Which TEFL course should I take?
The first step in your journey to teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is to get yourself TEFL certified. Whilst you don’t always need a degree or teaching experience to teach English abroad, any employer worth their salt should ask for TEFL certification.
TEFL certification is a globally recognised standard with regard to teaching English to non-native speakers.
It’s also sometimes known as TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). The difference between the two is that with TEFL, you’d be teaching English to students abroad. The term TESOL is often used when referring to teaching English in an English-speaking country to non-native speakers. Generally speaking though, the two acronyms are interchangeable.
So now we’ve got that cleared up, you’re probably wondering which TEFL course is right for you. There are several different TEFL courses, all varying in length, and suitable for various purposes. We’ll talk about each of the TEFL courses we provide here, and hopefully by the end of this post, you’ll know which course to apply for.
Which TEFL course is right for me?
Just because you speak English, doesn’t mean you’ve got the first clue about how to teach it, right? That’s the purpose of TEFL courses – to show you how to impart your wisdom to others!
All our courses will discuss the structure of the English language, phonics, how to plan a lesson, second language acquisition, curriculum development, and classroom management. You’ll feel more organised, confident, and make a better impression on your students and employers. But how do you know which course to choose?
Firstly, it’s important to note that when employers ask for TEFL certification, they usually mean that you should have completed a course that is at least 120 hours in length. This tends to be the minimum number of hours most employers will consider.
Secondly, you should always check that the TEFL course is properly accredited and recognised before you apply. Check for reviews and verify them externally by finding out if the certificate can be legalized for use with international job applications.
You can rest assured that all TEFL UK courses meet professional industry standards for quality and education. All of our courses are accredited by Accreditat, an industry-leading regulator for education and training. We are also on the UK Register of Learning Providers, an approved TQUK centre and UK government recognised. This means that your certificate will be accepted by employers all over the world.
Now that’s the basics covered, let's discuss each of our TEFL courses, and the type of person each one would be most suitable for.
120hr Professional TEFL
The 120-hour Professional TEFL course is the one that we recommend to most applicants who are ready to embark on their journey as a teacher of English as a foreign language. It’s perfect for both first time teachers and those who are more experienced and looking to gain an additional qualification.
140hr Combined TEFL
If you’d like all of the benefits of the 120-hour course, but with some real classroom experience thrown in to put your theory into practice, the 140-hour course is for you. This TEFL course will allow you to practise teaching and improve your skills.
150hr Advanced TEFL
This course is a great option for those who want to gain an in-depth understanding of TEFL across a variety of contexts.
Included within the curriculum for this course are teaching for International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English as a Foreign Language, (TOEFL), and Business English.
170hr Combined TEFL
The 170-hour course combines our popular 150-hour advanced course with 20 hours of in-class practical teaching. This additional element of the 170-hour combined TEFL certification enables you to practice what you’ve learnt in theory with real students.
220hr Specialist TEFL
Ideal for those who wish to teach across a broad range of settings, the 220-hour Specialist TEFL course includes teaching for Young Learners, Exam Classes, and Business English. You'll learn proven techniques that will inspire and motivate your pupils.
240hr Combined TEFL
Perfect for those who are interested in a fulfilling career as a TEFL instructor either overseas or online. The 240-hour Combined TEFL course will show you how to teach a diverse range of students, how to make the most of your teaching resources, and how to prepare efficiently.
70hr Business English
If you're contemplating a career in the profitable corporate training sector, this Teaching Business English course will give you all the skills you'll need. This is the course to take if you’d like to top up your TEFL qualification or teach Business English to adults.
20hr How To Teach Grammar Course
If you’ve completed your TEFL qualification but you’re still grappling with grammar, you’re not alone! Grammar is one of the trickiest things to teach as an English teacher and lots of people struggle with it. This 20-hour course will refresh your knowledge of English grammar, helping you to understand the various approaches for teaching grammar effectively.
20hr Teaching English Online Course
If you’re interested in teaching English online, this course is a great addition to the 120-hour TEFL course. It will help to prepare you for a career as a virtual TEFL teacher.
20hr Teaching Practicum
Have you already completed the 120-hour TEFL course, but would feel better embarking on your journey with some practical teaching experience under your belt? Then this course was made for you!
This course allows you to gain real-world teaching practice before you apply for a paid teaching job. Great for those who’d like to develop their practical teaching skills - and the 20 hours of teaching practice on your TEFL certificate will look good, too!
Contact us today
No matter which of our TEFL courses you end up taking, you’ll be feeling confident, organised, and ready to teach in no time. Which is great, as all our TEFL courses come with a free job placement service.
If you’re still struggling to choose which TEFL course to take after reading this post, give us a call for advice on 0800 368 9848 or send us an email at [email protected].
Previously: Will my TEFL certificate expire?