Esl Hours

Before we go any further with this question, we first need to make an important distinction. Your number of teaching hours (known as contact hours) will not be the same as the number of hours you will be expected to actually be in school (known as contract hours). Most teaching jobs include admin duties on top of the actual teaching time. We also need to make it clear that different types of ESL teaching jobs have different typical classroom hours. Here we look at the three most common types of jobs available. In the majority of cases, overseas schools work normal office hours. This means that you should expect to be in school, Monday to Friday, from around 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This rough timetable adds up to around 40 hours per week. Of course, not all those hours will be...  [Read more]

In order to compare our range of TESOL courses with other qualifications we have developed our course-level framework which runs from level 3 to level 7. On this scale most employers will expect their job applicants to have completed a level 4 course as this includes at least 100 hours of course study. However, if you want to start your teaching journey further up the ladder, a level 5 course would put you in a level of certification that is above the average for TESOL qualified teachers worldwide. Unfortunately, there is no one single framework that represents the different levels of qualifications available within the world of ESL teaching. At ITTT we have developed our course-level framework using the same basic criteria as most other countries or organizations, i.e, what type of...  [Read more]

When looking for a teaching position, many teachers wonder if a 120-hour TESOL certificate is sufficient to teach in a classroom or online. It may appear that it is not enough time to become a competent teacher, but we assure you that it is possible. Most ESL employers and schools will require at least 120 hours of training before you can apply for teaching positions. Some employers may even require classroom experience in addition to the 120 hours of study. There are several TESOL courses that include this number of study hours as well as some level of classroom practice, making them ideal for jobs that require experience. A 120-hour TESOL course is a training program for English speakers who want to teach English abroad or online. The term "120 hours" refers to a 120-hour...  [Read more]

TESOL courses vary in length from a few hours over the weekend all the way to the pinnacle of educational certification, which is the doctorate level. Here we will briefly describe the different courses available, their content, and why you may wish to take them. Typical course duration: Five to fifteen hours Typical study components: An overview of TESOL. What a typical 120-hour certification involves. Employment opportunities by country. Introduction to teaching skills and language awareness. Use of certification: Can be used as ‘Continuing Professional Development’ (CPD) credit. Useful to get an idea of what TESOL involves without paying out for a full course. Typical course duration: Forty to sixty hours Typical study components: There are three generally recognized...  [Read more]

Even a quick bit of online research will reveal that there are many different options for TESOL certification, all with a varying number of study hours. Unfortunately, as each course provider is free to design their own courses, it can be hard to know which course is the right fit for you. A good place to start is to decide what you want to achieve with your TESOL qualification? Many people are drawn by the opportunity to spend time helping others by volunteering as an ESL teacher. In many countries there is a need for qualified teachers to provide English language instruction that will help disadvantaged people to find jobs within the tourism industry or other local businesses. The skills and knowledge necessary for this type of position are covered in short-format TESOL courses. A...  [Read more]

When it comes to choosing the best online TESOL certification course you need to consider all the main options, what you want the qualification for, and what you hope to achieve with it once certified. First we will look at all the main online course options. The different types of online courses are easily separated by the average number of hours they require to complete them. Weekend courses: These are often marketed as “taster courses” and are done mainly at weekends to give those who are already employed a chance to see what TESOL is about. Due to time constraints (they usually last about 10 hours in total) there is limited material covered in terms of teaching and learning, but they can be useful to help you decide if doing a full course would be worthwhile for you. Short...  [Read more]

The simple answer to this question is: Yes, a level 4 TESOL certificate is generally considered the minimum standard required to be eligible for the majority of good quality ESL teaching jobs worldwide. However, as it can be difficult to understand the different levels involved, we will first address how the levels are determined, the differences between each level and who each level is aimed at. Firstly, it is important to understand that there is not just one overall framework that is used to represent the different levels of TESOL certification. Some countries such as the USA, the UK, and Australia have their own system, as do other regions and organizations. However, whatever the framework, most are based on similar factors including the type of certification, the number of study...  [Read more]

In years gone by most training courses required attendance at some form of training center. However, since the explosion of the internet and the wide availability of internet connected devices, online training has gradually become more and more popular. These days online courses have largely become the norm in many fields and they have also become widely accepted by employers as a legitimate route towards qualification. Although there are a few areas where online courses might struggle to replicate their in-class equivalent, online courses are clearly here to stay. If you have made the decision to complete your TESOL training via an online course, the next decision is which one to choose? The first thing to remember is that TESOL courses are normally classified by the average number...  [Read more]

Acronyms associated with English language learners include ESL, EFL and ESOL. They all essentially mean the same thing in that these are learners of English, whose first or native language is not English. The teaching of these learners produces a new set of acronyms which have ‘Teaching’ at the start. Hence we have TESL, TEFL and TESOL for the teaching acronyms. Most employers around the world require some form of teaching certification for you to be employed as a teacher. This is true of both government based schools, private language centers and many online teaching companies. There are three general routes to this type of certification, which are; These are taken at some location in the world, typically in a country where English is not the native language. They often require...  [Read more]

TESOL certification is a vital credential for those looking to teach the English language, as it is a prerequisite for most teaching positions. Yet, with no standardized regulations overseeing TESOL certification, choosing the right course can become a daunting task. Any online search will unveil a myriad of options, each varying in study duration and cost, adding layers of complexity to the decision-making process. A practical way to differentiate TESOL certification courses is by the average number of study hours they offer, often highlighted in the course title. On the shorter end, you will find economical courses that can be wrapped up in as little as 20 hours. While these might seem attractive due to their quick turnaround, they often fall short for many mainstream TESOL...  [Read more]

