Should you get TEFL certified? I am. Now.
When I first started working as a TEFL teacher, I didn’t have any TEFL certification. Heck, I had no special education or training at all. The only thing I had was a B.A. in History, and while I did eventually get a TEFL certification, I’ve parleyed that B.A. into a 20-year career in a wide range of situations.
The Problems with Not Being TEFL Certified
Getting certified is not, strictly speaking, necessary. If you just want to go abroad and teach English for a couple of years, you can find jobs like that fairly easy with a quick internet search.
There are a few problems with them, though.
Limited Places to Teach
The first problem is that those jobs are primarily in Asia and the Middle East. Of course, if you want to go to Asia (like I did) or the Middle East, that might be considered a feature, not a bug. But for many people with goals of teaching in places like Europe, you’re probably going to have a difficult time finding anything without either an advanced degree or TEFL certification.
Low Job Satisfaction
Second, the jobs that don’t require certification aren’t terribly good jobs. To be fair, in my experience they aren’t bad jobs, either, but they tend to pay less and are often very cookie-cutter jobs; think working at McDonald’s in a suit. Because these schools pay little, they tend to attract inexperienced people who will take any job they can find to pay the bills.
As a result, they tend to develop materials that don’t require a lot of training to teach, meaning you often teach the same thing again and again in the same way and you often have little room to grow, develop or experiment. Again, if you’re just looking to get away and go overseas for a couple of years, that might be all you want or need, but trust me – after a year or two it gets boring very quickly.
Little Career Progression
Third, and related to that second point, most of the best jobs and career advancement require certification at minimum. A lot of places – particularly universities – want advanced degrees before they’ll consider you, and even good schools will require that you either have certification or are willing to get it shortly after being hired.
As such, if you’re looking for a career, you’re going to need to at least get TEFL certification. So, with a TEFL certificate, you can teach in many places—even in countries where English teachers require some special certifications.
Getting TEFL certified opens job opportunities and lets you help others pick up a skill that’s useful just about everywhere. It also gets you ready to handle different classrooms, all kinds of students, and a mix of teaching styles. It would have been enormously helpful for me when I first started teaching, and saved me a lot of headaches trying to figure out what I was doing.
Why Get TEFL Certified?
In addition to learning how to teach and plan, a TEFL certification opens doors to teaching English in different countries. It helps you build valuable skills, find more jobs, and experience new cultures.
Benefits of getting TEFL Certified
A TEFL certification gives you what you need to teach English well. You’ll learn classroom strategies, lesson planning, and ways to support your students. In many countries, schools won’t even consider you without it.
With a TEFL certificate, you’re more competitive in the job market. Employers like to see that you know what you’re doing. It can lead to better job offers and higher pay. You also get the flexibility to teach different age groups and skill levels, which is pretty handy. Certified teachers usually feel more confident, too; Lord knows I was a wreck my first few weeks.
Career Opportunities Worldwide
Being TEFL certified qualifies you for English teaching jobs around the world. You could end up in schools, language centers, business training programs, or teaching online. Countries like China, Spain, and South Korea are always looking for certified teachers.
Want variety? TEFL lets you teach kids, teens, or adults. You can work abroad, teach online from home, or even try summer camps. Some employers and governments actually require a TEFL certificate. With it, you get to choose jobs, locations, and students that fit your style. It’s your ticket to teaching English globally.
Personal Growth and Cultural Exchange
Earning your TEFL certificate lets you dive into life in other countries. Teaching English means you’re working with people from all sorts of backgrounds every day.
You’ll learn how to adapt, solve problems, and communicate in new ways. It’s a crash course in independence and open-mindedness. My first year was rough, but I definitely learned a lot about myself and how to survive on my own. It helped me build grit in a way I’d never had to before.
Even better, you might end up with lifelong friends. In my 20 years teaching I’ve made countless friends, and one of them has been a friend for almost that whole time. I’ve watched his children grow up, which is just really weird when you think about it.
You might also develop a taste for new foods. You’d have never convinced me before coming to Japan that raw fish and tofu could be good, and now I love them.
And finally, you’ll develop memories that stick forever. I honestly can’t imagine what my life would be like now if I’d stayed back in America, and I have so many things to be thankful for.
TEFL Certification Options
If you want to teach English abroad or online, picking the right TEFL course matters. The main options—classroom, online, and blended programs—each suit different learning styles and schedules.
In-Person TEFL Courses
In-person TEFL courses happen in classrooms or training centers. You get face-to-face lessons, real-time feedback, and a chance to practice teaching with your peers.
Most people find this setup helpful because you can ask questions right away and get support from instructors. These courses usually last 4 to 6 weeks, but some are shorter or longer depending on the provider.
If you do a course in your home country or abroad, you might get help with job placement after you finish. Most in-person courses include at least 120 hours of study and a teaching practicum with real English learners. If you like hands-on learning, this could be your thing.
Online TEFL Programs
Online TEFL courses let you study from home whenever it suits you. You’ll access lessons, readings, and videos online. This format works for busy schedules—some courses are super quick, others take a few months.
Many online programs offer tutor support or discussion boards. Some have quizzes or assignments to check your progress. Make sure you pick an accredited provider because not all certificates are accepted everywhere. Always check the course syllabus before signing up.
