What is TEFL certification?
A TEFL certification is an internationally recognized professional credential that certifies that an individual is qualified to teach English as a foreign language. TEFL certification is typically required to secure a job teaching English abroad or online to non-native English language students.
What is a TEFL certificate?
A TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate is an internationally recognized professional credential that certifies that its holder is qualified to teach English as a foreign language. A TEFL certificate enables individuals to teach English to non-native speakers abroad or online. To teach English as a foreign language in a foreign country (that is, a non-native English-speaking country), a TEFL certification is typically required, since schools and language institutes want to hire teachers who have received proper training. You don’t need to possess a degree in education, prior teaching experience, or even a college degree to get paid to teach English abroad. At minimum, you need a certification to teach English abroad. Private language schools abroad, online teaching companies and government programs that recruit native English speakers to teach abroad all seek to hire people who have received a certain degree of professional-level training.
How does TEFL certification work?
An accredited TEFL certification school will provide training from a highly qualified instructor covering the skills and tools you will need to work as a professional English teacher. Professional-level TEFL courses must meet certain standards and include live practice teaching.
These standards include:
At least 100 hours of coursework;
At least 6-20 hours of practicum (live practice teaching and observation with actual non-native English speakers and NOT role-playing with fellow TEFL classmates);
An accredited curriculum from a recognized, independent organization within the field;
Instruction provided by a qualified instructor (who has an equivalent to a Master’s Degree in TESOL or a related field);
It is also recommended that you take your TEFL certification course from an organization that provides comprehensive job search guidance.
Will a TEFL Certification Qualify Me to Teach English Online?
Yes it will! In addition to providing a recognized qualification for TEFL jobs overseas, a TEFL certification will qualify you to teach English online. In fact, similar to English language schools worldwide, online language companies will usually require their English teachers to possess a legitimate and accredited TEFL certification.
Many TEFL certified English teachers overseas teach English online part-time as a way to supplement their income as an English teacher at a local school. Others teach English online full-time, which gives them the chance to move more frequently from country to country. Indeed, they can earn an income while teaching English online from anywhere as long as they have a strong Internet connection. Most teachers are able to make at least $10-$20 (USD) per hour & work schedules are very flexible.