By Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa of the TEFL Tips website
There are thousands of TEFL course providers to choose from, so how do you know which one is the right one for you? Below are some things to keep in mind when choosing a programme.
On-campus vs. Distance
Nowadays there are usually two different types of courses. On-campus or distance. On-campus courses usually take about four weeks. So in addition to not working for four weeks, you will also need the money for room and board. Distance courses can be ok, but they need to include the elements below.
On-Site Programmes
There are quite a few TEFL Training Programmes in Latin America. Try searching at TEFL Certification Abroad to find one that suites you.
Free online courses
The Peace Corps has come up with a Guide to teaching English. You could also try TEFL Boot Camp.
The following online courses require a fee in order to participate
English International
TEFL training
INTESOL International
TESOL Direct
The International TEFL Corporation
I-to-I
ACTDEC
100 Hours Minimum
Most employers will only recognize those course that are at least 100 hours. An hour is usually 50 minutes. Make sure it states on your certificate how many hours the course is.
6 Teaching Hours Minimum
During your training course you will get to teach real students. You need to teach at least 6 hours, this is in addition to any practice teaching that you may do in front of your peers.
Time in Business
How long has the training program been in existence? You might want to steer away from those that only have been going for a year or two.
Professional Membership or External Certification
Check if the TEFL training program has any Professional Membership, such as IATEFL or the TEFL Board. Also, see if your course provider has external certification. The British Council often certifies schools that meet their requirements.
Stand Alone vs Chain
Chain organization such as TEFL International, CELTA, and Trinity have the same basic requirements for their courses whether they’re in Egypt or China, but the trainers are different. So even though their course in one place may be good, it might not be if you go to a different location. However, chain organisations usually have the weight of the chain name behind them.
Stand Alone organisations are a bit more risky, but there are still great ones out there. They tend to cater more to their trainees by giving them more personal attention. The often also have contacts with local schools to get you a job.
Cost
Cost is always going to be a factor, but don’t just choose the cheapest one, because it may not be the best.
Guaranteed Job Placement
Most places should have job placement, but be sure to ask specifically what this is and is may vary from a guaranteed interview to a guaranteed job, which is a huge difference.
Feedback from Past Students
Many course providers will post feedback from teachers who have participated in their course. You might also ask to be put in touch via email with some students to ask other questions. Forums are also a good place to find out about schools. Dave’s ESL Café has a forum specifically for teacher training.
Remember courses are usually a couple thousand dollars so research your programme carefully.
About the author
Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.
I think you got most of the big points and I’m sure people will find it useful. May I add some points?
- On-campus courses can sometimes be taken part time
- “An hour is usually 50 minutes”- this is not true of CELTA courses, where some lesson bits you teach will be as short as 20 minutes, but the grand total will be at least 6 full hours. Not sure about other courses.
- “Check if the TEFL training program has any Professional Membership, such as IATEFL” – any school can join IATEFL or TESOL just by paying the fee, and IATEFL will not check the quality of schools or courses. I agree, however, that not even bothering to join professional organisations can be a danger sign of a slack school or course
- I think the word “chain organisations” could be confusing when talking about CELTA, Trinity and some TI courses. The courses and schools will not be owned by Cambridge or Trinity, although it could be offered by an actual chain of schools like International House or the British Council, which can be an additional guarantee of a reaching a certain level of quality
- “The often also have contacts with local schools to get you a job”- but that might not be any use when you want to move onto another country where no one has ever heard of that particular TEFL certificate
This might interest readers who enjoyed your post:
http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/articles/tefl-qualifications/qs-tefl-course-provider-celta/
Thanks to the legendary Alex for this feedback. His site is highly recommended reading.
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