Internationally Accredited Tefl Courses

Within the world of ESL teaching there is little in the way of common regulation so course providers are free to offer whatever courses they wish. For the trainee, this can make it difficult to know which courses are the best and which are best left alone. On the positive side, there is something you can do to check the overall quality of the course and its contents. If the course you are interested in has been accredited by an independent body then it is fair to assume that it will be of reasonable quality. Put simply, an accrediting body is an independent third party who reviews the standards of a course provider and gives them their accreditation if they are satisfied with the results of that review. By visiting a course providers website it should be easy to find any...  [Read more]

  The certificates gained by completing a training course with ITTT are the only 100% online TEFL/TESOL certificates available that are validated, accredited and credit bearing from an internationally-recognized university. The higher education institute known as the Paris University of International Education is recognized as degree-granting by the Paris Academy. The Rectorate of the Paris Academy is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Education and Youth and Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. The credits earned from PUIE have been transferred successfully to universities all over the world. In the US, credit evaluation services consider PUIE to be in the same bracket as a US regionally-accredited university. Paris University of International...  [Read more]

In this video collection you will find a summary of the most important acronyms and abbreviations in the ESL teaching sector. Make a great first impression at your new teaching job by familiarizing yourself with these terms.  [Read more]

Our helpful infographics should help you to prepare for your new TEFL adventure. Where are the highest salaries? What are some “Do’s and Don’ts” when teaching in Asia? What games can I use in the classroom? Our infographics will help you with these questions and more.  [Read more]

No matter what kind of educational background you have, getting your first taste of the professional world of TESOL is crucial for success as an English teacher abroad or online. As there is currently no international regulating body for TESOL/TESL/TEFL training programs, international standards for teaching certifications vary from provider to provider. Courses differ in their subject matter and amount of study hours required. Therefore, you need to do your own research in finding the best course providers out there. To begin, there are two major areas to consider when looking for a TESOL school: Next, take the study hours into consideration. TESOL course accreditation requires a minimum of 100 hours of study. TESOL training courses that are less than 100 hours will not provide you...  [Read more]

Our grammar expert Linda takes a look at the correct pronunciation of a range of English words that are often confusing for students. Our Ask Linda series is frequently updated so make sure you check for new additions on a regular basis.  [Read more]

The first steps on the journey towards a career in teaching English abroad is by training for and receiving TESOL certification. Employers all over the world will require you to have this, or a similar qualification that must be internationally recognized. The qualification must usually include either an online course of 100-hours or more, which covers all areas of teaching including what to expect and plan for in a classroom; a combined course with 120 hours of training, including 6-hours of teaching practice; or a 120-hour in-class course which includes 6 hours of teaching practice. We have ensured that all of our TESOL certification courses follow and attempt to exceed the criteria generally set out by employers and TESOL organizations all over the world. The following criteria should...  [Read more]

This page is home to a collection of videos from our Ask Linda series that are focused on English grammar related issues. In each video Linda examines a common grammar topic that can cause problems for both students and teachers.  [Read more]

Here you can watch a variety of extracts from our 120-hour TEFL course with tutor support. These videos should give you an insight into the innovative nature of this particular course option, with subjects such as methodologies, teaching skills and grammar structures just some of the topics covered.  [Read more]

If you want to know what it is really like to take part in one of our courses then take a look at the following selection of graduates discussing their own personal experiences.  [Read more]

In terms of validity, it is not the method of delivery that is most important about an individual course but rather the overall quality of the content. Whether the course is taken online or in-class does not typically tell you how good or bad that particular course might be. There are several fundamental areas of ESL teaching theory that should be included in a good quality TESOL training course such as teaching methodologies, classroom management techniques, and a range of grammar subjects. However, it is virtually impossible to judge an individual course by its stated syllabus, so how do you decide which course is the best? One thing you can do to gauge the quality of an online TESOL course is to check if it is accredited. This simply means that an independent body has evaluated...  [Read more]

TESOL certification is not standardized so different course providers are free to offer a variety of courses at whatever price they see fit. An online search will reveal short-format TESOL courses for as little as US$49, but you need to ask yourself, will the resulting certification be accepted by employers in the region that you plan to teach in and will it provide sufficient preparation for a new teaching career? The bottom line is you should not choose a TESOL course based on its price, but rather the content and overall benefit it will have as you begin your TESOL journey. In-class TESOL courses are usually carried out over a four week period of intensive full-time training. These courses should cover all the main areas of ESL teaching including teaching methodologies, lesson...  [Read more]

