If you’ve ever wondered – what is TEFL certification? I’m here to break it down for you! As an EFL teacher with a 150-hour TEFL and years of experience teaching online and abroad, TEFL has become my passion.
Getting TEFL certified is one of the first steps to teaching English online or abroad. A TEFL certificate is essentially a training or qualification that’s awarded to aspiring teachers who have completed an intensive course either online or in-person.
Getting a TEFL helps prepare you for teaching English as a foreign language, and it’s a job requirement for most teaching jobs online and abroad.
So, if you’ve been wondering, what is a TEFL? This TEFL guide breaks down the basics of what you need to know!
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What does TEFL stand for?
TEFL is an acronym that stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. While TEFL has become an umbrella term, there are actually a few different qualifications teachers can choose from.
In your research, you might find different acronyms thrown around like TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults). While technically different, these courses all provide teachers with the necessary tools to teach students English, and for the most part, are universally accepted.
If you’re interested in making a career out of teaching English, I recommend a CELTA. But if you’re only interested in teaching English for a few years or as a gap year, a TEFL certificate is more than sufficient.
How long does it take to get TEFL certified?
It depends! Most TEFL certificates are named after the number of hours required to complete them. For example, you’ll probably come across courses that range from 40, 60, 100, 150 hours, or more.
A 120-hour TEFL is the industry baseline for how many training hours an EFL teacher should have. Teachers who can commit to a class full-time can complete a 120-hour course in as little as three weeks.
If you’re interested in taking the course while working or have other responsibilities, completing the TEFL training can take anywhere from 3 months (10 hours a week) to 6 months (5 hours a week).
I don’t recommend a TEFL that’s any less than 100 or 120 hours, and anything more than 220 is overkill unless you’re interested in making this a career.
How much does TEFL cost?
A TEFL certificate/course can range in price between $150 – $2,500+. The cheaper TEFL courses usually are less intensive or include less resources and benefits. More expensive TEFL providers have typically been in the business for decades and come with international recognition.
Cheaper TEFL courses can be fine for many teaching gigs abroad, but be sure to do your research to make sure it’s legit. I don’t recommend the TEFL courses found on Groupon as they’re not always legit or accredited.
↠ Read More: The Best Cheap TEFL Courses Online that are Accredited
Sports day at my elementary school in Daegu
What is TEFL? Types of TEFL Courses Available
Online TEFL courses
Online TEFL certificates are completed online via live or prerecorded video lectures, class presentations, and online homework assignments and quizzes. Online classes allow the freedom and flexibility to take a course wherever and whenever; so long as it’s completed within the predetermined time limit , which is usually within three to six months.
An online TEFL typically costs about $200-$500, but they can range anywhere in price from $150 – $1,000+. You’ll find that online courses are generally cheaper and more affordable than in-person programs. Many online teaching jobs and schools will accept a fully online course. But with an online class, you do miss out on physical classroom instruction that can boost your resume if you don’t have experience.
Some jobs may also require a portion of in-class instruction, so be sure to check job requirements before choosing a TEFL.
In-person TEFL courses
In-person or in-class TEFLs take place in a physical classroom over four weeks of full-time instruction. What’s exciting about an in-person course is that you can earn your certificate in exciting places worldwide like Chicago, NYC, Thailand, Vietnam, Spain, Czech Republic, Greece, etc.
An in-person TEFL course can be expensive and cost upwards of $2,000 or more, plus the cost of room and board, flights, and other misc expenses. But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to gain valuable teaching know-how directly from an instructor in an exciting place. After you graduate from one of these courses, your provider typically helps you find a job quickly so you can begin using your TEFL ASAP.
Many TEFL students choose to get certified in the country they wish to teach in for a convenient and seamless transition from living at home, to training in-country, to living and working independently!
