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    TEFL accreditation can be a great idea for just about any language learning institution and any language teacher. Getting accreditation from or through TEFL or teaching English as a Foreign Language provides a certain amount of weight and authority to just about any resume. If you sit and mull it over, would you be more […]
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    Communicative strategies are systematic techniques employed by a speaker to express his meaning when faced with some difficulty and the difficulty here refers to the speaker’s inadequate command of the language used in the interaction (Faerch & Kasper, 1983:16). On the other hand, the term learning strategies has been defined as “the higher-order skills […]
  • Review: Teaching Unplugged by Luke Meddings and Scott Thornbury August 13, 2012
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    Japan is a stable, highly developed parliamentary democracy with a modern economy. Tourist facilities are widely available, except in coastal areas of Northeast Japan still recovering from the aftermath of the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami. Below is a comprehensive list of all the information you should read before visiting or relocating to the [... […]
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    The Advanced placement exams are very important for students, suggests Joseph Paul, as they look very good on the students’ report cards and also help them to get credit in certain universities which helps them to save a major portion of the tuition money demanded from students who have not cleared the exam. The advanced […]
  • Business Translation: A Useful TEFL Sideline? April 8, 2012
    The use of translation in business is heavily underestimated and misunderstood. However translation has a big part to play in business and is rapidly becoming one of the most useful things an organisation can use to get ahead in the business world. Whether it be using in-house translators to transcribe documents, official papers and […]
  • How to Judge the Quality of Language Learning Software March 21, 2012
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  • The worst ELT interview questions… and how to answer them March 12, 2012
    Some friends of Naturegirl123 were talking about interview questions that they got. Here are some difficult ones to answer and suggested answers. What religion are you?/ Are you X religion? This could be a legit question if you’re applying to a religious school. If you have the same religion as the school, simply say so. […]

An online or onsite TESOL course… which is best?

Thinking of doing a TESOL course and can’t decide between doing it online or not? Mich King investigates the pros and cons of the options available to you.

Why Choose an Online TESOL Course?

Online TESOL courses are designed to offer a flexible and cost-effective method of gaining a professional TESOL qualification.

Why Choose an Onsite TESOL Course?

Flexibility is the keyword. Not everyone has commitments which allow them 4 weeks away from home or work so a quality onsite TESOL course provider offers a flexible course option of home study combined with 2 weeks face to face to ensure that everyone has the chance to complete a 4 week course. You can work at your own pace on the home study element giving you time to read and absorb the set book and materials but you have the advantage of meeting like-minded people, meeting your Teacher trainers and doing some teaching.

Teaching Approach

A carefully structured approach to learning and we help you all the way. If you feel you are in difficulties with any aspect of a TESOL course then the course provider should be able to be contacted by either telephone or email. With each returned module you will then receive feedback allowing your trainer to comment on your progress, give advice and guidance for future modules. Each module of the course is illustrated by practical methods and strategies for use in the TESOL classroom. There is a balance between theory and practice. The aim is for you to be taught how to become a confident, well-resourced, professional teacher, whatever your background.

Teaching Practice

If you want to be fully prepared and confident of your classroom management, and you are not already teaching, you may wish to add a teaching practice to your. These days there are more choices available to those who want to get qualified with a recognised TESOL or TEFL Certificate. At one time your only option was to dedicate four weeks to a full time, intensive residential TESOL/TEFL course. Not anymore, you can now take an online TEFL course.

It is inconvenient for most people to take four weeks off work, and then pay the high costs associated with residential courses. This is why online TESOL / TEFL courses have been developed to allow a more flexible approach to TESOL / TEFL training.

Some of you may imagine that an Online TEFL Course is in some way sub-standard when compared with an onsite or residential course; this is certainly not the case. TEFL courses online can prove to be the most effective way of learning for most people, and with certain TESOL course providers, a Teaching Practice Certificate can be completed.

Benefits of a TEFL Courses Online

1. You have the chance to gain a recognised professional qualification at a lower cost.
2. You can work at home in your own time without having to give up work, or take time off.
3. You have the option to work whilst studying. You can even start your first teaching job during your course!
4. Working at your own pace gives you adequate time to absorb the course material. When studying an onsite or residential course many students find it hard to absorb all the information, because everything must be crammed into the four-week session.
5. You save money and time by not having to find accommodation or travel to a College every day.
6. If you want some observed teaching practice you can spend a week doing this when you finish your course, at a time that is convenient for you.
7. You can take as long as you like to complete an online TESOL or TEFL Certificate, allowing you to fit the course around your life, rather than your life around the course.

Quality Assurance

Knowing that the TESOL / TEFL certificate qualification you seek to obtain is internationally recognised, and the course leading to that qualification is formally accredited by an external validating body, is important. Before deciding on the TEFL / TESOL certificate course it is essential that you check that the course provider can satisfy you with answers to the following questions:
• Is the provider independently accredited and inspected?
• Can potential employers check directly with the independent authority responsible for accreditation?
• Is a contact address, name, telephone and fax number provided?
• Does the advertising and promotional material give a clear and truthful account of the course offered, especially regarding level?
• Is a course syllabus available?
• Is tutor support of high quality and consistent throughout the provision and do all the tutors have appropriate qualifications and experience?
• Is the prospective learner made aware, prior to enrolment, of all terms and conditions of the course?
• Can prospective learners talk to a responsible person at the provider institution and ask any questions they wish?
• Is there adequate course documentation, describing the goals, scope, nature and procedures of the course to enable participants to make informed decisions about enrolment?
• Is assessment linked to accreditation by nationally recognised bodies?

About the author

Mich King did his initial TESOL training with INTESOL.

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