recognised.
In order for our courses to get this approval, we have had to prove that they meet the tough criteria created by the DEAC (Distance Education Accrediting Commission) with regard to achieving Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. The approval shows that we have remained committed to delivering a high-quality TEFL education.
One thing which we recommend you look for in your TEFL course here in the UK is an Ofqual-regulated approval. This means that the course, material and teaching support have all been investigated and proven to be of good quality. The UK Office for Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) manages and keeps track of the courses we offer. There is no one ‘best qualification’, but the 120-hour course is a good starting certification.
There are no minimum entry requirements for our TEFL courses. All you need is a stable internet connection and a C1 level of proficiency in English.
You do not usually need a specific diploma or course to teach English as a foreign language abroad. Most employers accept 120 hours of study as an international standard. TEFL Institute offers an internationally recognised 120-hour TEFL course which you can avail of in the UK
Anybody can take a TEFL course. However, it is recommended that you are an outgoing, confident and occasionally silly person to teach children. We often explain that we can’t teach someone the attributes to be a teacher – these come from within and you learn to develop a winning personality
If you want to learn how to teach English abroad, you need to be at least 16 and have a C1 level of proficiency in English. You can use our free test to check your ability.
There are a lot of different qualifications, so we understand if you are a little confused about what to pick. However, it’s easy to know which course is best for you. If you fit most of these criteria, then you need to go for a 120-hour course:
- You have a BA degree or higher in any field of study.
- You are a native English speaker with a UK, US, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand or Australian passport.
- You want to work in a country which has a high level of demand for new TEFL teachers.
If you fit more with these criteria, then the Level 5 course is for you:
- You don’t have a degree.
- You don’t have any teaching experience.
- You don’t speak English as a first language and don’t have a passport for one of the countries we’ve mentioned.
- You want to work in a country with a competitive job market.
- You don’t feel very confident about teaching English abroad or online.
Your new TEFL certification will last you a lifetime and help you to progress in your career. So, No Your TEFL Certification will not expire.
You don’t need to speak another language to become a TEFL teacher. Furthermore, not being able to speak another Language isn’t going to stop you from finding a TEFL job. You will need to get a certification to teach and a degree in some situations. It is worth noting that some jobs require you to be bilingual.
If you’re looking at teaching English, doing it online is the best way to do things. You can study at your own pace and develop skills and qualifications that will help you seek work online or abroad. However, it’s easier to study online here in the UK and get access to our jobs board.
The most important thing for any non-native English speaker is to research the visa requirements for the country they want to teach in. There are countries which only grant you a visa if you come from an English-speaking country like the USA, Ireland, UK, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa or Australia. You may find that it will take you longer to get a job as a non-native English speaker, but it is perfectly possible with hard work and determination.
United Kingdom (UK)
United States (US)
Canada
South Africa
India
Australia
New Zealand
China
Russia
Germany
France
Spain
Netherlands
Vietnam
United Arab Emirates
Italy
Poland
Thailand
Türkiye