By Bryan
Try searching “Teach English” on google and you will be overwhelmed by the opportunities available online. It is because English as a Second Language or ESL is a booming industry today. Since the early 2000, online teaching has globally become a huge hub of opportunities for teachers who want to go overseas or prefer to work from home and enjoy a less hassle work environment.
This rise of job openings in the ESL industry means the quality of classes continues to improve, class standardization and, of course, increase of competent English Teachers able to provide higher standards of teaching. – and having a TEFL Certificate is its one significant parameter.
Apparently, getting a TEFL Certification is very easy now as providers are mostly available online. Some even offer 120-hour online TEFL courses at a very affordable fee and at a fast-paced class. While this could be promising, takers are advised to be mindful in choosing the right TEFL Course provider. In this article, let us help you learn the the most important things to look out for when choosing a TEFL course.
HOW MANY HOURS DO YOU NEED?
On average, students take 120 hours of TEFL Courses. According to some major TEFL Accrediting bodies, 120 hours of TEFL courses is enough to provide students with an intensive full-time class which could be taken from one to two months. Most companies require at least 120 hours.- anything less than that could have some effect on your credentials. However, you should be able to identify the required hours of your target company before making a decision.
SHOULD I TAKE ONSITE OR ONLINE TEFL COURSES?
In most cases, students prefer taking online TEFL courses due to convenience, cost, and schedule. We have already discussed it in our previous article. Click here to read a more comprehensive discussion about this matter.
ACCREDITATION FROM A RECOGNIZED INDEPENDENT BODY
It is very important that you keep an eye on this. Many TEFL course providers promise their students too-good-to-be-true offers such as very low fees and classes that you can finish in no time. But these classes are below standards which could eventually affect your credentials and capability. Prior to booking a class to any TEFL provides, it is best to ask if they are registered and accredited by an international TEFL accrediting bodies, some of them are:
- International TEFL/TESOL Accreditation Council
- British Accreditation Council (BAC)
- Training Qualifications UK (TQUK)
- The World TEFL Accrediting Commission (WTEFLAC)
- Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE)
- The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (OFQUAL)
- Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
- International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL)
- Open and Distance Learning Quality Council (ODLQC)
- Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses (ACTDEC)
- TESL Canada
CONCLUSION
Why does an English teacher have to take TEFL Courses? Primarily it gives you advantage in getting the job. Although it is not yet a standard requirement, many companies are now including that in their preferences. In most cases, holders of TEFL Certificate have higher chances of upscaled salary because ESL companies understand that these holders invested in their career. Hence, they have the skills to provide quality English classes. We hope to be able to give you essential insights for you to be able to make the right decision for your TEFL journey!
If you are still figuring out which TEFL course is just right for you we have a few a few suggestion for you. Click here https://topteflcourses.org/ to find out our Five Best TEFL Courses that you can choose from!
