TEFL Courses Online for Teaching English - FAQs

1. I speak English perfectly well. Why do I need a certificate to get a TEFL Job?

Simply speaking English at home will not make you a successful English Teacher or being a native English speaker will also not solve your purpose.

Teaching English requires modeling of the english language with a proper understanding and application of grammar, phonetics and accent.

The TEFL Job requires creativity and an immense interest in the subject.

A TEFL Certificate not only certifies you but also teaches you to use proper language teaching techniques to teach language in any organization. Without a certificate you are not a complete teacher.

2. What kind of TEFL Jobs can I get?

TEFL program graduates find teaching jobs in private as well as government organization anywhere in the globe.

The kind of job you want also depends partly on the kind of organization you want to work with and the kind of experience you have.

3. How much can I expect to earn after completion of TEFL Courses Online?

How much you earn overseas will depend on the country in which you work and the type of organization you are associated.

In some country apart from your salary, you may be provided with health insurance and accommodations too.

Pay for teachers in public or private schools will vary according to the location and the individual's teaching experience.

4. What options are available to me?

You have two 2 options:

You may complete the program complete online or can do observe teaching through our worldwide locations.

You have to complete the program complete online from anywhere in the world.

5. How much time will I need to spend on each unit?

It really depends on how quickly you can absorb the information and complete the exercise, assignment and clear all your doubts. On average 4 - 5 hours per unit

6. When can I begin? When and how do I receive the course? How long does the TEFL Courses Online take to complete?

You can begin the course almost immediately, simply complete our online application form We will review your application and confirm your acceptance on to the course within 24 hours.

• After signing up the, program will send you emails on materials and instructions to complete the program.
  
• In 2 weeks time your materials and DVD will reach your desired destination
  
• The first few weeks you will be exchanging lot of notes with our moderator and then move into the self study mode.
  
• Each chapter will have its own framework and guidance and during this time you will also be completing a number of homework assignments, as well as reviewing an especially prepared DVD series containing presentations from some of the best ESL professionals in the world.
  
• At the end of each chapter and modules you will have clarification sessions followed by exams. Successful completion of all the modules will get your final completion certification
  

The course has been designed to allow for maximum flexibility. As long as you complete the course within six months of receiving this introduction you can work at a pace that suits you.

7. What do I receive upon graduation/completion of TESOL Courses?

After successfully completing all course units you will receive your final grade, a letter of recommendation and your TESOL certificate.

8. How Much - (Fees for TESOL Online Certificate Course?)

Check the latest offering in TEFL Courses Online Page. Or look for Certification fees in individual courses.

9. There are so many certificate courses advertised out there. How do I know which to apply for?

There are many good schools out there. Many are professionally managed and have qualified, competent teachers. Unfortunately, there is no law to prevent anyone from setting up as a teacher-training center and there is nothing to prevent you from being "ripped off" by a company offering so-called recognized certificates. Important criteria that you need to look for in a TESOL Certificate course includes:

• At least 100 hours of time spent in the studying how to be a teacher.
  
• At least 6 hours spent actually teaching real students under the direction and supervision of a trained, experienced teacher.
  
• Some kind of overseeing body (a university or examining board) that externally controls quality Most employers are looking for certificates that meet or exceed these three criteria. Courses that do not meet these criteria will not be recognized as certificates.
  
• Continuing effort committed to job guidance and opportunities

10. What is the difference between TESOL and TEFL? What is CELTA?

For all intents and purposes the terms mean the same with TESOL being more common in America and with large state sector colleges in Britain (e.g. the Institute of Education in London) while TEFL is more common in U.K. Language Schools and in the U.K. press. There is a slight technical difference since TESOL refers to all learners whose first language is not English, including ethnic minorities living in this country, whereas TEFL refers only to "foreign" students. Potentially, therefore, a TESOL course encompasses more than a more narrowly defined TEFL course.

The CELTA (Certificate for English Language Teaching to Adults) is a TESOL certificate course. It was actually the first course of this type of teacher-training course and was originally an in-house training course for teachers at International House (a large chain of language schools based in London). Because it was the first, it is very widely recognized by name.

11. What about Distance Learning or Short courses? There are a lot of them and they are really cheap?

Remember that most employers are looking for certificates that meet the general criteria listed in point number 1. And, let’s face it, any course that does not allow you multiple opportunities to put you in real-life teaching situations will have limited benefit. We have DVD especially made for this program featuring world most famous ELT teachers. Our program though online still gives you real classroom situations.

12. Are there regional/national differences in Teacher Training?

Certainly. The four-week TESOL certificate courses were first developed in England. They are widely accepted as initial teacher training courses in most of the world. In fact, the vast majority of organizations offering these courses are British and the overseeing bodies are also British. In North America, four-week courses are not generally accepted as teaching qualifications at government schools. They are generally accepted at private language schools. TEFL Online is unique in this regard. We are based upon the British system, we exceed all of their basic criteria, yet we also work with several well respected US universities. In fact, many US universities can offer credits (full-time status and financial aide) for completion of our course and an internship. So we give you the best of both worlds—a TESOL certificate that exceeds the British standards yet that is recognized for quality in the US.

