Teaching Certificate Requirements

VIPKid was, until quite recently, one of the top platforms for teaching young learners online. However, as of July 2021, the Chinese government changed the laws regarding online teaching and made it illegal to promote English lessons for Chinese students if the teachers are outside of the country. Essentially, if you want to teach young Chinese students online, then you now need to actually be in the country and not working from overseas. This shift in policy has had a big impact on VIPKid’s operations and they are no longer the major player they once were in this particular teaching environment. Despite the change in laws within China, VIPKid says it is to continue offering lessons for adult students in China from outside the country as this is not affected by the new legislation....  [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]

You are prepared to start teaching ESL online, but is a TESOL certification necessary to get a successful online teaching job? In general, a TESOL certificate is required if you want to earn good money teaching online. Even if it might not be necessary for all online teaching platforms, having TESOL certification will increase your salary and attract more students. The confidence and skills required to teach someone a foreign language, which is no easy task, come from completing a TESOL course. We will go over a few other prerequisites for teaching English online, other than a TESOL certificate. To teach English online, you will often need to fulfill the following requirements: Even without a university degree, there are various platforms where you can work as an English instructor....  [Read more]

The main entry requirement for many ESL teaching positions is a 120-hour certificate. Generally speaking this certification is available to anyone who: Having this certification does not guarantee that you can get a job however, as most employers have specific requirements depending on the country, job specifics and local employment laws. We will now look at the additional requirements and some further relevant details. 1. They may only employ citizens of certain countries: 2. They are sometimes only looking for native English speakers: This is linked to the previous point, in that you may need to be from a country where the first language is English. There are more countries than the previous list in this category, as it now includes India, Pakistan and Nigeria for example. (Note:...  [Read more]

One of the reasons why Mexico is an increasingly popular teaching destination is the fact that it is possible for most foreign teachers to get a work visa. Also, there is no requirement for you to possess a degree or to be a native English speaker in order to apply for one. As long as you possess a TESOL certification from a reputable provider, you are eligible for a work visa in Mexico. The great news for foreign ESL teachers is that there are very few restrictions on who can apply for a work visa for teaching English in Mexico. The only nationalities that are not eligible to apply are those from North Korea and Iran and there are no age limits either. A TESOL certificate is required, but there is no need to have a college degree or any previous teaching experience. The only other...  [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]

The TAPIF Program stands for Teaching Assistant Program in France. It is a government run initiative that places foreign applicants into state schools to work in the classroom as teaching assistants. Considering that France is often a difficult country for non-EU citizens to get a work visa for, this program is a good option for many people. If you are able to meet the requirements of the program, it could be the perfect way to live your dream of living and working in France. The age range for applicants on this program is between 20 and 35. If accepted, you will work 12 hours per week in up to three different elementary or secondary schools between October 1st and April 30th. You can state your preferences on where you would like to teach on the application form, but there is no...  [Read more]

A TESOL certification is the main certification required by ESL employers worldwide and the minimum level that most now expect is a 120-hour certificate. There are two main routes to obtaining such certification: in-class and online TESOL courses. As the name implies these courses are undertaken at some location in the world where English is being taught as a second language. Typically these courses require attendance of about four weeks. Due to the accommodation requirement of these courses they tend to be the more expensive of the two options. They do normally however include a teaching practice component that is a huge benefit when preparing to teach in the real world. These courses do not require attendance at any particular location and can be done at any pace from within your...  [Read more]

Becoming an ESL teacher provides a one-of-a-kind multi-cultural experience. International travel opportunities, multi-cultural training, and job satisfaction are all job benefits. One of the most significant benefits of obtaining a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification is the opportunity to work abroad in an exciting new country and culture. However, there are also some things you should consider before making the move. ESL is a term that is commonly used to refer to teaching English as a second language. It can also refer to the training required to teach English as a second language. Teachers with such credentials are in high demand all over the world. In today's world, English is one of the most widely spoken languages. It has the third-highest...  [Read more]

The Southeast Asia region continues to boom in terms of demand for foreign ESL teachers and Vietnam is no exception. In recent times the salaries being offered have begun to improve as schools look to attract more teachers to the country. Within just a few years, Vietnam is likely to become one of the most popular teaching destinations in the region. Official work permits for teachers in Vietnam are restricted to native English speakers who have a bachelor?s degree. It is also common for individual employers to insist on teachers having a TESOL certificate of at least 120-hours duration. Classroom experience might also be required when applying for jobs at the very top end of the pay scale, although these are small in number. Often you can bypass this requirement if you conduct a...  [Read more]

First, let's unpack the TESOL acronym. TESOL means Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It refers to the act of teaching English to non-native speakers. While TESOL is technically meant for teaching scenarios in English-speaking countries, it has been universally adopted to describe English language instruction in any setting. Additionally, TESOL is a term that encapsulates the teacher training programs and the certifications that aspiring teachers pursue. This certification is designed to meet the requirements set by most global employers seeking qualified English teachers. However, when applying for English teaching positions, many applicants might present a TEFL certificate instead of a TESOL. It is essential to understand that TESOL and TEFL, while having different...  [Read more]

