I talked earlier about what TEFL is. I also pointed out some of the benefits of getting certified. But how do you go about choose the right TEFL course? That’s potentially a problem, because it’s kind of the Wild West out there.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that there are all kind of snake-oil salesmen out to rip you off. And they’re not even going to give you opium, either; they’re just going to take your money. So pull up your Wranglers, don your Stetson, and strap on your six-guns, pilgrim. We’re going to head that off at the pass.
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OK, I’m done now.
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Mostly.
The Outlaw
There are three main issues facing you as you look to get your TEFL certification.
No Single Global Accreditation
You have probably heard of ISO, the International Organization for Standardization at some point. It’s an independent non-governmental international organization that establishes globally recognized standards for all sorts of things.
There isn’t anything like that for TEFL teaching, though. Instead, there are dozens of accrediting bodies, and anyone can set up a TEFL course, call it “internationally recognized,” and sell it.
The Huge Variation in Quality
Since anyone can set up a TEFL course and get it “accredited,” there’s a huge range in the quality of courses. Some are very rigorous, well respected, with expert teachers, practicum training and are accredited by trusted groups.
Some, on the other hand, offer you a digital certificate for finishing a 1-day course, or guarantee you’ll pass.
The Pricing is All Over the Place
There are places that have offered a Groupon for a TEFL certificate for $50. On the other hand, you can easily spend over $2000 for an in-person, intensive 120-hour course.
Which do you think is going to give you the better training? Now, that’s not to say that the $2000 course is guaranteed to be good, either. You have to do your research.
But, of those two, which do you think is more likely going to be accepted by employers? This is one of those cases where you tend to get what you pay for.
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Because of things, you want to look at what a given program or course offers. Some things you’ll want to look for when you choose a TEFL course:
The Good
- Includes 120 hours of coursework or more. 120 hours is considered the industry standard minimum, but there are even longer courses you can take – I took a 250-hour course.
- Includes real teaching practice (called a “practicum” or “live teaching”), not just submitting lesson plans or watching videos.
- Includes assessment by qualified trainers who provide feedback.
- Accredited by a known, respected external body.
- The program is known by schools, governmental organizations, etc.
These are the courses worth looking out for; particularly if combined with a degree, they will get you into a good job with good pay.
The OK
- Has at least 100 hours of coursework.
- All online, with some assessment and feedback. It may include a practicum as an add-on.
- Accreditation is real, but maybe not internationally renowned.
I was going to put this list as “the bad” to keep with the theme, but they’re actually acceptable. They can get you in the door at many chain language schools, as an Assistant Language Teacher, or other entry-level positions, but may not be enough for those top-tier employers concerned with quality or professionalism.
The Bad and the Ugly
- Has less than 100 hours of coursework.
- Fully automated; may not have any assignments or feedback from trainers.
- No teaching practice. May not even have videos of classes to watch.
- Accreditation is either fake or seems shady.
- Promises an instant (or near-instant) certificate after giving them money or guarantees you’ll pass.
- Very cheap (less than $100).
These courses are truly the bad and the ugly. You might be able to use one to pass a visa requirement if nobody looks closely, but employers will laugh in your face if you approach them with one of these.
Worse, let’s say you do actually find a job with one of these certificates; it’s not going to be a good place to work, and you won’t have actually learned anything about teaching, so you won’t be able to do the job well.
Let’s keep it straight, here. Getting a TEFL certificate isn’t just a formality, it’s an investment. If you’re going to do it, take the time and money to do it right; it will pay dividends in the future.
The Searchers
So, what course TEFL course should you choose? Well, that takes some research. You’ll want to see if a course meets accepted standards and fits your goals and budget.
Accreditation and Recognition
When you’re choosing a TEFL course, check who accredits it. Accreditation means a trusted group has checked the course for quality and standards.
Some recognized and respected bodies include:
- Ofqual (UK) — Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation
- TESL Canada — Canada’s national TESL standards organization
- Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses (ACTDEC) — UK-based, moderate reputation
- ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training) — US Department of Education recognized
- University Validations — if the course is attached to a major university (e.g., Trinity College London for CertTESOL, Cambridge for CELTA)
If you see a course accredited by one of these, you’re in good shape; you can feel pretty safe to choose this TEFL course. If it isn’t accredited by one of the above, it might still be legit, but you’ll need to put in some legwork; don’t just click the link provided on the TEFL course website. Instead, open up a new tab and Google it.
If the accreditor’s website looks shady, super basic, or only talks about TEFL (as real accreditors handle lots of fields), or if it only mentions of the accreditor online are linked to the TEFL provider itself (what are called “circular references”), then walk away.
A good rule of thumb is that if it takes you more than 30 seconds on Google to find information on the accreditor, then it’s no good.
Comparing Course Length and Cost
Most employers want a TEFL course with at least 120 hours of training. Short courses, like 40 or 60 hours, usually don’t meet international standards, though if that short course is a specialized add-on (such as a course covering teaching young learners) in addition to your base TEFL course, it can make you more desirable to employers.
If you’ve never taught before, you’ll want to make sure your course offers at least 6 hours of real teaching practice. That hands-on experience matters, believe me. When I stepped foot in my first classroom, I’d never taught a day in my life. It was an experience I’d never wish on anybody.
Course prices can be all over the place. In-person, intensive courses tend to be the most expensive, but are also often the best way to get all of the coursework and practical experience. Online-only courses are cheaper, while blended courses cost strike that middle balance.
Tombstone
Ultimately, choosing a TEFL course depends on your situation and what your goals are. Getting a TEFL certificate may not be a requirement where you want to live and work, but it can still be beneficial if you know what to look out for in terms of coursework and accreditation.
It also depends on your budget. Not everybody has $3000 for a one-month in-person CELTA course in England; I sure didn’t. But a decent 120-hour online course that will get you started in your career is generally going to run a minimum of about $250 dollars.
It was almost 15 years ago when I took a 250-hour online course for a diploma (not a certificate), and that ran about $500. It wasn’t cheap, but thanks to getting that diploma, I got a raise and made it back in about 6 months, and since then it’s probably boosted my income by at least $1000 per year.
In my case, I’d been teaching for 8 years, so most of the things that were covered were things I’d already learned on my own, but even still, I did pick up a few things from it. My only regret was not having taken it sooner (not that I’d had the money back then to take it).
If you have no experience at all, it will not just give you the tools, it’ll give you the toolbelt.
That’s much easier than having to make your toolbelt from scratch like I did.