World Class TESOL/TEFL Courses In Cape Town, South Africa

TEFL courses in South Africa can be diverse, which offers a wealth of opportunities to learn and develop over time. One of the strengths of TEFL courses in South Africa, as is the case with many parts of the world, is that the opportunities to learn and grow are made more accessible thanks to online learning, which is widespread.

This affords prospective TEFL teachers flexibility to study in their own time and gain a qualification which is both recognised and accredited, but also serves as a stepping point for applying for TEFL jobs across South Africa and the rest of the world if you so desire.

There are a lot of TEFL courses to choose from, offering considerable versatility for anyone who wants to study. With that in mind, it’s important to acknowledge the main TEFL course – the 120 hour qualification.

We have specifically designed the 120 Hour TEFL course to be the minimum requirement that employers will look for. 120 hours is proof that you’ve had enough study and practice to be confident teaching English as a foreign language, and while you’re welcome to study more than that, in most cases, it isn’t needed to secure a position.

The course duration can be as little as four weeks of study, but you are welcome to study for longer if you need more time. Our courses are diverse and incorporate numerous teaching tools and resources to ensure all learners have their needs met.

Your only entry requirement is to have a device which can access the online platform and a C1 level of English proficiency.

If you are looking for training from a different location, we offer online TEFL courses in Durban, TEFL courses in Pretoria, TEFL courses in Johannesburg, and TEFL courses in Pietermaritzburg. View all TEFL courses here.

We offer you access to award-winning TEFL courses so you can gain the knowledge and skills to teach English in South Africa. The course contains ten modules, which are presented as a mixture of video, audio and text. This means anyone, regardless of learning style, can thrive.

Not only do we teach you the basics of teaching English in a classroom environment, but we also provide you with knowledge and skills for providing grammar, and constructing lessons which will communicate the nuances of English to your students.

Once the course is complete, you’ll have access to all of the skills and knowledge you need to be a great English teacher. We don’t feel that it matters whether your plans are to teach on a one-to-one basis or whether you want to provide knowledge to a whole classroom, we’ve got you covered.

As we’ve said, you can complete a course in as little as four weeks, but we allow students up to six months to study for the TEFL qualification. We want you to feel that you have time to balance your studies around other commitments and that you feel ready to start teaching at a pace which works for you. It means that you can feel comfortable moving onto the next part of the course.

Once you have managed to get your level 5 certificate, you are in a prime position to find a job teaching in South Africa or anywhere else. If you’re somebody who lives locally in Cape Town, then you could offer your language to different schools and see if you can boost your confidence by volunteering.

When it comes to securing work as an English teacher in South Africa, you’ve got four main options. Let’s take a look at them.

Public Schools

Naturally, South Africa has a selection of secondary and public schools which are funded by the government, as is the case in most parts of the world.

English language lessons will be a part of the curriculum, and if you have enough proficiency in English and a qualification, then you may be selected to teach a foreign language to students. There are often quite a few opportunities available so it’s worth checking out.

International Schools

The international school exists for the purpose of teaching English to students who have moved here from other countries. Many children are the offspring of expats, and they will be expected to balance learning both local Afrikaan dialects and English simultaneously.

It is worth noting that the requirements to teach at schools like this will be higher than other institutions, as the expectations are often greater. However, with that being said, some of the higher salaries are available at international schools, so it’s worth applying if you have a degree in languages alongside your qualification. Furthermore, they often offer other benefits besides a salary like paid accommodation or travel costs.

Language Schools

If you are a newly qualified TEFL teacher, then a good place to start is often a language school. Most students in this type of facility will be adults who are learning English as a part-time study in order to advance their own career aspirations.

This type of institution is often easier to handle than a classroom environment, because adults are often much more rational and open to learning than children are, but the hours are often part time, averaging at about 25 hours per week. However, it is a good place to gain some real classroom experience without any supervision and brush up on your teaching method.

Furthermore, the qualifications for places like this are often fairly minimal, so as long as you have your TEFL qualification, then you are quite likely to be able to secure a position instantly.

Tutoring

Lots of qualified teachers in South Africa often use tutoring as a way to supplement their income and gain experience at the same time.

Obviously, this will be on a self-employed basis, so you’ll be responsible for reporting your income to the local authorities and paying any tax required of you. However, it can be a good way to form a strong reputation in the community and set yourself up in a good position for future employment opportunities.

If you want to teach English abroad, you’ll need to apply for a Visa to get into South Africa depending on where you’re from.

At the time of writing, a lot of countries are allowed to enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days. However, if you plan to stay longer, you’ll need to go through the normal process of securing a work permit and filling out all the documents to live and earn in the country.

Naturally, the more qualifications you have, the better your chance of entry. You’d be wise to ensure that you have your TEFL certification available for viewing, and any other relevant qualifications. It might also help if you had a job offer before you applied for your visa. This, along with a TEFL certificate will help to show that you’re here to work from day one.

Cape Town

Naturally, as the capital, Cape Town is a lovely place with a vibrant atmosphere and plenty to offer a visiting TEFL teacher. You’ll love the friendliness of the locals and their willingness to share knowledge and help you out.

Johannesburg

As the biggest city in the wealthiest part of South Africa, Johannesburg can offer a lot for an EFL teacher, and you’d be wise to take a look at everything on offer. However, like anywhere else in South Africa, you’ll be expected to have a degree, some teaching experience and your TEFL certification to find a role here. It’s not impossible to get a job, just a little strict on requirements.

The type of earnings you can expect to see as a TEFL teacher in South Africa will vary based on a number of factors, including your experience and the place you work at.

For example, if you were working in a university you might be able to make up to $9000 USD per month. However, the other end of the scale is freelance tutoring, which can often earn you much less at $10 USD an hour.

Other perks like subsidised accommodation and travel costs are only really offered by the best institutions. In a lot of cases, you’ll have to pay for these yourself which can eat into your salary. Considering that wages can vary so drastically many people choose to have a tutoring job on the side to bring in extra money.

When looking at the cost of living in Cape Town, it’s the same sort of story that you’ve been hearing from the outset – the closer you get to the city centre, the more money you pay. With that being said, the wages will rise to match the cost of living, and public transport isn’t terrible, so you might be best served setting up shop a little outside the city and commuting.

When looking at food, the best thing you can do is eat local cuisine. Imported food is expensive and quickly eats away at your budget. Even if it tastes like home, it’s not sustainable to keep doing it – eating naturally will help you acclimate faster to your new life.

As we can see, the main focus on costs for living in South Africa is often about experiences more than utilities or other mundane concerns. It is possible to live well and locally on a teaching wage, especially if you are prepared to embrace all aspects of South African culture. The problems only really begin if you try and replicate your old life over there – the costs can quickly stack up.

• Average Monthly Wage – 30,000R / £1250
• Accommodation Costs – 12,000R / £500
• Utilities – 1600R / £70
• Monthly transport pass: 670R / £29
• Basic dinner out for two: 700R / £30

To find the cost of living figures, we use Numbeo.com, the world’s largest cost of living comparison website.