TEFL Certification Courses

A TEFL Certification is the requirement needed for teaching English abroad. This will allow you to teach English as a foreign language worldwide.

The globally recognized standard qualification for teaching English to non-native speakers is known as either a TEFL or TESOL certificate.

As mentioned, these terms are often used interchangeably, but technically speaking TEFL refers to teaching English in countries where English is not the native language and TESOL refers to teaching English in countries where English is the native language.

While there was a time when simply speaking English was qualification enough to secure a teaching position, those days have largely gone as the vast majority of employers now expect their teachers to have received some level of professional training. Many of the most popular countries for teaching English abroad also now require teachers to hold a TEFL certification in order to qualify for a work permit or visa.

All our TEFL certification programs are open to native English speakers and non-native speakers alike and there is no requirement to speak any language other than English. While there are some countries that have restrictions that prevent employers from hiring non-native English speakers, there are many other fascinating countries throughout the world that do not.

Regardless of which country you would prefer to live and work in, you do not need to be familiar with any other language as our courses are all based on the communicative approach to language teaching that ensures that only English is used in the classroom.

Where can I teach TEFL Certification?

One of the main benefits of gaining a TEFL certification is that it opens up job opportunities in almost every country in the world.

For some graduates it provides the chance to help people from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their employment prospects by volunteer teaching in parts of Africa, Asia or Latin America. For others it can represent the first step towards a lucrative career teaching in international schools, within private businesses or even by setting up their own language school.

Upon completion of their training course, TEFL graduates might find that there is plenty of work available within their own country, but for others it is necessary or preferable to look further afield.

How to get TEFL certification

When choosing a TEFL certification course the most important thing is to ensure that the one you choose is adequate for your own individual plans.

Many course providers, including ITTT, offer short-format TEFL certification online that can be completed in 60 study hours or even less. Essentially these courses are designed to provide an insight into EFL teaching, which is perfectly adequate if you plan to teach on a short-term voluntary basis.

There are many worthy causes all over the world who are in need of knowledgeable voluntary teachers and these opportunities can often provide an amazing cultural experience. However, if you are planning on a longer-term adventure that provides a solid income, then you should seriously consider a more in-depth qualification.

The internationally accepted minimum qualification is an online TEFL certification of at least 100 hours duration. These distance learning courses typically cover a range of important topics, including classroom management, assessment strategies and English grammar. Although these courses do not provide any actual teaching practice, they are still enough to secure a good teaching position in many countries.

If you want to have as many options as possible, including the opportunity to teach in countries that offer the best salaries and other benefits, then you should take a serious look at an in-class TEFL certification program.