| There are basically two types of initial TEFL training - | | | | The courses feature assessed teaching practices and |
| taking a weekend certificate course plus optional | | | | a short written examination at the end. Whilst it is still |
| add-on modules or taking a longer intensive 4-week | | | | possible to pass this type of course if you fail one or |
| course. After qualifying and gaining at least one year's | | | | two teaching practice assessments, you will still have |
| (preferably two years') experience, you will have the | | | | to satisfy an external moderator or examiner of your |
| chance to extend your qualifications by taking a | | | | suitability to teach at the end of the course. As in the |
| diploma course. There are also online TEFL courses, | | | | weekend course, the majority of trainees pass, and |
| but these are not discussed here. Please search on | | | | one reason for this is that they have to pass a |
| the main menu for information about these. Below are | | | | suitability interview before being accepted onto the |
| some typical details about each type of face-to-face | | | | course in the first place. |
| TEFL course to help you understand the comparison | | | | A language school will have very similar expectations |
| more fully. | | | | for people who had either type of training. Schools |
| 20-hour Weekend Certificate courses | | | | realise that this type of training will be enhanced by the |
| - Great if you want to travel on a gap year to teach | | | | actual practice of teaching classes on a regular basis. |
| abroad. | | | | They are very likely to offer a good level of support |
| - Helpful if you aren't sure how much of your life you | | | | to the novice teacher. The price and time commitment |
| want to commit to TEFL teaching | | | | required is considerably higher than weekend courses, |
| - A good taster to give you an idea if are suited to | | | | but you will have the opportunity to teach real |
| teaching. | | | | language students as part of the training and you will |
| - Represent superb value for money and a relatively | | | | be expected to complete a total of 6 hours of |
| short time investment | | | | teaching practice prior to qualification. |
| A school expects a teacher with this qualification to: | | | | Cambridge RSA DELTA and Trinity Licentiate Diploma |
| - Need some support in their first job | | | | in TESOL |
| - Be able to plan lessons on their own after some initial | | | | - Great if you have several years of TEFL teaching |
| help in the first few weeks | | | | under your belt and you want to further your career, |
| - Deliver fun, interesting and informative lessons | | | | perhaps aiming to earn promotion or take on more |
| However, they don't expect you to know everything | | | | responsibility at work. |
| and will probably be very understanding if you make | | | | - Helpful for honing your teaching skills further and |
| mistakes initially. | | | | gaining much greater insight into why you do what you |
| Many schools abroad and some in the UK accept | | | | do as a teacher. |
| teachers with this type of training. Various agencies, | | | | - Knowledge, understanding, and competency level is |
| for example Cactus or i-to-i [see below] offer training | | | | expected to be much greater. A diploma teacher |
| courses and can find teaching placements abroad for | | | | should be capable of taking some responsibility at the |
| you. Some of these schools will also ask that you | | | | school and is expected to produce well-designed and |
| have a Bachelor's degree in any subject, but many | | | | effective lessons as a matter of course. |
| well accept teachers who have no additional | | | | In the UK and abroad, schools with British Council |
| qualification. | | | | accreditation are required to have a certain proportion |
| There is no formal exam at the end, but it is still | | | | of Diploma-qualified teachers on their permanent staff. |
| possible to fail this type of course depending on the | | | | You may like to follow the link below to learn more |
| tutor's assessment of your capability and suitability. | | | | about this process. |
| Assuming you pass, you will have a good launch pad | | | | Passing at Diploma level isn't straightforward, so the |
| from which to start teaching and you will gain | | | | failure rate is far higher than at certificate level, but |
| experience very quickly in your first job. | | | | many teachers do manage to pass first time around! |
| Course content includes all the basics on a Trinity or | | | | There are assessed and observed lessons to be |
| Cambridge Certificate course (see below) but in slightly | | | | taught, plus assignments and written examinations to |
| less detail. All lesson teaching and observation tends to | | | | do. Some teachers choose to do their Diploma |
| be done with peers rather than with foreign students. In | | | | part-time or by distance, alongside a regular teaching |
| addition, time constraints mean that you will probably | | | | job. This is a very helpful way of charting your |
| finish the course without having taught a whole lesson. | | | | progress, as you are working with your normal classes |
| All the same, you will have had several opportunities to | | | | as part of the process. It may take the best part of a |
| stand in front of others and present some new | | | | year to become qualified in this way or you could |
| language to the class. You are likely to get some | | | | search for an intensive 10-week course and do it |
| practice at organising the class and setting up activities. | | | | full-time. A typical language school obviously has much |
| Many tutees decide to take extra qualifications | | | | greater expectations of a Diploma-qualified teacher. |
| alongside a practical weekend training course. In fact, | | | | A lesson attaining diploma level should feature the |
| companies such as i-to-i offer further certificates in a | | | | following attributes: |
| variety of subjects such as grammar, teaching large | | | | - have very clear aims and objectives, both overall and |
| classes, teaching with limited materials and so on. | | | | stage-by-stage |
| Is it worth it? Yes - many people gain enough insight | | | | - be timed reasonably accurately so that stages are |
| into the teaching process to lead happy and | | | | not missed unless it is justifiable |
| successful lives as TEFL teachers, especially abroad, | | | | - include features of pronunciation training being clearly |
| following this type of course. | | | | demonstrated and understood |
| 4 or 5-week certificate courses (Cambridge CELTA | | | | - have motivating, engaging and interesting materials |
| or Trinity Certificate in TESOL) | | | | - be very communicative and interactive |
| - Great if you want to find a more permanent job | | | | - ensure plenty of productive Student Talking Time |
| teaching in the UK or worldwide | | | | with appropriate correction techniques |
| - Helpful for those who feel more certain that TEFL | | | | - be appropriately self-evaluated by the teacher |
| teaching is a career they want to pursue. | | | | afterwards to demonstrate an understanding of the |
| - Represent a greater financial and time commitment, | | | | learning that occurred and why any problems may |
| but give an excellent grounding for someone who is | | | | have been encountered. |
| serious about TEFL teaching as a longer-term career | | | | Is it worth doing a Diploma? If you are serious about |
| move. | | | | teaching longer term and want a greater chance of |
| A number of schools abroad and every British | | | | promotion or job security, then the answer is a |
| Council-accredited school in the UK require one of | | | | resounding "yes". Doing a Diploma is hard work, but |
| these certificates in order to take on contracted staff. | | | | very interesting. It will help the experienced teacher to |
| As above, some of these schools will also ask that | | | | shake off any unhelpful habits they may have acquired |
| you have a Bachelor's degree in any subject, but | | | | since initial TEFL training and will bring new confidence |
| many will accept teachers who have no additional | | | | and assurance to their teaching style. |
| qualification. | | | | |