Unfortunately there has never been one single regulatory body for the TEFL industry, notes Jimmy Krangol. Right now there are numerous TEFL schools springing up everywhere, all claiming that their course is better than the rest or, that they offer the most accredited TEFL certificate.

It can be a daunting task trying to select the right TEFL course in a minefield of choices. So how can you tell the good from the bad? The answer is actually quite simple. Don’t overlook the obvious! Here are the 5 things to look out for when choosing a TEFL course……

1. How Does The Website Look? -

Is it professional looking, well organised? If a TEFL organization cannot organise a website properly then you can’t really expect them to organize a four week TEFL course!

2. Spelling & Grammar -

I’m always amazed at the numerous spelling and grammar errors on many TEFL websites. Do you really think these TEFL schools are capable of training you to be an English teacher?

3. Criticizing Competitors to Win Customers -

This is common practice for many cowboy schools who struggle to get enough students to fill their empty courses. They usually ask if you’re looking at any other TEFL schools and once you mention a name, they discredit them claiming the certificate isn’t accredited, or something along those lines.

Any reputable organization will focus on the features/benefits of their own course and won’t directly criticize their competitors or get involved in a slanging match.

4. The TEFL Trainer’s Experience -

A good trainer usually means a good course. Ask for details of the trainers experience and qualifications. Get some telephone numbers or email addresses of previous candidates and contact them for feedback.

5. How Many Students Attend Each TEFL Course -

Any more than 16 is far too many. Many international TEFL courses have 30+ students on each course, which is one reason why they’re so cheap. You cannot possibly receive quality TEFL training in such a large group of students. You Get What You Pay For!

So what about the actual TEFL certificate?

A Word of Warning; Weekend TEFL certificates may be a good introduction to TEFL but they are no longer accepted for teaching Jobs in most countries, especially now in Thailand.

The term ‘Accredited’ is used freely but it holds little essence. Most employers will expect you to have around 100 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours of observed teaching practice with real students under your belt. They will prefer to see how you perform in a classroom and so the type of certificate you have isn’t always that important to them.

Make sure you choose a reputable TEFL course which has at least 6 hours of observed teaching practice with real students This will give you the confidence to walk into a roomful of expectant faces and not run out again screaming!

Good Luck!

About the Author:

Jimmy has extensive experience teaching English as a foreign language throughout Asia. Based in Thailand, Jimmy works as a freelance Education Consultant for a number of TEFL schools around the world. Feel free to contact him with any comments or suggestions at www.worldteflschool.com

By Chris Soames

Courses, courses, everywhere!

Today, if you searched for a TEFL course, you would be faced with a bewildering array of choices. Many companies advertise a variety of TEFL courses: online courses, weekend courses, a combination of online and weekend, not to mention the 4-week intensive courses held in local and exotic locations around the world. In fact, search for too long on the Internet and you can be forgiven for feeling like a small child that’s stumbled upon Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory!

Think carefully about the type of course you choose…

Before committing yourself financially to a course of any kind, you’ll need to consider your options carefully. Factors such as the country you want to teach English abroad in, how far you wish to pursue a TEFL teaching career, the financial resources you have at your disposal, time, and preference of study, will all influence your final decision. If you want to teach for a year or less in an exotic location, you may not need the full 4-week course; a weekend certificate could be enough. So do some research: email or ring up local language schools or ask on Internet forums!

I’m broke, and I’ve already booked my plane ticket!

If time or money is an issue, or you just want an inkling of what TEFL teaching involves, then weekend courses are a good option, and do not tax the pocket too heavily. Starting at around £200, these courses offer a taster of the full TEFL course, and cover the main core skills you’ll need as a TEFL teacher.

The TEFL tutors on these courses are experienced teachers, and should be able to answer most questions or concerns you may have. Weekend courses are around 20 hrs long, and provide a valuable forum for gaining and sharing ideas, and you may find, they give a much-needed boost to your confidence.

Don’t chance the cowboys!

Be careful; there are cowboy operations, so whichever course you choose, make sure it is independently accredited or the certificate you receive at the end of the course may not be worth the paper it’s written on. I would advise sticking to established companies, as these offer good support and are well organised. Weekend courses are held at least once a month in most cities all over the UK, so you’ll have no problems booking a course near you.