Hybrid TEFLs – online and in-person classes
Hybrid TEFLs take the convenience of online learning and mix it with the valuable hands-on instruction of in-person classes. The bulk of the material is taught online via slides and video lectures. Then there’s a small portion of learning conducted in class that lasts for either a weekend, one week, or an X amount of hours that you’re responsible for completing on your own.
I chose the hybrid 150-hour TEFL from CIEE. I had 130 hours of e-learning, and then 20 hours tutoring adults at a local non-profit I had to find on my own. I had to document my dates and hours and get them signed off by my superior to prove I completed my required time.
TEFL providers handle the in-class component differently. Sometimes they host their own in-person class component for student teaching, require only in-person class observation, etc.
↠ Read More: Where to Find a Free TEFL Certificate and TEFL Scholarships
How to Get a TEFL Certification
Getting a TEFL certificate is actually pretty simple! There aren’t many restrictions for who can get TEFL certified, but courses are taught in English, so you should have a good grasp of the language. You are going to be an English teacher after all! 😉 Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to become TEFL certified.
1. Find out what type of TEFL you need for your dream teaching job.
Before paying for a TEFL and taking the time to complete it, you should research what your dream job requires. Online teaching gigs are usually more than happy to take a fully online TEFL; however, schools abroad may want to see some in-class learning and experience. The amount of hours is also really important.
The city of Busan, South Korea, is a great example. To get a job with EPIK in the beautiful coastal city of Busan, you must have a TEFL that has an in-class component of at least 50 hours.
I already said this, but I feel it’s super important to mention it again: I don’t recommend a TEFL that’s less than 100 or 120 hours to ensure you’re correctly qualified when it comes time to start job hunting.
2. Choose a TEFL provider, apply, and pay.
This is arguably the hardest step because there are so many different TEFL companies to choose from and at various price points. There are free TEFLs, cheap TEFLs, premium TEFLs and everything in between. As long as you get something that’s accredited and backed up with good reviews, you should be good to go.
Choosing a TEFL provider
Here’s a quick list of what I feel are some of the best TEFL providers, although this is just a glimpse of what’s out there:
- iTTT TEFL has both in-person and online classes and is one of the most affordable yet reputable companies. Check out my detailed iTTT review of their course offerings for more info.
- PremierTEFL is another budget-friendly, quality pick that offers a wide range of online TEFL courses. They also frequently host giveaways and discounts so keep an eye on their Instagram and Facebook pages to catch a good deal.
- CIEE is a world leader in helping young adults and new grads study and work abroad. They offer only three certificates, but hold your hand through the entire process and even help you find a job after (they helped me apply to the EPIK program in Korea!)
- International TEFL Academy is consistently ranked as one of the top TEFL providers. It offers teachers job search assistance and valuable resources when it comes to choosing where to teach and where to learn. They offer online and in-person classes as well as specialty training programs.
- The TEFL Org is also a cheap TEFL provider known for consistent discounts. They’re based in the UK and offer a wide range of online and hybrid course options running from 20, 140, 150, 198 hours, and more.
Also be sure to review the additional TEFL benefits of each provider. Many offer services such as job hunt assistance, TEFL resources you can take with you, professional resume review, and more.
3. Kick butt and finish your course within 3 weeks to 6 months.
Now it’s time to take your TEFL course and begin to learn the essential tools needed in the world of EFL. But what do you learn in a TEFL course? Most TEFL programs cover these important topics:
- Classroom management
- Theories, methodologies, and styles of teaching
- Lesson planning and teaching activities that work
- Basic English grammar, parts of speech, and pronunciation
- Teacher-student evaluations and testing
- Some also cover large classroom teaching, techniques for teaching young learners or adults, etc.
4. Get your certificate and start applying for jobs!
Once you have your TEFL in hand, you’re ready to take on the world. Whether you’re dreaming of teaching English online or of teaching English abroad, I know without a doubt that this is about to be a new and exciting chapter for you!
If you’re still scratching your head wondering, but what is TEFL certification?! Comment below or reach out via email – I’m happy to help!
