Completing ESL teacher training and receiving certification via an online school can allow students to continue working while completing the course. Students completing courses through the Internet have the advantage of being able to receive a certification while studying from anywhere in the world.
Schools offer various certifications, which generally range from 40 hours of online work to 120 hours of online work. An online diploma course can also be completed. The diploma is a more advanced certification and is geared towards students already possessing a TEFL certification, or with teaching experience; it requires 250 hours of online work. The International TEFL Corporation offers online courses leading to both certification and diplomas. The courses are offered with or without tutor support. With i-to-i, students can complete a TESOL certification as well as various specialist certificates.
Classroom-based learning can be an ideal choice for a student wanting a more structured form of learning, with required attendance, fellow students and an instructor who is readily available. TESOL certifications, diplomas, majors and master's programs are offered to students choosing to study in a classroom setting. Certification courses may run for only a few weeks for intensive programs, but also can stretch over a number of months. The length of degree programs varies based on the level of the degree.
Combined courses give students the flexibility of online learning, and also provide the benefits of in-classroom experience. Students can choose to complete the basic TESOL certification online, in which they learn about the theories of teaching, as well as language awareness. Students then gain practical classroom experience before stepping into a teaching role.
There are a number of resources available to find a school that offers the learning structure wanted, once a method of learning and degree or certification type is decided upon. Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), Inc. is an association for English-language-teaching professionals that operates globally. The TESOL website offers a directory of schools, with information on approximately 450 university-level academic and training programs in English as a second language (ESL) in the United States and Canada. The programs are sorted into types of qualifications and locations. Dave's ESL Cafe has links to schools that offer online certification.