13. Will my TESOL certificate be recognized around the world?

Certainly. Every graduate receives a certificate with the seal of a  reputed external authority  certifying that the course meets or exceeds the basic British criteria of 100+ hours of learning. Our academic partner TEFL International is leading in TESOL training over a decay now. Our global contacts in the field that have employed our academic partner TEFL International’s graduates attest to the quality of our teachers and our programs.

14. I've heard that these courses are really tough?

Before you choose a course you should carefully consider the teaching methodology of the materials. Many (American) students have found the British courses to be culturally difficult to deal with and have complained of unsympathetic and overly-critical teachers.

We feel this is another reason why our academic partner TEFL International is an excellent choice. While they have based the curriculum on the generally-accepted British model, we have adapted this model to be more international. We have brought in many Peace Corps and US training techniques to balance and compliment the original model.

15. Can I get undergraduate or graduate credit for taking the TESOL Certificate course?

Yes! If you are a current university student we would be happy to work with your university to arrange credit. If you want university credit for your participation, it is best to contact us in advance. We can work with your university to arrange credit, if possible.

We are also working out final details on a cooperation with Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon. This may provide an easy and inexpensive way to get university credit and be eligible for financial aide. Email us if you are interested in this option.
If you are interested in Graduate credit, there are two options.

Burapha University in Thailand is currently negotiating with our academic partner TEFL International to offer a full modular MA TESOL degree. This will allow our students to get graduate credits for our certificate and a practicum. The addition of the TEFL International Diploma and additional coursework at Burapha University will result in a full MA TESOL.

16. Can I get a job without a degree?

Yes. Some countries will allow you to work without a degree. Examples of these are China and Thailand, but even there you may have difficulty competing against teachers who do have a degree. Other countries will not allow but often times people without degrees work illegally.

Working as an ESL teacher without a degree is possible. You should choose your destination carefully and be prepared for some hardships. Email, chat or call our help-line for more advice on the criteria often necessary for the country of your choice.

17. My grammar stinks! I really don’t think I could make it through your course.

Nonsense! As a native speaker, you know grammar quite well. You just don’t know the terminology! Our job is to teach you the terminology in an enjoyable and easy way. We assume you know nothing about grammar terminology when you arrive, but leave with the basics you need to teach.

18. Do you provide Job Placement Assistance?

TEFL Online is much more involved in your job search than almost all other course providers. With our partners locations all over the world, each center is an area expert, with extensive contacts within the country. We will work closely with you to find a job in the location of your choice. And, in a few years, when you decide to move from Thailand to Spain (just as an example), our Spain center will be there to help you.

19. What are the requirements for getting on to the Certificate course? How do I know if I am suitable? What kind of people will be on the course besides myself? Am I too old? What is the success rate and how many people fail?

A lot of questions but all interrelated. We find that courses tend to be taken up by a "mixed bag" of people. For example, we get a lot of people in their early twenties who are recent graduates and want to travel overseas but we also have people in their thirties and forties who either want a career switch, have been made redundant or are moving overseas with their spouse. In addition, we have people either approaching or in retirement and who are looking for something to do in their free time or who have got property on the continent to which they are going to move. Finally, we sometimes have people from other English speaking countries in our courses as well as good non-native speakers from other countries.

As far as entrance requirements are concerned, if you are to be a teacher of English, a high standard of both spoken and written English is demanded. By this we mean your use of English, not necessarily your knowledge of grammatical terminology: you will be given an introduction to language awareness on the course itself.

Do you have the confidence and personal presence to stand up in front of a group of students and teach them for, say, 45 minutes?

If you are a person of "more mature years" or a senior citizen, do not let this in itself put you off from applying. Providing you are receptive to training you should have no problems. If, however, you are rigid in your ways of thinking and are unwilling to shake off past ways of thinking and behavior (regardless of age), you may have a problem.

20. Last chance! Why should I take the Innovative Education TEFL course. Give me some good reasons.

1. We meet or exceed all International criteria with 100+ hours of learning time and up to 6 hours of Observed Teaching Practice;

2. We work with many universities to allow you to obtain undergraduate or even graduate credit;

3. We work hard to develop a nurturing, supportive learning environment;

4. Our courses are can be taken in phase of self learning and then move to our fun, interesting locations;

6. Our courses include One-to-one net chatting with learners as well options of full classes

7. Our courses include Experience learning an unfamiliar language in order to make you think about the problems of teaching beginners;

8. Our courses include Opportunity to create your own teaching material as a form of practical project which you can take away and use in your future teaching career;

9. Our courses include training for younger learners as well as with adults