Home study, or tutor?

If you’re self-motivated and prefer studying in the privacy of your own home, then online courses are an efficient and inexpensive way of brushing up on your grammar. Online courses can be completed in your own time, cover theoretical aspects of English teaching, and help you to master the intricacies of English grammar. However, I guarantee you will learn much more from a TEFL tutor, and if this is your first foray into teaching TEFL, I recommend an online course as an ‘extra’, rather than a sole method of study. Contact with an online tutor can’t compare to the immediacy and interaction of a real ‘live’ qualified tutor.

But will I get a job at the end of the course?

Worried about financial security? Then consider studying with a company that guarantees you a job on successful completion of their course. These courses usually combine a weekend with an online study program, and the companies offer support and help in finding accommodation, relieving you of some of the stress of moving to a new country.

What about TESOL/CELTA qualification or ‘equivalent’?

You may have seen jobs online or in the newspaper requiring these qualifications as a minimum. The Trinity TESOL, and the Cambridge CELTA, are the two ’standard’ internationally recognised qualifications, and are usually taken as a 4-week intensive course, although it is possible to do the course part-time over three months. These courses will set you back at least £900; so if you are cash-strapped check first whether you’ll require this qualification. Be aware that some organisations such as the British Council, and certain countries require these qualifications as a minimum, plus a first degree to boot. There are ‘equivalent’ accredited courses of around 120 hours, but you should make sure these are accepted by language schools in the country you intend to teach in.

A long-term investment

If you intend to spend a few years abroad, then the weightier courses are often a worthwhile investment. Having one of these qualifications looks impressive on your cv, and coupled with a year’s experience teaching, you will be viewed by potential employers, as a good candidate.

Where can I do these courses?

There are Cambridge and Trinity approved centres in many towns and cities across the UK, and worldwide. The ‘equivalent’ accredited courses are often cheaper, and some private companies run good quality courses. If you are undecided whether or not it is worth taking this qualification, or do not have the time or money, consider taking this qualification abroad when you are already teaching. There are approved CELTA and TESOL centres in most major cities across Europe; also in India, Russia, Thailand, Japan, and China.

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator of and writer for TEFL Tips, discusses the merits of TEFL certification.

As far as visa requirements go, while countries may require a degree, I don’t know of any that require you to have a TEFL certificate. Although TEFL certs won’t help with visa requirements, they will make your life much easier as a teacher. Intensive TEFL courses, whether they be CELTA, Trinity, or any other course, will teach you how to teach English. Knowing the language and being able to teach it are two different things. There’s nothing worse than having a student ask you to explain something and for you to not know the answer.

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These courses will teach you things such as grammar, how to teach vocabulary, language level, popular activities, different methods, and more. Not only do they help you learn about what to do in the classroom, the course trainers can give you advice about which countries to teach in, what to look for in a contract, and may even offer job placement. They’re a great way to get your foot in the door. If you decide to make teaching English your career, you should try to get higher qualifications as well, such as a PGDE or MA.

If you want to take a TEFL course, read Choosing a TEFL course to find out what you need to look for to find a good course. If you can’t take a TEFL course due to time, money or other reasons, don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of other ways to learn about TEFL. See Learning about TEFL and Teaching.

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.

By Luke Fisher

We’re once again joined by Luke Fisher, who delves into the world of teacher training courses in this article:

The various types of TEFL Certification available make it important to research all possible options before learning to teach English as a second language. As there are many types of courses available you can usually find one that will suit both your timing and the method that you prefer for instruction. In the past there have been two options when it comes to taking a TEFL course, the first is classroom style and the second is an online course. Currently, about 30,000 people per year become TEFL certified with 5,000 completing in-class courses and 25,000 completing online courses.

There are a number of options in terms of TEFL certification. The training methods vary due to the nature of the course itself, the main difference being the method of course delivery. An in-class 4 week course is face to face where trainees are taught along with their peers and includes the very important component of teaching practice with real students of English. By Contrast, an online course is by nature completed independently with the support of an online tutor either via email or chat. Although an online course is a convenient option in terms of cost and accessibility, the draw back is that no teaching practice can be completed due the course being online. Instead, a CD of teachers teaching are viewed and commented on.

