What is TEFL?

Teaching English as a Foreign Language or TEFL is a certification to teach English as a foreign language to non-English speakers in a foreign country. It is similar to TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The only difference is, a TESOL certification is for teaching in English-speaking countries. This field of teaching is one of the most popular and fast-growing fields in the education industry. Earning a TEFL certification opens the doors to hundreds of professional opportunities around the world. A TEFL certificate is recommended, if not required for any teaching opportunities in countries like Vietnam, China, South Korea, Thailand and many more.

TEFL Certification

A TEFL Certification is a credential recognized on a global scale that qualifies a candidate to secure a job teaching the English language. A TEFL is proof required by language institutions and schools that a candidate has undergone relevant training for the position. TEFL certificates qualifies candidates to teach English in any country as well as teaching foreign students online. For many countries, a Bachelor's degree and a TEFL certification is necessary to obtain a work visa if candidates wish to reside and teach in that country.

How to earn a TEFL Certificate?

Candidates must attend an accredited TEFL course. This course can be offered in-person, however many now complete this course online. Candidates must ensure that the course they choose provides professional quality level training. Most of these courses have flexible timelines and the course is designed to be able to teach children as well as adults. The a part from topics that are centered around teaching English, the course also cover general topics such as language assessment, classroom management, lesson planning, etc.

Criteria for a recognized TEFL Course: There are several available TEFL online courses that are mostly free, but they may not be recognized as a pertinent qualification. A recognized TEFL certification course will include the following:

• The course must be at least 120-hours where a 100 hours is assigned for the course work and around six to twenty house is assigned for live practice teaching and observation. Some TEFL course are 150 hours while more superior ones are 170 hours or even more than 200 hours.
• The six to twenty hours of practicum must involve actual non-English speaking students. Role playing with a TEFL instructor or fellow candidates is not considered as part of the practicum.
• The TEFL instructor must be qualified with a Master's Degree in TESOL or a similar field.
• A good TEFL course will also help with employment opportunities and guidance during job searches once the course is completed.

Some organizations and institutes that offer valid TEFL courses are the American TESOL Institute (ATI), the International TEFL and TESOL Training (ITTT), the International TEFL Academy and TEFL.org.

TEFL Course Content/Curriculum

At least 50% of TEFL courses are centered on the role of a TEFL educator, the various teaching methods, tools and approaches, the language course design, lesson planning, language assessment, etc. The rest of the course covers the technical aspects of the English language such as Grammar, English skills of reading, writing, reading speaking, English vocabulary, etc. And lastly a TEFL course will include live practice sessions where candidates have the opportunity to learn by being in a classroom of non-English speaking students.

TEFL Course: How long is the course?

An accredited TEFL Course is 120 hours worth of content minimum. Part-time TEFL courses have a flexible schedules that takes into consideration a candidate's job or school work. These type of courses can take about 10-12 weeks depending on the type of course and the hours one puts in weekly. In-person course are not as flexible with scheduling, that is the course is available at a set time for a set number of weeks. There are in-person TEFL courses that are considered intensive as they require candidates to attend at least eight house a day for four straight weeks.

Most online TEFL courses are available for six months, that is candidate's have six months to complete the course. That is why for online course, it mostly depends on how long the candidate takes to complete it.

Cost of TEFL

There are several different TEFL courses available to candidates. Some are exclusively online with live sessions or recorded sessions that candidates can attend at the convenience. Some courses are exclusively in-person and some may have a hybrid set up. The cost of TEFL certifications depends on the type of course a candidate chooses. Sometimes, courses from established TEFL organizations may offer discounts on their course. However candidates should keep in mind to double check TEFL courses that are less than $1000, just to ensure they are accredited recognized courses. Most Online courses are within $500-$1000, which is typically less than an in-person course. An estimation of the cost of some of the accredited TEFL course are listed below:

TEFL Course	Cost
International TEFL Academy: 170-hour Course	$1,599
OISE University of Toronto TEFL:120-hour Course	$1,300
Vantage TEFL: 120-hour course	$1,000

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn a TEFL Certificate and teach English without a degree in Education?
A TEFL Certification gives candidates a special and necessary skills. That is why most organizations and schools require only a TEFL certification and no other degree or credentials or any prior teach experience.

Can I teach English Online?
Yes, with a TEFL certificate candidates can also apply for online teaching positions, teaching foreigners English. The online learning industry is currently booming and many more opportunities are available for candidates.

What is the validity period of a TEFL Certificate?
A TEFL certificate is valid for life. Once a candidate completes the course and receives the certificate, they will forever be qualified to teach English to non-English speakers.

What is the age limit to take a TEFL course?
There is no age limit on when you can sign up for the TEFL course. A TEFL certification is required for a teaching position. Hence the recommended age to complete the TEFL course is at the age of 18 or older.