Deep-Dive into Teaching English as a Foreign Language
What is TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)?
An internationally recognised accreditation which certifies that an individual is qualified to teach English as a foreign language. Almost every teaching job abroad requires a minimum of a 120 hour TEFL course, this is an important first step to take before teaching English abroad or online.
Taking an online TEFL course is convenient and a flexible way to earn a TEFL certification. You are able to complete your course from the comfort of your own home or from anywhere in the world!
Definitions to bear in mind:
TEFL - Teaching English as Foreign Language
EFL - English as a Foreign Language
TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language
TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
CELTA - Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
The first 4 are used interchangeably, so don’t be confused! Essentially these courses allow you to become qualified in teaching English as a second language. Whether that’s across the world, online, or to students who move to English speaking countries.
CELTA, on the other hand, is similar to TEFL. However, it is a specific brand operating under Cambridge University. This course is usually taught full-time over 4 weeks or part-time over 6 months.
What do you learn in a TEFL course?
Language Skills - Teach the five major elements of language learning: reading, writing, speaking, listening and pronunciation.
Grammar - Simplify complex English grammar concepts for English Language Learners.
Lesson Planning - Plan and deliver effective lessons that meet class learning objectives and promote productive learning.
Classroom Management - Manage your classroom and student behaviour to create a welcoming and safe learning environment.
Identify Learning Styles - Identify different learning styles and adapt lessons to suit students and their needs.
Build Effective Learning Materials - Find, adapt and personalise a wide variety of text-based and digital materials for use in the classroom.
Why is an online TEFL course beneficial?
Convenient
Cover the same material as in-person TEFL courses
Self-paced
Affordable
Your TEFL certificate does not expire
Gives you confidence
Learn the theory behind TEFL
Opportunity to travel
Allows you to volunteer/help the community
Boost’s your chances of getting a better-paid job
Connect with a whole community of Expats on your adventure
With UK-TEFL you have access to real-life advisors and tutors to help you along the way.
Things that shouldn’t defer you from TEFL!
Not a native English speaker - As long as you can fluently speak English this course will still aid you in teaching English abroad. Research is everything and you just have to take extra care when applying to jobs. Use the fact that English is your second language as an advantageous tool.
No degree - There are so many jobs available across the world that do not require you to have a degree! On the downside, you might have to search a bit harder, however, we post great job listings to help you with this.
Too old - No one is ever too old to have the adventure of a lifetime! People of all ages study and teach TEFL every day.
No teaching experience - You don’t need it! This course is specialised in helping you gain confidence to be ready to teach, as well as providing you with teaching materials to do so. Many jobs don’t ask for previous experience either.
Accreditation
Accreditation is super important because without it there is no confirmation that your course has been externally assessed and meets all the guidelines. Don’t waste your money and time on a course that may not even be accepted internationally.
Remember, look for government or government-related bodies, such as Ofqual! Which is who UK-TEFL’s accreditors, TQUK, are regulated by.
Specialist courses
Once you have completed your TEFL course, there is the option to specialise in a specific area. This will ultimately lead you to even better-paid jobs and a larger variety of opportunities.
Luckily for you, UK-TEFL has 3 specialist modules (also the most popular subjects) which you can add to your course at any time: Teaching Business English, Teaching with Limited Resources, and Teaching Young Learners.