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Typically, a TEFL certification course is 4 weeks long and is more than often completed in the country where you plan to teach English. The course is fairly intensive and is designed to give a sound foundation and introduction to teaching English as well as teaching practice with actual students of English. Teaching skills, knowledge and experience are improved after the course when actually teaching. The most popular locations for TEFL certification are Thailand, Spain, Italy and Costa Rica.

Another option is TEFL certification online. The main advantage of this type of course is its flexibility and price. The course can be taken from pretty much anywhere with a pc and can be completed at a self dictated pace. The course can be completed in anything from 2 weeks to 6 months depending on the time that you have available. Not having to attend a training centre overseas for 4 weeks obviously makes this type of course a much cheaper option.

One further option is a Combined TEFL course. This is a combination of the two methods above. Trainees complete the online TEFL certification course and then attend a training centre for two weeks for further training and teaching practice. This is a good option for those that do not perform to their full potential in intensive environments. The teaching practice component of the combined course is offered in four locations: Thailand, Italy, Spain and the USA.

The quality of training and certification received when completing a TEFL course relates to the time involved in training and the amount of teaching practice hours completed. The 4 week in class TEFL course and the combined TEFL course involves approximately 130 hrs of training and 6 to 10 hrs of teaching practice. The industry standard recommendation for an in-class course is 6 hrs of teaching practice. The online course involves 100 hrs of training and post course options for in class components of teaching practice either locally or abroad.

About the author

TEFL Course is a leading provider in global TEFL Certification and TESOL Certification. TEFL Course will help you find TEFL Jobs in a range of countries.

Taking a TESOL certificate course can open new horizons, suggests Kris Koonar

A glance at a clothing boutique, a brisk walk down city streets, or an earful of automated customer service messages is proof positive that we live in an ethnic melting pot. Our world has stretched its borders and every person wanting to take advantage of that shift needs to know how to speak English. If you want to be the person that teaches them, you need the TESOL course.

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Knowing how to read, write, and speak another language is no longer a trend of the future but a way of life for the present. The knowledge of another language and culture is a powerful leveraging tool in every sector of society, and that means there are huge opportunities for English teachers overseas. But even beyond the career potential, a TESOL qualification can open your eyes to other cultures. Studies show that children who are multilingual grasp concepts more quickly, and even the elderly are increasing their very quality and span of life by using natural forms of medicine that hail from continents beyond North America.

Given the impact that world customs are making within our borders, the TESOL course comes to the fore in preparing for a career teaching English overseas, locally, or just to retain a global outlook on life. While foreign speakers can access self-help curricula, it is helpful to have an instructor, because a person-to-person guide makes the language come to life in a way that far exceeds the textbook experience.

The question arises about the need to take a TESOL course. Here are some things to ponder:

To Thine Own Self Be True. Taking the test is a sound tool to assess your actual level of linguistic competency. Once you have this knowledge, you will know your strengths and weaknesses with respect to the language.

Talk the Talk, make the coin. Taking a TESOL course will equip you to effectively teach a world that wants to speak English, leading you to a career that can take you through Asia, the Middle East, Europe and beyond. Many of these nations can be places you earn a lot more money than you’re used to at home.

Taking Care of Business! Gone are the days of only conducting business on the West Coast and East Coast of America. The real movers and shakers see as many possibilities in India as they do in Indiana. Making a mark in the marketplace can be done as people expand the scope and breadth of their linguistic skills.

While training others to speak a native language and embracing world culture is favorable, there is another consideration to be made. As the test is administered and the vast majority becomes multilingual, more competition may arise in the marketplace. Those who were once seen as a “cut above the rest” – based on their command of several languages – may now be deemed average. There is also the possibility that the mixing of ethnicities may cause the discrete differences to be lost in a sea of cultural compromise.

Nonetheless, it is difficult to ignore the truth that stares us square in the face. This truth is that our world has now become our next-door neighbor. The choice is up to us. Only we can decide whether to open the door or to remain behind closed doors. It’s that decision that will dictate whether we make the grade and ultimately pass the test.

