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TEFL - FAQs
Here at TEFL International, we will do everything we can to make your whole TEFL experience as straight forward and rewarding as possible. If you have any queries regarding our TEFL courses, please see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section below. For information on TEFL and TESOL courses, as well as answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding TEFL programs, all can be found here at teflcourse.net. This is a valuable resource for any budding TEFL or TESOL teacher, as all the information one needs to gain access to TEFL courses and TEFL job opportunities around the world can be found here. Our FAQs should clear up most inquiries; however, if you have any other queries regarding our TEFL or TESOL courses, please do not hesitate to contact us at TEFL International by submitting your queries using the form provided at the bottom of this page.
Your TEFL questions answered
TEFL International is dedicated to assisting you throughout your TEFL studentship and to providing you with a means of support during your ensuing teaching career. Our TEFL FAQs are designed to help you make the best decisions when it comes to selecting from our wide range of TEFL courses. What's more, we have received a large amount of positive feedback on teflcourse.net, and are confident that our FAQs will succeed in clearing up most of your uncertainties. Deciding to train for a TEFL qualification and choosing your course location are not necessarily easy to do; in fact, many of our applicants have similar doubts. This is why our FAQs are so helpful for people who are considering taking a TEFL course to teach English overseas. Visit our FAQ section to calm your uncertainties - and to help you proceed to the application process.
1. What is the difference between TESOL
and TEFL?
For all intents and purposes the terms mean the same with TESOL being more common in America and with large state sector colleges in Britain (e.g. the Institute of Education in London) while TEFL is more common in U.K. Language Schools and in the U.K. press. There is a slight technical difference since TESOL refers to all learners whose first language is not English, including ethnic minorities living in English speaking countries whereas TEFL refers only to "foreign" students.
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2. There are so many teacher-training
courses advertised. How do I know which to apply for?
There are many good schools out there. Many are professionally managed and have qualified, competent teachers. There are many organizations offering one or two week introductory courses perhaps with the offer of job placements afterwards. These certainly give you a "taster" of TESOL/TEFL and some of these are very professionally conducted courses.
But, if you seriously want to become an ESOL/EFL teacher and look for different job opportunities, you are going to need a recognized certificate qualification validated by an external examination board.
TEFL International is externally validated and moderated by a Board of Academic Advisors. This board includes several internationally recognized experts in the field of English Teaching as well as dozens of local English School managers around the world. TEFL International also voluntarily complies with the standards of the British Association of TESOL Qualifying Institutions (BATQI).
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3. I've heard that these courses are
really tough. Can I really make it through?
There is no way around it our course contains a great deal of content that needs to be covered in only four weeks. Yet the educational philosophy of those providing the course can make a huge difference. We believe in a mentoring, nurturing environment and we do everything we can to help our trainee teachers pass the course.
TEFL International courses encourage all native English speakers (or those with near-native abilities) to attend.
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4. What is the difference between the
TEFL International TESOL Certificate, the Trinity TESOL certificate
and the Cambridge/RSA Certificate (CELTA)?
TEFL International began as a Trinity course, and was one of the largest and most popular Trinity courses until December of 1999. As a result, the course content of the Trinity and TEFL International courses are quite similar.
Most importantly, all three are monitored by external examiners that visit each course at least once during each course. These external moderators set these three certificate courses apart from all others.
However, there are a few areas in which we feel the TEFL International certificate and the Trinity College London certificate course hold an advantage. The UCLES/RSA Certificate is specifically designed for teaching groups of adults (hence the "A" at the end of "CELTA"). On the other hand, the TEFL International and the Trinity College Certificate provide for the teaching of younger learners as well as adults; one-to-one students as well as groups/classes of students. In summary, the TEFL International course gives you the following benefits:
one-to-one meetings with learners of English as well as with a variety of larger class sizes; experience being a learner of an unfamiliar language in order to encourage you to think about the problems facing students of a new language; the opportunity to create your own teaching material as a form of practical project which you can take away and use in your future teaching career; experience with younger learners as well as with adults.
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5. Why should I take a TEFL International
course?
There are several reasons why you should take the TEFL International TESOL certificate course:
TEFL International trainers make every effort to get you through the TESOL certificate course.
The TEFL International certificate is an international certificate, accepted worldwide.
TEFL International courses conveniently include course fees and accommodations into one very affordable package. In taking the course in an international location, you will have a great advantage in finding jobs in those same exotic locals! TEFL International is much more involved in your job search than other course providers. Our Alumni Job Page gives you direct access to hundreds of course alumni-teachers currently teaching in schools from Thailand to Turkey! Each center is an area expert, with extensive contacts within the country.
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6. What are the requirements for getting
on to the Certificate course? How do I know if I am suitable? What
kind of people will be on the course besides myself? Am I too old?
What is the success rate and how many people fail?
A lot of questions but all interrelated. We find that courses tend to be taken up by a wide variety of people from different backgrounds. For example, we have a lot of trainees in their early twenties who are recent graduates and want to travel overseas but we also have people in their thirties and forties who either want a career change or who simply want to live overseas. In addition, we have trainees either approaching or in retirement who are looking for something useful to do with their free time.
As far as entrance requirements are concerned, if you are to be a teacher of English, a high standard of both spoken and written English is required. By this is meant your use of English, not necessarily your knowledge of grammatical terminology: you will cover language awareness on the course itself.
As the four week course is fairly intensive, you should be prepared to work to the best of your abilities and make as much of your time available for the course as possible.
If you are a person of "more mature years" or a senior citizen, do not let this in itself put you off from applying. Providing you are receptive to new ideas, you should have no problems at all.
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7. Do I need knowledge of other languages?
Quite simply: No. TEFL International uses the international standard communicative approach to teaching, where English is the only language used in the classroom.
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8. Is there an age limit?
Whilst there is no official upper age limit, you must be at least 18 years of age for your application to be considered. We have successfully trained (and found employment for) graduates of all ages.
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9. When is the best time to do a course?
There is really no best or worst time. Jobs are available year round with academic terms varying from continent to continent.
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10. What are the chances of finding
a job after the course? Does TEFL International help with this?
The chances of finding a job after the course are excellent. Most of our trainees have received a number job offers before they graduating from the course. TEFL International will assist at all stages of the job search from putting a CV/resume together to interview techniques to arranging interviews.
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