Asia and Latin America both have a strong demand for English language teachers and you will always find a wide range of opportunities whether you are an experienced teacher or looking for your first classroom job. To help you decide which is the better option for you, you should take a look at the following points. Although you should be able to earn enough to live comfortably, most teachers in Latin America will find it hard to save much (if anything at all) of their monthly income. The average salary should take care of your rent and utilities, and leave enough to enjoy a good social life and even to cover some travel in the region. However, if you are looking to pay off debts or you want to save up for a travel fund, this might not be the region for you. Unlike much of Latin...  [Read more]

There is no reason why non-native English speakers should not be able to take and successfully complete a TESOL certification course. Due to the subject matter, you will require a high standard of English to work through the training, but not being a native speaker should not stand in the way of you embarking on a new career as an ESL teacher. As a non-native English speaker you might find there are actually some advantages when teaching English abroad. The simple fact that you have already had to go through the same learning process as your students is certainly a real bonus as this can create a good rapport among the class. Often students are less afraid of making mistakes in front of a non-native English teacher and they can feel a greater incentive when taught by someone who was...  [Read more]

If you are TESOL qualified and you have a university degree you will have a huge choice of options for teaching English all over the world. For those without a degree, the options are more limited but still plentiful. Recently, some of the more popular countries for teaching English abroad have begun to demand that teachers have a degree in order to qualify for a work visa. In particular, some of the big Asian markets for teachers such as South Korea, Japan and Taiwan now require a degree to obtain the necessary paperwork to stay and work long-term. Most of the high-salary Middle East countries are also difficult to crack without a certain level of formal qualifications. Despite these examples, there are still many options open for non-degree holders if you are flexible in where you...  [Read more]

Yes, the opportunity to learn a new language is one of the highlights of teaching English abroad for many people. It?s a well known fact that being fully immersed in a foreign culture and continually surrounded by the language is the best way to learn it quickly. During your time teaching in a particular country you will inevitably have daily opportunities to practice and develop your new language skills. While you will probably pick up a certain amount of the language in your day to day life, you should also find that local language courses are available at more affordable rates than in your home country. Another benefit is that the language you will be exposed to on a daily basis will be the real language used by local speakers rather than what you might learn from a textbook. By...  [Read more]

The Cultural Ambassadors Program (also known as the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program) is a well established scheme that has been run by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport for several years. Around 2,500 North Americans are recruited every year and placed into elementary or secondary schools where they work as assistant language teachers alongside a local teacher. Spain is notoriously difficult when it comes to getting an official work visa for non-European teachers, so this program provides a great opportunity for Americans and Canadians to legally work in this very popular destination. The program is restricted to American and Canadian citizens who are aged between 21 and 60. There is a separate upper age limit of 35 for placement in the...  [Read more]

Hong Kong is a traditional favorite with many teachers as it is a modern, vibrant place where English is commonly used and most Western style comforts are readily available. The downside of its popularity is that the competition for the best positions is generally very strong. To give yourself the best chance of success, there are a few things you should know. Although there have been government guidelines in place for many years regarding foreign teachers, these have only recently begun to be properly enforced. The result of this is that it is now very difficult for anyone without a university degree and two years teaching experience and/or a TESOL qualification to find a legitimate job. On top of these basic restrictions, each employer is free to set their own requirements for jobs...  [Read more]

If you have researched teaching English abroad, you might have found stories suggesting that it is impossible for US citizens to find ESL teaching jobs in Europe. However, this is not the case as a high demand for foreign teachers in many countries means there are plenty of great opportunities for American teachers in Europe. Language schools in many areas are always on the lookout for native English speaking Americans with a TESOL qualification to fill their vacant positions. At anytime you will find thousands of US citizens teaching in major European cities such as Rome, Madrid, Berlin, Moscow, and Prague. In many Western European countries there is a preference for British English in some schools and excessive bureaucracy can also be responsible for restrictions on US born...  [Read more]

We have all spent a lot of time in classrooms during our lives and we have probably all experienced what it is like to be taught by a good teacher and varying degrees of less than good ones. The good ones seem to make it all look very easy as everyone in the class is interested, engaged, and keen to learn, but how do they do it? In most cases experience is the main reason why they make it look so straightforward, as doing something over and over again allows a good teacher to develop their skills and the best methods for getting the best results. However, there are a few common skills that are generally present in good teachers no matter how long they have been in the job. It probably goes without saying that a good teacher needs to have exceptional communication skills. Successful...  [Read more]