The bottom line is simple: Millions of people need to learn to speak English. They’ll pay you to teach them. And the TESOL certificate is the first step to making that happen.

About the author

For Free TESOL information please visit ezenglishonline.com. You can also email Andra Molnar at [email protected].

By Ajay Shringi

Online TEFL courses open up amazing career opportunities for aspiring teachers in countries that are experiencing a high demand for people with English language skills. With globalization, there is increasing pressure on people to acquire excellent writing and reading English skills. In fact, mastery of language often becomes decisive when selecting people for jobs. That is why many people are desperately trying to improve their English language skills.

According to the British Council, approximately 300 million people are trying to study English at the present time. These students may need to learn English as a second language in their own country, or they may be immigrants who need to learn English in order to adapt to their new life in an English speaking country. Naturally, with the rise in demand for English language skills, there is a corresponding demand for internationally accredited English teachers. Online TEFL courses teach English through distance education and equip you to become a teacher of the English language in a foreign country.

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Anyone can join online TEFL courses regardless of age or work experience: perfect English fluency and a reasonable level of education are the only requirements. Online TEFL courses come in 100-hour and 250-hour variants providing direct access to modern teaching methods that prepare the future teacher to deal with all sorts of educational situations. The price patterns for online TEFL programs vary depending on the number of hours and on the trainee’s choice of availing of the services of a personal tutor. However, most programs are priced very competitively, and some of the courses even have bonus offers.

Online TEFL courses are designed according to distance learning methods and this compensates for the lack of classroom participation. These courses answer the needs of people who have a limited budget, or have time and place constraints that do not allow them to join a full on site teaching program at the TEFL training centers. Thus, more people have access to these courses. In online TEFL courses, the learner is not constrained by the repetitive rhythm imposed in a regular class, meaning that he or she can adjust the learning program according to their personal needs and schedule flexibility.

TEFL diplomas are the most comprehensive TEFL online courses. Such courses are the immediate sequel of training from a basic certification program. Online diploma courses are widely available and consist of 250 hours of highly advanced teaching methods. Recognized at the international level, such courses are accessible only to those who already have their standard TEFL certification. The prices for diploma courses vary from $500 without tutor to $990 with personal tutor.

The only disadvantage of online TEFL courses is that the trainee lacks the direct teaching practice that is included in onsite programs. Though the sample lessons available online are pretty relevant for the purposes and the achievements of a regular class, direct experience has its unique advantages. Moreover, would-be-teachers who choose the “no tutor” variant of the online TEFL course will have to do more research themselves. Any learning item that may remain unclear will be more difficult to sort out on one’s own than with the aid of a tutor.

Online TEFL courses have more advantages than disadvantages. For a person who wants to make a career out of teaching English, these courses are indeed an excellent investment in their future.

About the Author

TEFLCorp.com offers online TEFL courses which will open up amazing career opportunities for you.

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.

By David Vincent

The four-week TEFL course, a starting point for so many of us in our careers as English teachers. But is it really worth it?

What do we really gain from these short, intensive courses that can’t possibly hope to adequately prepare us for a career in teaching? A great deal, it would seem, according to the poll that ran on the blog and the forum.

Firstly, and most importantly judging by how many suggested this, the initial teacher training course provides a good foundation on which to build.

I started the ball rolling, stating the following:

‘It didn’t in any way prepare me for a full-time teaching position, but I can’t imagine having had to go into a classroom for the first time without having done it.’

Emma, a forum member currently embroiled in her initial training course, perceptively notes, ‘I imagine it’s like passing your driving test. You only really learn to drive properly afterwards.’ Spiral78 adds, ‘a good course is a pretty essential starter – not that certified teachers are professionals, but that they’ve got a decent idea of how to start. The course got me started on a stronger foot than I’d have had without it.’ Denise further reiterates:

‘It alone would not have gotten me to where I am now, but it was a crucial first step. It taught me the basics and I went on from there. I can’t imagine how my first teaching job would have gone without a certificate (if they would even have hired me without one). I learned a lot about how to plan, organize, and deliver a lesson.’

