One of the first decisions for those interested in becoming TEFL certified is whether to learn at home, abroad or online. You might want to take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages. TEFL training schools are numerous in the United States and England, but are mostly concentrated around major population centers. Staying at home will allow you to become certified while keeping your current job because most courses are taught in the evening. This will save you time and money. Many students opt for a TEFL training school abroad. Most of these intensive programs are four weeks. Students are required to take courses five days a week, and the programs are quite rigid. But what better way to learn than abroad. It will give you a chance to learn another language, live in a foreign land and immerse in a different culture. You will also gain valuable contacts for acquiring a job once you have earned your certificate. Online courses are convenient and affordable compared with instructor-led classes. But they also prepare you the least for what you will experience as an English teacher.
TEFL courses are designated by the number of teaching hours. The industry standard is a 120 hour course. A certificate from a 120 hour course is generally accepted around the world, and you will have all the qualified credentials to obtain a job abroad. Many schools, especially online, have begun offering courses that are only 40, 60 or 100 hours. These bare-minimum courses provide you with a certificate, but not much real-world experience. Some schools provide courses that combine classroom and online studies. The number of hours will be influenced by which country you intend to teach in. Western European countries will hold teachers to a higher standard than Southeast Asian countries.
Selecting a TEFL training school that is accredited by an international body is important; but it does not necessarily guarantee quality, because there is no concrete accrediting service for TEFL schools. There are many "fly-by-night" TEFL schools that provide poor instructors, facilities and training. American and British universities that provide TEFL programs are some of the best developed programs, but are also the most expensive. One of the best ways to check to see if a school will meet your needs is to call potential employers, and ask about the TEFL training school you plan to intend. Inquire if its certificate is accepted.
Special certificates are a way to supplement your TEFL training, and these are provided at most schools. Supplemental training includes teaching English to young learners and teaching business English. There are no standards for additional certificates, so many schools have various names for its supplemental modules. The Boston Academy of English has an intensive Business English Program whereas the i-to-i offers a quick five-hour Teaching Business English module. Other training schools, such as ICAL, offer a Computer Assisted Language certificate. Additional certificates, while not a requirement to obtain a job, will enhance your resume, especially if you lack real work experience.
One requirement you should expect out of your TEFL training school is a work placement program. TEFL schools vary in the degree to which they assist students in finding work. Some provide only a list of potential schools, whereas others go as far as guaranteeing a work placement after the course is completed. You should call each training school and discuss in detail what work placement assistance is provided.