TEFL Certification
- TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and a TEFL certificate qualifies teachers to teach English to students in countries where English is not the first language.
- A TEFL certificate prepares new and experienced teachers to teach in the foreign language classroom and is the most widely recognized international qualification to teach English.
- A TEFL certification is often required for international teaching jobs.
A TEFL certificate is a requirement for most international teaching jobs abroad. Even in cases where a TEFL certificate is not specified as a requirement, it is always noticed by international employers and could be the distinguishing factor between you and other teach-abroad candidates.
The terms TEFL, TESL and TESOL refer to similar, but distinct, ESL teaching qualifications. For more on these distinctions please visit our What’s the difference between TEFL, TESL and TESOL? blog for more information on these commonly used acronyms.
Yes. A TEFL certificate prepares teachers to adapt their teaching across different subjects (not just English) for instruction to English Language Learners (ELLs). What is commonly referred to as “academic English” is becoming a requirement for foreign language students looking to attend English-speaking colleges and universities.
A TEFL certification is not a teaching license. A teaching license is issued to teachers by their state or provincial issuing body and certifies them to teach in schools in their home country. A TEFL certificate prepares individuals of all experience levels to instruct students in English in the foreign language classroom.
No. A TEFL certification is a lifetime certificate and never expires.
We are pleased to offer payment plans with Affirm. Please note, our payment plans are currently exclusive to Canadian residents. We’re actively working to expand this feature to other regions soon.
Completing your TEFL Course
Anytime you choose! There are no fixed enrolment dates for the course and you can begin the course as soon as you enroll.
Yes.
No. The TEFL course is 100% online and you can complete your TEFL training from any country worldwide.
On average, the 100-hour TEFL course takes approximately 6-8 weeks to complete. You will have a maximum of one year to complete the course.
You will have a maximum of one year to complete the course from the day you enroll. After this time you will not be able to access the course materials. In special cases, extensions can be granted for teachers requiring extra access. If you are currently enrolled and have a question concerning your course please contact the TEFL Support team at teflsupport@teachaway.com.
No. Books and physical materials are not required for the course. All materials needed to complete your TEFL course will be available online through the course platform.
The TEFL course is compatible with most electronic devices. The recommended device is a laptop or desktop, but the course can be accessed via a browser on most smartphones and tablets. A word processor (software or cloud-based) is a requirement to complete the course as you will need to download materials and submit assignments throughout. Please ensure the device you plan to use is equipped to download documents.
If you are experiencing technical difficulty in your course, please email the TEFL Support at teflsupport@teachaway.com.
No. Graduates of Teach Away's TEFL programs are not guaranteed job placement with Teach Away upon completion of the program. All candidates will be assessed based on their individual experience and education.
Teaching Abroad
The widely accepted minimum requirements to teach abroad are a TEFL certificate and bachelor’s degree in any area. Teachers without a bachelor’s degree – while still hired abroad – may not be eligible to teach in certain countries and should expect to face a higher level of competition worldwide.
English proficiency is also required. Some employers abroad may require a proficieny test in order to comply with their country’s visa regulations.
Remember: Requirements vary from job to job.
No. You do not need to speak the local language of the country where you choose to teach. Today’s ministries of education, private institutions and universities use a communicative approach to teaching English requiring the teacher to speak with students entirely in English.
Age is a requirement to obtain a work visa, and age requirements will depend on the country. Most countries set a minimum age (often the age of majority) and maximum age (often the age of retirement) to obtain a work visa. Age requirements are immigration policy, and not up to the discretion of schools or recruiters. If you are approaching the age of retirement you may wish to consult this comprehensive list outlining the age requirements to qualify for work visas in different countries.
Individuals of all experience levels and ages are welcome to register for the Teach Away's online TEFL course.
There are many steps to finding a teaching jobs abroad. The TEFL Job Search Guide created by Teach Away will guide you through the 5 steps of landing an international teaching job. The guide includes information and advice on:
- Choosing a destination
- Qualifications & job requirements
- Building a teacher resume
- Finding jobs and how to apply
- Tips from Teach Away recruiters