You may or may not be aware that TESOL courses are often assigned to a certain level that reflects their position in the global scheme of ESL teacher training. Thanks to this classification it is much easier for teachers to compare all the options available to them and hopefully pick the best one to suit their personal situation. However, it is also necessary to know that there is not one set of TESOL course levels to be aware of as many countries and teaching organizations use their own system when setting course levels. While this might seem a little confusing, the good news is that they are all generally designed using the same criteria and are usually very similar. The main areas that are used to decide the level of a course include the type of study involved, the number of study...  [Read more]

All TESOL courses provided by ITTT, and most other course providers, are separated into individual sections or modules in order to make the content easier to digest and to retain after the course is complete. Each course contains multiple modules covering all the most important areas of English language teaching, including various grammar points, a range of classroom skills, and lesson planning strategies, to name just a few. This course design should allow you to work through the materials smoothly and ensure that most of the information covered is still fresh in your mind when you start your first day in your first ESL teaching job. However, as most TESOL course providers, including ITTT, offer many different course options to suit various personal goals and scenarios, there is no...  [Read more]

The simple convenience of online study means that more and more people are now choosing online TESOL courses compared to in-class TESOL courses. As online courses are flexible in terms of when and how much you choose to study, they can easily be fitted around other existing commitments such as work, study, or family. And of course, all the study can be done without having to leave the house. The financial benefits of online study are also a major factor in their popularity, as they are significantly cheaper than an in-class alternative. Essentially, online TESOL certificate courses offer an affordable way to gain the qualifications you need. TESOL courses from different providers vary considerably in length, difficulty, and price, which makes this hard to answer. At the low end of...  [Read more]

This is actually an easy question to answer. A level 4 TESOL is certainly a good qualification to have for anyone who wants to teach English as it is generally seen as the starting point for new teachers entering into the world of teaching online or overseas. With a TESOL level 4 certificate you will be able to confidently apply for a wide range of ESL jobs knowing you have a high enough qualification to satisfy the majority of schools, language centers, and online platforms. The different levels of TESOL are designed to rank the many courses available into an easy to understand pyramid of qualifications. Potential teachers, and those with previous experience can use the table to compare their options and to make an informed decision on which courses are best suited to them and their...  [Read more]

Around the world there are a large number of countries and individual cities where the market for TESOL qualified teachers is particularly strong. In these areas it is common to find that the best jobs are oversubscribed with applicants, seriously reducing your chances of getting the jobs you really want. One of the best ways to combat this competition for jobs is to complete a higher level of training than the majority of the other contenders. Firstly, it is important to point out that there is no universal course level framework that covers the whole of the ESL teaching community. Many countries such as the USA, the UK, and Australia have designed their own unique systems, as have many other teaching related organizations and TESOL course providers. However, all of these...  [Read more]

Do you want to teach English, but are not sure if a TESOL certificate will be enough to get you where you want to go? The good news is, most countries do not require a teaching license to teach English, a TESOL certificate is usually enough. In some cases, a bachelor's degree might also be a requirement, but there are many places where this is not an issue. With a quality TESOL certificate from ITTT, you will be able to get ESL teaching jobs in most places around the world. While year-long training and a teaching license is typically required to become a standard teacher in most countries, it is incredibly easy to become a teacher for English as a foreign language in many countries around the world. With a TESOL certificate you can start a career in teaching English in many places,...  [Read more]

While English is commonly taught in schools across Russia, the standard of teaching is generally quite low. Due to this poor standard, many Russians choose to learn English once they have left school as a way to improve their job prospects. Many parents also send their children for private lessons outside of school hours. This high demand means there are job opportunities in most parts of the country, although the biggest markets are found in Moscow and St. Petersburg. As Russia is so vast in size, salaries can be very different in different parts of the country. Private language schools offer the majority of teaching jobs and these usually pay an hourly rate which typically equates to around $650 per month for a newly qualified teacher. If you have previous experience you can expect...  [Read more]

This common question is not easy to answer as it depends on the individual TESOL course you decide to sign up for. There are many different options to choose from, whether it is an online course, an in-class course, or a course that blends the two study methods. Each study method has a variety of courses and each one comes with its own average completion time. By choosing ITTT as your TESOL course provider you will have access to a wide range of courses with varying lengths, level of difficulty, and study method, which means you should certainly find something to suit your individual situation. In general, TESOL courses are classified by how many hours they take to complete on average. A quick online search will reveal a wide range of courses starting from around 50 hours or even...  [Read more]

Distance learning has become an increasingly popular form of study in many fields of education and ESL teaching is no exception. To ensure we continue to provide a high level of convenience and affordability we regularly add new course options to our online range. Our 120-hour online TESOL course covers virtually all the same theory subjects as our in-class TESOL course. The main difference between the two course options is observed teaching practice (OTP). During an in-class course trainees get to spend many hours practicing their teaching in a real classroom under the guidance of experienced teacher trainers. Because of this practical experience, in-class TESOL courses are generally seen as superior to courses that do not provide any practical training. However, while our in-class...  [Read more]

The timeline for becoming an ESL teacher will vary for each individual person. However, the journey always starts with a TESOL certification course that provides all the knowledge needed to plan and deliver high-quality lessons in whatever type of classroom you end up working in. Which type of TESOL course you choose to complete will have a big say in how long it will take you to become an ESL teacher. TESOL courses are usually classified by the average number of hours they take to complete, with some being as little as 50 hours or less. These short-format courses offer the chance to get a qualification very quickly, however, they might not be the best approach if you want to have a wide choice of well paid jobs to choose from. Generally speaking, employers of ESL teachers expect to...  [Read more]