Some online TEFL options include modules on specific topics like teaching kids or business English. You won’t get classroom practice, but you’ll have resources you can access anytime.
Hybrid TEFL Training
Hybrid TEFL programs mix online learning with in-class experience. You start with online theory and then do a short classroom practicum for live teaching.
This setup gives you flexibility and hands-on practice. You can keep your job or study from anywhere during the online part, then get classroom feedback in person.
Hybrid courses usually finish faster than full in-person programs, but you still get to build teaching confidence through real practice. If you want a bit of both worlds, a hybrid TEFL could be the answer. Plenty of providers offer this as part of their TEFL certification options.
Understanding TEFL Course Content
A TEFL course gives you what you need to teach English to non-native speakers. You’ll cover language teaching basics, practical classroom skills, and ways to guide your students.
Core Curriculum Topics
You’ll start with English grammar and vocabulary. That means learning about sentence structure, verb tenses, articles, and prepositions. Mastering these topics helps you explain things clearly to your students.
Vocabulary teaching is a big part, too. You’ll pick up techniques for introducing new words, using visuals, and making learning stick. Pronunciation gets its own focus—think sounds, stress, and intonation. Good pronunciation lessons help your students speak more clearly and understand others.
TEFL courses also show you how to teach practical language—asking for directions, making requests, ordering food, and so on.
Teaching Practice and Classroom Management
Theory is only part of it. Most reputable TEFL courses include teaching practice where you lead lessons for real students or classmates.
During practice, you’ll design lesson plans, set goals, and try out activities to check for understanding. It’s a good way to get comfortable in front of a group and see which teaching styles feel natural.
Classroom management is a big deal, too. You’ll learn how to organize your classroom, handle behavior issues, build routines, and keep students engaged. There’s also advice on working with young learners versus adults, or beginners versus advanced students.
Assessment and Feedback Strategies
TEFL courses teach you how to check student progress. You’ll look at ways to assess speaking, reading, writing, and listening—maybe through quizzes, written work, presentations, or games.
You’ll see how each method shows you something different about your students’ learning. Feedback matters a lot. You’ll practice giving clear, kind feedback so students know what’s working and what needs a tweak.
Some courses show you how to help students set goals and reflect on their own progress. Mixing up assessment keeps classes interesting and helps every learner grow.
Requirements for TEFL Programs
To start a TEFL program, you’ll need to show some proof of education and language skills. Requirements are usually basic, but always check the details before you apply.
Educational Background
Most TEFL courses want you to be at least 18 years old and have finished high school. Usually, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED to get started. Many advanced programs are also starting to expect a college degree, as well.
Some programs might let you in at 16 if your parents agree, but that’s pretty rare. If you’re planning to teach abroad after your TEFL, a lot of employers also expect a bachelor’s degree.
While some jobs don’t require a degree, having one gives you more choices. Occasionally, a program might ask for a degree in education or English, but that doesn’t happen often.
TEFL courses generally look for people who are serious about learning. Most programs include at least 120 hours of coursework and some live teaching practice.
You can check out more about TEFL course entry requirements if you want to dig deeper.
Language Requirements
You don’t have to be a native English speaker to join most TEFL programs. But you do need to show strong English skills since you’ll be teaching in English.
Many TEFL providers will ask for proof of your English level if it’s not your first language. Usually, this means passing a test or doing an interview to show your grammar, speaking, and understanding.
Some programs want a certain score on exams like IELTS or TOEFL. Others just want to see if you can communicate clearly.
Whatever your background, you can join a TEFL course if you show you use English well. Requirements can change from one school to another, so check what each program needs.
If you’re a non-native speaker, be upfront about your ability and ask schools about their language requirements.
My Suggestions
I’ve provided you an overview of why you might want to get TEFL certified and why you might not want to. I’ve also given you a basic look at what you can expect in terms of expectations and requirements.
What do I think you should do? Ultimately, it depends on your goals.
When You SHOULDN’T Get TEFL Certified
Getting TEFL certified isn’t cheap; a decent online TEFL usually runs about $300-$500, better ones, of course, cost more. As you might expect, in-person classes cost the most, running anywhere from $1,500-$4,000, depending on the length of the course and the location.
If you are just interested in doing some probably initially interesting but eventually boring, repetitive and unfulfilling job as a means to fund a year or two in Asia before going back home to start “really” working, then no, it’s probably not worth your time and money.
When You SHOULD Get TEFL Certified
Having said that, if you’re even a little bit curious about teaching as a possible career (be it overseas or back in your home country), I think it’s a worthwhile investment; the few hundred dollars for a decent online course will save you so much struggle and difficulty when you start actually teaching when you have a decent foundation under you, and while a lot of what is in a TEFL course is naturally directed at teaching English, a lot of the foundational principles of classroom management that a good program will also include will help you in whatever venue you work in.
Being totally honest, hindsight being what it is, I wish I had taken a TEFL course before I started teaching. It would have saved me a lot of trouble during my first couple of years in Japan because I would have at least had a decent idea of what I was doing instead of flailing about helplessly.
Not that I knew I was going to make my living teaching. Or had the money to take a course before I started teaching. But I guess you can’t have everything.