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TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and it’s a certificate you need if you want to teach non-native speakers English. With a TEFL certificate, you can teach students of all ages – from young learners to adult business language learners – anywhere in the world. It’s recognised globally and is the key to kick-starting your English teaching career abroad, home or online.
How do I get a TEFL Certificate?
Getting certified is a very straightforward process and not nearly as daunting as you may think it is. So, if you’re interested in making a change to your life and looking for a way to earn money while you travel, here are the mental barriers you may have broken down and explained.
What are the Requirements to Getting a TEFL Certificate?
There aren’t many preventative requirements to doing one of our courses and earning yourself a TEFL Certificate. You will need to do your research before you enrol so you can choose the right TEFL course for you as there are different levels based on the number of hours you’re willing to invest into the course.
How Can Take the TEFL course?
The most popular method and the best way to take the TEFL course during this pandemic is online. You can view the different TEFL courses TEFL Institute provides by clicking here.
Taking the course online is extremely convenient and you can do it in your own time from home. The 120-hour course typically takes someone 4-6 weeks to complete, however, depending on your own individual needs, that could be completed faster or slower without lowering the standard of your learning or the quality of your TEFL certificate.
You can do the course without having to commit to leaving your current full-time job, all the while saving money, doing your research and making your travel plans.
Do I Need a Teaching Qualification?
You do not need any previous teaching experience or any other teaching qualification in order to get a TEFL certificate. The TEFL certificate is a stand-alone teaching certificate and all you need to do to get one is to put in the required hours and complete the course. You will learn everything that you need to know about teaching English as a foreign language through the TEFL course.
A minimum of 120 hours will give you a teaching certificate that will allow you to teach English either in a foreign classroom to a group of eager students or for online classes with students on the other side of the world.
Can I Get a TEFL Certificate if I don’t Have a College Degree?
You don’t need a university degree to do your TEFL training or to receive your official certificate. Having not gone to college is not a barrier to achieving a TEFL certificate. Where you may face obstacles is teaching abroad in certain countries.
You have to accept that if you don’t have a degree, then you might find it harder to find a job in certain countries due to working visa requirements. Some countries, such as China who have looked to improve the standard of English-speaking teachers they hire, require the TEFL certificate along with a college degree.
Do your research regarding which countries you’re interested in teaching in and see if a degree is a requirement. But not having a degree is not a barrier and you should not be discouraged. Remember, all you need to be able to live abroad and teach English online remotely is a TEFL certificate.
Can I get a TEFL Certificate if I’m not a Native English Speaker?
You don’t need to be a native English speaker to get a TEFL certificate as long as you can speak the language well and can prove your English proficiency. If you’re a non-native speaker then you should have an English level of C1 (Advanced) as a minimum base. Where you may come into difficulty is the requirements by certain countries or schools.
For example, in South Korea, you don’t have to be a native English speaker to work in a hagwon, a private school. All you have to do is prove that you have a mastered the English language and are proficient.
South Korea’s public schools, meanwhile, will only hire teachers who come from countries where the native language is English. Anyone coming from Ireland, UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand can work in a public school in South Korea.
Rules and regulations often change so make sure you do your research before you go anywhere. You don’t want to travel somewhere only to find out when you’re there that there are no jobs available.
More countries are learning that it’s just as beneficial to hire someone who’s not a native English speaker and is bilingual.
I’ve Finished the Course and got my TEFL Certificate, how do I get a Teaching Position Abroad?
Great news, you have your TEFL certificate so now you can travel and teach overseas. That’s so exciting! Now all that research you’ve done into planning your teaching English abroad adventure starts to pay off. You can consider what’s best for you based on the different requirements for each country you’re interested in. If you need help in finding a teaching job abroad, check out our job section. There you will find regular updates on available teaching positions overseas.
To get a TEFL certificate you must take an accredited TEFL course. The minimum training required by employers worldwide is 120 hours. You can choose between accredited, government regulated Level 5 or combined TEFL courses. You’ll find TEFL courses are either online or combined in-class and online experiences.
Getting a TEFL certification from a recognised, trusted provider is essential when it comes to receiving high-quality training and finding a job. Always go for a globally recognised accredited certification. It’s also worth double checking company reviews to make sure customers are satisfied with their training.
What’s the difference between accredited and government regulated Level 5 TEFL courses?
The Accredited 120 Hour Premier TEFL Course is what we call one of our fast-track courses. This is the minimum recognised worldwide.
- You have 10 modules to complete usually taking 4-6 weeks.
- Each module has a multiple-choice test at the end, and you need 80% to pass.
- You’ll get your digital certificate on completion and can buy a hard copy from us if you’d like one with an embossed logo.
Level 5 Ofqual-regulated courses offer more in-depth training. If we look at the 180 Hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma in comparison:
- Learners typically spend 12 – 14 weeks to complete 11 modules.
- The pass mark is 100% and assessments are multiple-choice plus open-ended answers. Don’t worry, you can redo quizzes to get 100%. Our academic team will review your answers at the end of your 11 modules and may ask for some questions to be reattempted. Some questions may require you to provide academic references.
- You’ll get your digital coursework completion certificate from us after module 11. Following successful assessment from our academic team, we’ll be able to claim the licence for your Ofqual (government) certificate from our accreditation body Highfield.
The Ofqual-regulated Level 5 course range is for those who want to gain a higher-level, more recognised qualification.
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teachers teach English in non-native English speaking countries. TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) teachers teach English in native English speaking countries. CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is a separate qualification you can get to teach English.
TEFL: One of the most accepted certificates worldwide, this allows you to teach English to non-native speakers across the globe.
TESL: As a TESL teacher, you would likely be teaching English in your home country to students who have moved or live in an English speaking country. In other words, they are continuously surrounded by the language and will be using it every day outside of the classroom, unlike TEFL students who are likely learning in their home country.
CELTA: A very prestigious certification that follows a strict regulation created by Cambridge University. You must complete a 120-hour TEFL course and six hours of teaching real ESL students. Most of the programmes are held over a month and are full time. However, you may be able to find some courses that are part-time and are spread over three months. Due to its intense nature and requirements, the cost tends to be much higher and can be up to €1700!
Yes! Teaching English as a foreign language – online or in-class – will give you an abundance of transferable skills. From time management to problem-solving and communication, you’ll have plenty of experience to impress future employers. As your TEFL certification never expires, you can get back into TEFL whenever you wish, too.
