Which TEFL course should I take?

There are a range of courses out there, so which one is the right one for you?  Should you take the weekend course, one of the online courses, a week-long course or a 4– 5-week course?  Should I take a CELTA, TESOL or other TEFL course?

TEFL, CELTA, TESOL, etc?

There are numerous acronyms in the TEFL world such as CELTA, TESOL, ELT, EFL, ESL, etc but all can come under the umbrella term of TEFL which is Teaching English as a Foreign Language.  CELTA and TESOL refer to the two most internationally recognised qualifications – the Cambridge CELTA and the Trinity TESOL.  EFL (English as a Foreign Language), ESL (English as a Second Language), and ELT (English Language Teaching) are basically referring to teaching English, most commonly known as TEFL.

Where to Start

The course you choose will depend on you and your needs.  Many employers require that you have physically attended a course of 120 – 160 hours (which can be taken part time or in a full-time 4– or 5-week course) because this involves a teaching practice component and therefore reassures your potential employer that you have stood in front of a class.  However, if you’re not sure that a TEFL career path is for you, then maybe it is worth having a ‘taster’ of what is involved in TEFL by attending shorter courses; but remember that this could result in you wasting money if you then have to attend a 120 – 160 classroom-based course.

Is there a way to find out if teaching is for me before spending money on a TEFL course?

Yes.  If you are really unsure about whether a teaching position is for you, then there is the option of saving yourself the expense of a TEFL course by heading to Japan, South Korea, Taiwan or China  where companies such as Aeon, Berlitz, Gaba, etc offer their own1-week’s training.  You’ll get instruction on their particular courses and then be sent to one of their schools for what is usually a year-long contract.  This will save you money, but you might find that in the first few weeks you feel unprepared for the classes which might cause you some anxiety.  The benefit of a TEFL course is that it gives you a foundation course in English grammar, a grasp of classroom management, and hopefully a wealth of tips on general teaching skills.

Online or Contact TEFL courses?

As mentioned above, many employers prefer teachers who have had experience of standing in front of a class and so stipulate that you must have attended a course of 120 – 160 hours, therefore ruling out candidates who have an online TEFL course certificate.  This is not always the case and the benefits of online courses are that they offer flexibility and are cheaper.

A Weekend TEFL course or a 4 – 5 Week/120 – 160 hour TEFL course?

The advantages of a weekend TEFL course is that it gives you a cheaper way of finding out if TEFL is for you, or if you are a teacher in another field it gives you an insight into teaching English.  Most employers will prefer, and some will insist, that you have attended a 120 – 160 hour contact course whether it’s part time or the full time 4 – 5 week course.

Where you take the course is important 

Some schools will only consider recruiting teachers, rightly or wrongly, who have an accredited Trinity Certificate in TESOL or the Cambridge CELTA. This is because wherever you are in the world,   a school offering a CELTA or TESOL course will be regularly checked by an external assessor (Cambridge) or moderator (Trinity) which ensures certain standards are maintained.  However, there are institutions offering similar courses which may be of the same quality. You have to research the feedback the course has received carefully and scrutinize the school’s prospectus before making the decision, but make sure the course is accredited. 

Accreditation

Accreditation involves being regularly assessed by an independent external organisation such as the Ministry of Education for that particular country, TQUK, ACCET, IATQuO, Cambridge and Trinity. This ensures that the content and quality of the course meets international standards. 

Accredited courses will usually offer:

• at least six hours of observed live teaching practice with a class of students of English;
• at least 100 hours of training;
• course instructors who hold an MA or DELTA/Diploma;
• evidence of accreditation from a recognised examination board.

Note that a school’s membership of a teaching association does not equate to accreditation. 

Some people decide to take their TEFL course overseas so they can get qualified while enjoying  a new cultural experience, and at the same time possibly saving money due to the lower cost of living.  Visit teflhub’s school directory to start your search.

If you are also considering taking a degree in English then you should consider the excellent BA English degrees which incorporate a CELTA/TESOL course.  To find out more about these exceptional courses, then click here for Cardiff Metropolitan University and here for the University of South Wales.