Canuck is another who shares the notion, ‘that the one month courses offer a foundation to build upon, maybe provide information about what someone currently does in their class now and reinforces good techniques.’ GueroPaz and Mishmumkin further exemplify, GueroPaz noting, ‘it helped me immensely; I would have been lost without it,’ while Mishmumkin adds, ‘I had been teaching a year before doing it, but it really taught me a lot about lesson planning, what to expect, how to talk less/listen more.’ Guy Courchesne reinforces the idea that 4 week courses should be seen as a foundation and that development is required after:

‘I took it without having any serious or immediate expectations of going abroad… I eventually did, about 6 months later. I completed my course in Canada and as it was geared towards teaching in Korea, I found I had to study further and learn ‘on the fly’ when I started teaching in Mexico.

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Increased opportunity in the local job market is another advantage that was mentioned. Chimp Guevara asserts that, ‘it opened the door to better jobs for me in Japan, and gave me a good grounding in the basics so that I continue learning when I got back.’

Another potential advantage of the four-week training course is that it will effectively indicate those who are clearly not up to it. spiral78 exemplifies, ‘I think the courses can also be useful for weeding out people who genuinely aren’t cut out for the job – for example, if a trainee can’t show up on time every day, looking reputable, he/she’s going to crash and burn early in a contract anyway.’

It would seem, therefore, that these initial teacher training courses hold a lot of value. Never the less, Jerry was one who, validly, raised issue with an inadequate learning environment as reason for a course not being worth what was paid:

‘I would say it wasn’t worth the money. I say this because the course was delivered on a shoestring in less than acceptable premises with virtually no frills (coffee, water, working computers). The (course provider’s) websites are very misleading with respect to training environment.’

So, certain courses may be lacking in areas outside the experience you’ll gain in terms of teacher training. These are definitely things to consider when choosing a course, an issue we’ll return to later. Despite this feeling of dissatisfaction, Jerry goes on to note, ‘the course content was delivered well by the trainer and was comprehensive so in that respect it was “worthwhile”.’

Another factor relating to whether or not a particular course is worth the investment is related to what you gain from being in a particular location. This particular aspect caused some disagreement, with suggestions made in support of doing the course in an exotic foreign locale or at a location in your home country. Spiral78 led the cry for taking the course in the country where you’re thinking of teaching, listing the following benefits:

-You can get your feet wet in the country/culture while you still have a support system – training centers will usually arrange for your housing during the course, pick you up at the airport, and generally offer you some kind of local orientation. -Your practice teaching students will be representative of those you’ll be working with when you start. -A good training centre can give you invaluable info regarding reputable employers in a region. -You can be sure that your cert will be recognized by regional employers.

Jerry, in contrast, notes the benefits of doing the course in your home country:

-When you set up a course online in the country you will work in can you be sure of the provider? -Is their course moderated? -Can you have your certificate notarized in that country? -What’s the validity of the certificate? -What’s the local reputation of the course provider? -What’s the training environment like? -Will you be picked up at the airport? I wasn’t, a pre-course orientation meeting was convened and conducted by a previous student who felt it was her moral duty to make sure new students were not left out on a limb as she had been. -Long term, is the certificate any use in another country or region?

Jerry also notes that this won’t necessarily help you in getting used to the type of student you’ll be teaching, suggesting, ‘As for getting to know the type of student, the lessons are so heavily teacher orientated and regimented you don’t get near to learning about them or understanding them.’

In terms of it being worthwhile, there was more agreement when it came to the notion of finding out about your course in advance, with spiral78 suggesting the following checklist:

-How long has the course been operating – under current management? -What qualifications do the trainers have? -What support will the centre guarantee? -Will the centre allow you to contact current trainees? -I’d also send a very brief email to several employers in the area asking whether certification from course X is well-looked-upon.

Spiral78 further exemplifies the disparity between courses, noting, ‘there are a couple of 60-hour courses without teaching practice which are given as seminars using classrooms at universities – but which are NOT considered to be basic level certifications in many parts of the world.’ Indeed, deciding on whether or not a course will be worth it, finding out what the course will include seems to be vital, Canuck asserting that, ‘the only 4 week course someone should take is one that is 120 hours with a practical teaching component. The CELTA and 120 hour TEFL have this. I don’t think an online course can measure up. I also believe that the ‘every weekend’ CELTA isn’t as valuable as the one month all at once type.’