We understand that sorting through the various TESOL certification options available today can be difficult, but don't worry, we are here to explain the various levels of TESOL courses to you. The general characteristics of the framework are frequently linked to a variety of factors, such as the total number of hours spent studying, the type of certification, whether the program includes a practical component, and the type of study (full-time or part-time). A level 4 TESOL course meets the requirement of at least 100 hours of coursework, which is highly valued by most employers in the EFL field worldwide. A level 4 TESOL certificate is equivalent to a first-year university course. This level is ideal for finding long-term TESOL positions, whether online or in classrooms around the...  [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]

A TESOL certification is typically one of the main requirements when it comes to applying for English language teaching jobs as it provides the teacher with all the basic skills and knowledge needed to plan and deliver quality lessons. Although the ESL world is largely unregulated, TESOL certification has become widely regarded by governments, schools, language centers, and individual employers as the standard qualification needed by educators in this specific part of the education industry. The best news is that TESOL is accepted by employers as a sign of competence in almost every country where ESL teaching takes place. Wherever you plan to live and work, it is almost certain that your TESOL certification will be accepted and welcomed by employers of all shapes and sizes. Although...  [Read more]

To begin a journey in teaching English overseas, what is primarily needed is an eagerness to delve into unfamiliar terrains and a valid teaching certification. The TESOL certificate stands out as the universally acknowledged qualification in this field. These courses often have few entry requirements, ensuring they are open to a broad spectrum of people from all different backgrounds. A foundational prerequisite for enrolling in a TESOL certification course is a proficient command of the English language. This standard holds true for both native and non-native English speakers. If you demonstrate a thorough comprehension of English in its written and spoken forms, you are well-positioned. The global demand for English language teachers is considerable, often exceeding the supply of...  [Read more]

Singapore is a thriving, modern city-state located on the Malay Peninsula. This former British colony was once known as the “Jewel of the British Empire” and although the country has developed rapidly since independence, the island’s British history can be seen throughout in its monuments and architecture. As a busy transport hub, Singapore sees visitors from all over the world, with direct flights from hundreds of countries as well as ferries bringing passengers from the numerous ports in the region. Singapore is also a major shopping destination for visitors from other Southeast Asian countries and the world famous Orchard Road is home to a large number of shopping centers as well as numerous hotels. The city has a busy night life scene with plenty of clubs and in the Orchard Road,...  [Read more]

The idea of TESOL standards could refer to several different areas of English language teaching and training. Below we take a look at some of them in detail. These two terms are often confused as being the same thing, they are not. Accreditation relates to an external validation process, whereby a recognized body (such as a university) inspects the full course delivery and decides if it meets a set of criteria for that certificate level. Accreditation usually only takes place once for any particular course. An accreditation may need to be updated if the course or its contents significantly change. Moderation is a continuous process. It is usually done annually for a fixed course, or as in the case of many TESOL courses, conducted on a course by course (monthly) basis. Moderation may...  [Read more]

At any time you will find a huge number of vacant ESL teaching positions available in countries right across the world. Because of this very strong demand there are always plenty of opportunities up for grabs for anyone who wants to take advantage of the situation. All you really need is a TESOL qualification. Below we take a look at what prospective ESL teachers need in order to be eligible for a TESOL course with ITTT. It almost goes without saying that the most important attribute required when taking a TESOL course is a solid understanding of the English language. However, it is certainly not necessary to be a native English speaker as there are plenty of employers around the world who are happy to employ non-native speakers with a TESOL qualification. As long as you are fluent...  [Read more]

One way to describe the difference between these two terms is shown below; The term TEFL refers to teaching English in a country where English is not generally spoken. An example would be teaching English to Thai students in Thailand. The term TESOL refers to teaching English in any country whether or not English is generally spoken. An example would be teaching Thai students who are learning English in Australia. Most employers understand that the terms are used interchangeably. Though they may use only one term or the other in general usage, when it comes to describing the qualifications required for a particular job they generally use both. The following are samples of job adverts taken from real current vacancies around the world, which you can browse through on our TESOL Jobs...  [Read more]

Our 170-hour TESOL course with online specialization has been designed for those who would like to gain a qualification to enter the ESL employment market and wish to maximize their options. Through this course we will give you the knowledge and skills needed to teach English in both classroom and online settings. The course is taken in two parts: First, our 120-hour certification is completed. This is followed by a further 50-hours of study looking at the particular skills needed to teach English online. One added benefit of the course is that on completion you will gain access to a unique graduate network, connecting you to ITTT alumni currently employed by many of the major employers in online teaching. The 120-hour TESOL course must be taken and completed first, followed by the 50-hour...  [Read more]