| The various types of TEFL Certification available | | | | course when actually teaching. The most popular |
| make it important to research all possible options | | | | locations for TEFL certification are Thailand, Spain, Italy |
| before learning to teach English as a second language. | | | | and Costa Rica. |
| As there are many types of courses available you | | | | Another option is TEFL certification online. The main |
| can usually find one that will suit both your timing and | | | | advantage of this type of course is its flexibility and |
| the method that you prefer for instruction. In the past | | | | price. The course can be taken from pretty much |
| there have been two options when it comes to taking | | | | anywhere with a pc and can be completed at a self |
| a TEFL course, the first is classroom style and the | | | | dictated pace. The course can be completed in |
| second is an online course. Currently, about 30,000 | | | | anything from 2 weeks to 6 months depending on the |
| people per year become TEFL certified with 5,000 | | | | time that you have available. Not having to attend a |
| completing in-class courses and 25,000 completing | | | | training centre overseas for 4 weeks obviously makes |
| online courses. | | | | this type of course a much cheaper option. |
| There are a number of options in terms of TEFL | | | | One further option is a Combined TEFL course. This is |
| certification. The training methods vary due to the | | | | a combination of the two methods above. Trainees |
| nature of the course itself, the main difference being | | | | complete the online TEFL certification course and then |
| the method of course delivery. An in-class 4 week | | | | attend a training centre for two weeks for further |
| course is face to face where trainees are taught | | | | training and teaching practice. This is a good option for |
| along with their peers and includes the very important | | | | those that do not perform to their full potential in |
| component of teaching practice with real students of | | | | intensive environments. The teaching practice |
| English. By Contrast, an online course is by nature | | | | component of the combined course is offered in four |
| completed independently with the support of an online | | | | locations: Thailand, Italy, Spain and the USA. |
| tutor either via email or chat. Although an online course | | | | The quality of training and certification received when |
| is a convenient option in terms of cost and accessibility, | | | | completing a TEFL course relates to the time involved |
| the draw back is that no teaching practice can be | | | | in training and the amount of teaching practice hours |
| completed due the course being online. Instead, a CD | | | | completed. The 4 week in class TEFL course and the |
| of teachers teaching are viewed and commented on. | | | | combined TEFL course involves approximately 130 hrs |
| Typically, a TEFL certification course is 4 weeks long | | | | of training and 6 to 10 hrs of teaching practice. The |
| and is more than often completed in the country | | | | industry standard recommendation for an in-class |
| where you plan to teach English. The course is fairly | | | | course is 6 hrs of teaching practice. The online course |
| intensive and is designed to give a sound foundation | | | | involves 100 hrs of training and post course options for |
| and introduction to teaching English as well as teaching | | | | in class components of teaching practice either locally |
| practice with actual students of English. Teaching skills, | | | | or abroad. |
| knowledge and experience are improved after the | | | | |