So, generally such courses are seen by the majority as being a good thing, providing as good a foundation in teaching as possible in a short space of time. The experience you gain will open doors in terms of job opportunities and will give you a pretty clear indication if you’re not up to the task.

There are also clear benefits to the location at which you take the course, depending on what your needs may be. Having said that, it’s clear that there are major disparities between the quality of such courses and doing some research before hand will pay dividends.

One final thing to consider if you’re thinking of doing such a course is the group you’re likely to end up teaching. For example, in many countries this might end up being primarily children. Leprofdanglais comments, ‘the only thing is it trains you to teach adults, but where I was working in Spain, new staff always got lumbered with kids’ classes.’ GueroPaz reiterates, ‘here in Thailand and in most places in the world, you teach lots of kids. That’s my main complaint against any adult-oriented course.’ So, even at the initial, four-week starter course stage, think about how specifically the course is going to meet your potential needs.

Use and distribution of this article is permitted subject to no changes being made to the content and the original author’s information (About the Author) must be included with appropriate hyperlinks/URL references in place.

About the Author

If you liked this, read more great articles at the free ELT World journal. Keep up to date with the latest TEFL news at ELT World News. Want to learn more about teaching, here’s a great FAQ.

By Manuel Kupka

TESOL is the condensed form of Teaching English to the Speaker of Other Languages, a globally acknowledged qualification. This course teaches you the fundamental approaches of instruction and learning in English. After finishing your course you will become a professional educator who can teach English to people who speak a foreign language as mother tongue. You will be able to understand and teach students with profiles which are poles apart while catering to their various needs.

TEFL and TESOL

The acronyms TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) can often be confusing. Both terms are used interchangeably and effectively mean the same thing. In both cases, the aim is teaching English to those whose first language is not English, worldwide.

A TESOL Qualification adds to your worth

Most countries consider a TESOL certification a pre-requisite to securing a job as a teacher in the English language. The TESOL training program familiarizes you with systematic lesson plans, effective classroom management and efficient teaching techniques. Your fundamental knowledge of the language and grammar skills is further strengthened before facing a classroom of learners. The program brings out your best teaching skills, and the training imparted gives you hands on teaching experience. There is a great demand worldwide for TESOL teachers and this opens a whole new vista of career opportunities.

Teaching Prospects after TESOL

Many primary schools, high schools, colleges and universities require qualified English language instructors. Having a TESOL certificate can brighten up your prospects as an English teacher around the globe.

The best career option for a new TESOL pass out is in the domain of the private school where you can teach both grown ups and kids, usually through conversation.

You may even get lucky as a teacher in a business house. Here you only have to toil for one to two hours each week.

Private tuition is another option if you can set up a group of students. Here you have to interact with your students directly.

The icing on the cake is that you can travel and see the world while you earn. The countries that you can visit and teach English with your TESOL qualification include Japan, Vietnam, South Korea , China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan in Asia; Turkey, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Poland in Europe; and Chile, Peru, Brazil and Argentina in South America, amongst others.

Other TESOL Advantages

The vital reward is your right to use the available information, seek aid and assistance even after finishing your graduation long ago. You are admitted to enter the worldwide job databases, seek information about recruitments, and look for guides to different countries and more. You can benefit from discussion forums, can share concepts and ideas or seek help through Internet chat rooms. You can make your classes better by downloading an array of resources and ideas for ensuing lessons.

About the Author

If you’re thinking of a teaching English career, you’ll find many more interesting TESOL, TEFL and TESL related articles at www.TeachingEnglishTips.com

By Keith Taylor

So, if you’ve heard tales from a returning teacher of the wonders of living and working in Thailand, Brazil or Morocco and you think it might just be the career for you, how, exactly, do you get started?

Well, the first thing to confront you may well be the minefield of acronyms, so let’s work through that first of all.

ESL stands for English as a Second Language. Add a T, giving TESL, and you have Teaching English as a Second Language.

