| With the growing popularity and importance of TEFL | | | | choosing can be tricky. Larger, well known and long |
| training around the globe, courses have become more | | | | established companies are a better bet as they will |
| and more accessible. TEFL specific training institutes | | | | have a wider and better knowledge of the TEFL |
| and language schools are no longer the only places to | | | | market, and they're more likely to have better |
| get qualified, shorter options such as weekend and | | | | international credentials! Training centres will be dotted |
| online courses are now available from both TEFL | | | | all over your country of residence so finding one close |
| schools and travel companies. TEFL is also a growing | | | | to you shouldn't be too much of a problem. |
| presence in higher education, many universities offer | | | | Longer courses |
| language teaching and speaking certification courses | | | | If you're planning on making teaching English abroad |
| for use both within degrees and as a separate | | | | your career it's highly advisable that you look at doing |
| qualification. With so many different ways to get a | | | | a much more in depth course. Though weekend |
| TEFL qualification you might feel spoilt for choice, you'll | | | | courses will be sufficient it is true that the longer the |
| also have the opportunity to choose the type of | | | | course, the more you will have time to cover. A career |
| course that will suit you best! | | | | as an English teacher abroad could span several |
| Online courses | | | | years and is certainly worth the investment of a |
| Due to a high demand for both English and teaching | | | | course that will give you the maximum preparation. |
| qualifications, courses have also become more flexible. | | | | Courses spanning 4 weeks or longer certainly seem a |
| Online courses come in all shapes and sizes; anything | | | | lot tougher than 120 hours but are a great way of |
| from 40 hours to 120 hours depending on how in depth | | | | perfecting the central points of English teaching. You'll |
| you'd like your course to be. Online courses offer the | | | | have the chance to practice over a longer period of |
| chance to work at your own pace and make it | | | | time and build up some real classroom confidence and |
| possible to get your qualification anywhere you can | | | | to gain experience working with other TEFL teachers. |
| plug in, one of the best elements of distance learning. | | | | The most widely recognised qualifications, both |
| Courses can be more cost effective too; if you're | | | | nationally and internationally, are the Cambridge |
| planning on teaching for just a few weeks then a short | | | | CELTA (Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults) |
| online course may be all you need to see you through. | | | | and Trinity CertTESOL (Teaching English to Speakers |
| Most courses offer a combination of video tutorials | | | | of Other Languages). These are available not only |
| and the support of online tutors, but it is largely a more | | | | from their host universities but at several other |
| independent option, it's best to find out just how much | | | | universities and academic institutions. Eslbase has a |
| support you can expect from the provider to ensure | | | | comprehensive list of worldwide locations to study for |
| it's enough for you. It's also a good idea to check out | | | | both CELTA and TESOL qualifications, a degree is not |
| the company's credentials and make sure the course | | | | necessary to be eligible to do either though it may be |
| is internationally accredited; some schools can be quite | | | | an additional requirement depending on the school and |
| strict and will only accept certificates endorsed by | | | | the visa regulations of the country you're going to. |
| certain bodies; mainly the ODLQC (the Open Distance | | | | Further education |
| Learning Quality Council), the SQMS (Scottish Quality | | | | Some institutions, especially those in America will |
| Management System) and ACCET (Accrediting | | | | require a full teaching qualification. Part of the gradual |
| Council for Continuing Education and Training). | | | | professionalization of the ESL market, a year long |
| Weekend courses | | | | teaching course will prepare you for a lifelong career |
| A weekend course will give you that face to face | | | | as a fully fledged teacher. You'll be taught the ins and |
| experience that it's hard to have with your computer | | | | outs of theory, classroom methods and lesson planning |
| screen. Minimal courses will give you the chance to get | | | | in a combination of placements and coursework as |
| TEFL qualified is just two days, as well as the | | | | you would for any other subject. This is a great |
| opportunity to practice teaching in a classroom | | | | opportunity to get completely qualified and get some |
| environment. Working with experienced tutors and | | | | experience of being a teacher for a full term. It will also |
| other TEFL learners is a more sociable as well as | | | | open up a lot more doors for you overseas; some |
| more structured way of doing things. Longer courses | | | | countries have stricter entry requirements and a |
| of 100 hours or more will give you a higher level of | | | | shinning CV will put you in good stead. |
| detail; there is still a great deal of emphasis on theory | | | | Generally you'll only need a further education teaching |
| but the main focus of a weekend course is how this | | | | qualification such as a PGCE (Post Graduate |
| will be translated into teaching. Knowing your subject is | | | | Certificate in Education) if you want to teach in the |
| a great quality in a teacher, but it's not the only one | | | | USA or at upper secondary school and university level. |
| necessary to make a really good teacher. Delivery | | | | As it is a post graduate qualification you will need a |
| and teaching performance are developed further in | | | | degree first and you will need to study for it at a |
| weekend sessions as tutors are on hand to offer | | | | university. The main language specific teaching |
| advice and show you how it's done, giving you the | | | | qualification is the PGCE ESOL (it becomes TESOL |
| chance to develop your own teaching style before | | | | when you're done), available around the world. |
| you get there. There are more TEFL organisations | | | | Cambridge and Trinity certified courses are also |
| than you can shake a certificate at world wide so | | | | available at a wide range of academic institutions. |