Jess’s Experience with the 150 Hour Advanced Online TEFL Course
I first found out about UK-TEFL from my friends who had completed a course in preparation for when they went travelling. I was instantly interested in finding out more as before this, I had never heard of TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses, and I was definitely excited by the amazing opportunities that gaining a TEFL qualification could bring. I decided to take the 150 hour Advanced TEFL course, which is spread over 180 days and covers three specialised modules - the course is also accredited by TQUK.
If you’re reading this post to get a better overview of the course and its benefits to you, hopefully I can help! This course consisted of 10 parts and included 3 extra, specialist modules - Teaching Business English, Teaching with Limited Resources, and Teaching Young Learners. You can find the full extensive list of modules by clicking here.
I recently completed the course and found it really rewarding. Now, I have an internationally-recognised TEFL qualification, that won’t ever expire! My advice for anyone considering taking any TEFL course is do it!
With my TEFL certificate, I can now apply to teach English across the globe! There are excellent programmes and contracts in some beautiful locations, from Italy to Japan. If there is a country on your bucket list that you have always wanted to experience, there will be an opportunity for you. Beyond the cultural aspect, there’s also the knowledge that I could be changing someone's life by helping them learn English. Learning is so important to children, especially in lower-income areas and they need all the help they can get. Travelling and teaching English is going to be an adventure of a lifetime!
Below, I have listed some key information from the course that really stood out, which I found beneficial to my learning, and really helped me understand the course.
1. Quizzes
Within parts 1-9, there are multiple mini-quizzes after each topic to test your TEFL knowledge! I found this to be really helpful, as it highlighted my strengths and any potential weaknesses in certain areas. Don’t worry though, you are able to go back to previous topics if you think you need more time on a particular subject and are able to take the quizzes multiple times. The mini-quizzes range from 3-10 questions and the pass score is 75%.
2. Additional References
Each part contains lots of topics and TEFL-related information. However, there are ‘additional references’ attached to each one. This was really helpful when learning the material, as some documents, for example, included condensed notes of the topic which made revising the material a lot easier. There are also interactive activities that you need to complete, and these could also be used when it’s time to teach English as a foreign language in the classroom!
3. Videos
Throughout the course, there are many interactive YouTube videos which helped me to connect with the material, and gave me a much deeper understanding by watching examples being played out. I thought they were a great addition to the course as it breaks up the methods of learning. The videos are created by a trained TEFL teacher, and they break down the topics really well. Whenever I was unsure of a certain area the videos always helped with clarification.
4. Absolute TEFL
UK-TEFL also sells a textbook to accompany the courses and your learning. It’s called ‘Absolute TEFL: The Ultimate Guide to Teaching English as a Foreign Language’. It covers everything from how to teach different students to classroom management, and activities you can conduct! I found this to be another helpful way to learn about different grammar points, and a great tool to aid in becoming a great teacher.
It’s actually written by a trained TEFL teacher with many years of experience, therefore, all these methods have been used and perfected!
5. Time
You have plenty of time to complete the online course as it is self-paced, which made the course all that much more enjoyable! As I was not rushing to get it done whilst also having work and life commitments.
I hope this gives some insight into what doing an online, self-paced TEFL course is like! I truly believe that if you want to experience the world differently, or embark on an adventure, this is an excellent way to go about it. Many of the teaching opportunities allow for plenty of time to explore the country, and often cover your flights, accommodation, food, and more! The 150-hour TEFL course itself is well thought-out, takes into consideration different learning methods, and sparks your passion for teaching English. Additionally, if you are ever stuck or need absolutely any help, the UK-TEFL advisors and trainers are always on stand-by. They are knowledgeable, have a lot of experience in the area, and reply within 24 hours.
Good luck!