EFL is English as a Foreign Language. Again, add a T, and you have TEFL, Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Traditionally, TEFL refers to teaching in non-English speaking countries, whereas TESL refers to teaching in English speaking countries, to non-native speakers living or working there. In practice, though, the two terms are often used interchangeably, and both are covered by the all-encompassing TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

During your training or job search, you might come across a host of other acronyms, asking you if you have experience teaching ESP or EAP, FCE or IELTS! Don’t be daunted by these – there is a link to the most common acronyms at the bottom of this article.

Now that you know a little about some of the jargon you’ll be facing, the next step is usually a qualification of some kind. The days of being able to secure an English teaching job solely on the strength of being a native speaker, although not entirely gone, are fading fast. A quick search on the internet for “TEFL courses” (we’ll stick with this acronym for now) will return a mind-boggling selection, of varying content, duration, and quality, and it can be difficult to know what to go for.

It might surprise you to discover that most TEFL courses are short. The most internationally recognised and accepted are the “CELTA” (there’s yet another acronym for you), run by the University of Cambridge, and the “Trinity Cert TESOL”, run by Trinity College, London. Both of these are 120 hour, classroom-based courses, and include several hours of observed teaching practice. In other words, they get you in front of students during the course so that you can put into practice what you learn. These courses are usually studied over a very intensive four week period, and involve a lot of work outside the classroom, preparing classes and writing assignments.

You’ll learn a good deal about teaching theory and methodology, and have some chance to put it into practice. You will learn some English grammar, but don’t expect to be an expert by the end of the course – this mostly comes in your first few years of teaching.

An increasing number of institutions offer courses of similar length and content to the CELTA and Trinity courses, and you will find that many employers will accept these.

Very generally speaking, the shorter and less classroom-based the course, the less accepted it will be by employers around the world. There are some high quality online courses available, for example, but by definition these do not allow for any actual teaching practice, and so are often viewed in a less favourable light by potential employers. Some courses compensate by teaching theory and methodology online, and including a short classroom-based component to put it into practice.

You can take a TEFL course in many different countries. Studying in Bangkok or Prague, for example, can give you the advantage of the centre’s connections with local schools when it comes to finding employment, and some course providers offer help with finding a job as part of the deal.

Another option is an MA in TESOL. As with most Masters degrees, these take one year or longer, and consequently tend to cover theory and methodology in greater detail.

So, to keep your options as open as possible when it comes to finding employment, the CELTA and Trinity Cert TESOL and equivalent courses, or longer MA courses, are perhaps the best options. But there are, of course, other considerations. CELTA and Trinity courses can cost upwards of US$2000. This may seem a big investment if you are not sure yet if TEFL is the career for you.

So a good first step is to have a look at some of the jobs available in countries where you are interested in teaching, to get an idea of the typical requirements. You could choose a shorter, cheaper course, if these are generally accepted where you want to teach, and then study for a CELTA or equivalent after a year or two, if you decide to pursue the profession further.

The availability of short, quick courses often raises the question of unqualified or underqualified teachers let loose on unsuspecting students! Here, the argument runs both ways:

Some maintain that a qualified teacher doesn’t necessarily mean a good teacher, and that communicative skills and enthusiasm are just as important in motivating students. Even the CELTA and Trinity courses are, after all, entry level courses, designed to start you off, with the idea that much of your learning will come from experience during your first couple of years of teaching.

Others argue that just as an unqualified teacher wouldn’t be allowed to teach at a secondary school in the UK or the US, why should it be any different in the TEFL field – students are paying to be taught by someone with solid training in teaching theory and methodology. And after all, as a teacher, you’ll feel better equipped and more confident when you step into the classroom in your new job.

It’s up to you which side of the fence you choose to stand on this one! But whether you study for a week or a year, it will in some measure prepare you for the next step in your TEFL career, when you walk in to the classroom for the first time in your new TEFL job.

About the Author

Keith Taylor is the founder of http://www.eslbase.com, providing free resources, information and advice for TEFL teachers. He also maintains the language exchange: http://www.eslbase.com/language-exchange/. Read the eslbase guide to TEFL acronyms at http://www.eslbase.com/intro/acronyms.