To find a teaching position abroad, you’ll need to take a TEFL course first. TEFL stands for “Teaching English as a Foreign Language.” It’s a certificate program that teaches you how to teach English as a foreign language. While you can find jobs without a TEFL certificate, they will be few and far between.

This depends on your needs and goals. Look at the modules provided in each course. Do they align with who, where and how you want to teach? If you want to teach young learners in a classroom, for example, make sure the course covers that. An accredited 120 Hour TEFL course is the quickest route to becoming TEFL qualified, while a Level 5 Diploma is great if you want more in-depth training. It’s also important to choose a course from a reputable TEFL provider for quality training and support.

Our Specialist Online Teacher Course is ideal if you want to teach English online. It combines the industry standard 120 hours of training with our separate 30 Hour Teaching English Online Course to prepare you to successfully teach English online anywhere in the world.

An accredited TEFL course has been approved by an external body and assures you it meets specific requirements for quality and standards. With a Level 5 TEFL course, you’ll be achieving the highest quality certification. They provide more in-depth TEFL training, have been regulated by Ofqual and are assessed to be the same level of difficulty of a CELTA qualification and Trinity CertTESOL. A Level 5 TEFL qualification generally increases your chances of a higher paid teaching role.

TEFL courses are measured in hours – the length of time it takes on average to complete the course. Most TEFL employers require at least 120 hours of training. So, a 120 Hour TEFL Course is the minimum qualification you should look to achieve. The course hours then go up (180 and 240), with each course providing even more training than the last. The next TEFL level is a Level 5 government- regulated course. You can choose from 180, 240, or 300 Hour Level 5 Courses depending on the level of training you require.

A 120 Hour TEFL Course gives you the minimum amount of training most TEFL employers look for. It might not sound like a lot of time to become a qualified teacher, but it’s a comprehensive course that gives you the skills and foundation you need to start teaching English.

Level 5 courses are harder than accredited courses and take more time to complete. But they are worth it because they open up more opportunities and show a level of commitment to achieving the highest level TEFL certification. With TEFL Institute you’ll benefit from tutor-marked assessments and a 100% pass rate.

A 180 Hour Level 5 TEFL Course is perfect if you want to teach English in Europe. Regulated by the UK government assessors Ofqual, the course is one of is the most popular and internationally recognised TEFL certification. The course will further your career options and give you access to the most competitive TEFL jobs in Europe.

A 240 Hour Master TEFL Course will be the best course to prepare you to teach English in Asia. This course combines everything you need to increase your chances of landing your dream job and earning a higher salary. It includes modules on preparing your students for the TOEIC exams and teaching business English – popular with Asian students and employers.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and TEFL are often used interchangeably and are regarded more or less the same by employers. The difference with TESOL is it’s more likely you’ll be teaching English to students who have moved to your home country or another English-speaking country. TEFL students are more likely to be learning English in their home country.

Level 5 courses are not the same as a CELTA but they are assessed to be the same level of difficulty of a CELTA qualification. The ways CELTA and Level 5 courses are delivered is different. With a TEFL qualification, you’re more likely to study online at your pace while a CELTA course is typically full-time and in-person. When applying for TEFL jobs you may find a small number of employers request teachers have a CELTA.

In general, you don’t need a degree to teach English abroad or online. TEFL certifications are stand-alone qualifications and you can get a job without pairing it with a degree. Some countries do require a Bachelor’s Degree or higher, so it’s worth looking into before you set your sights on teaching English in a certain country.

You do not need any prior teaching experience to teach English abroad. Once you have your TEFL certificate, you are qualified to work as a TEFL teacher. Completing a TEFL course that includes teaching practicum, like our Hybrid TEFL Courses, will help your resume though!