Should I do an online or in-person TEFL?

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gravatar-icon Posted on · by Kyle S.

I am new to this process and am beginning to look into obtaining my TEFL Certification.  I have the following questions:

- Do schools look more for on-site vs. online TEFL Certifications?

- Is it better to immerse yourself in a TEFL course overseas or better to stay in country whilst learning?

- SEE TELF in Thailand offers an TEFL internship vs. a certificate program.  In the view of an experienced teacher, which one would be more beneficial to a rookie?

- Aside from a TEFL Certification, what else could I obtain to promote myself to ESL schools overseas?

 

If anyone has any experience with SEE TEFL in Thailand, I would love to hear more about it seeing as that is the program that I am heavily in favor of at the moment.  Thanks for your time.

4 Comments

  1. gravatar-icon
    Christie V.
    November 18, 2015 at 1.35 pm

    Hello Kyle,

    Thank you for your inquiry regarding TEFL Certification.

    Employers' preference for in-class versus online TEFL certification can vary, although this rarely takes high importance. Two things to keep in mind, however, are that 1) there is no accrediting body for TEFL courses, meaning anyone can design and offer a TEFL course - even you! Make certain to choose a reputable TEFL course provider such as a University or international institute to ensure your certificate has global recognition when you finish; 2) check job postings thoroughly before applying to verify the requirements sought by the school/institution.

    So long as you choose a reputable provider - preferably with the greater organization based in a native English speaking country - the location of instruction is not likely to matter. Online TEFL courses such as The University of Toronto TEFL Online (teflonline.teachaway.com) allow you to complete your certification 100% online from anywhere in the world, with your certificate being issued from a Canadian university that is one of the top 20 in the world.

    A TEFL certificate is a lifetime certificate and is recognized around the world as a standard in ESL teacher certification. An internship can be a great and rewarding experience, but TEFL can unlock a lifetime of meaningful international employment or global career.

    The widely accepted minimum requirements to teach English overseas are a bachelors degree in any area and a TEFL certificate. This is not to say that teachers with less than a university level education do not continue to be hired abroad, however with these two qualification you will be eligible for entry level ESL Instructor jobs. Participating in teaching-related activities such as tutoring, volunteer instruction, etc. can enhance your resume but will not count as formal years of experience.

    If you have any further questions about TEFL, please feel free to reply back in comments section here or send us an email!

    Best,
    Christie Van Tol
    University of Toronto TEFL Online Course Coordinator
    teflonline@teachaway.com | 1-855-833-5665 | 416-628-4334

  1. gravatar-icon
    Kyle S.
    November 18, 2015 at 10.24 pm

    Thanks so much Christie! I'll keep that in mind if I have any more questions.

  1. gravatar-icon
    Arielle D.
    December 9, 2015 at 10.45 pm

    What's the difference between TEFL and CELTA. I often see CELTA on applications. Is the University of Cambridge a credible institution?

  1. gravatar-icon
    Janice L.
    December 10, 2015 at 1.05 pm

    Hi Arielle, the CELTA is basically a "product" of the TEFL and TESOL programs and is specifically accredited by the University of Cambridge. It's more internationally recognized so schools will prefer it, but it is significantly more expensive. If you can find a good TEFL course, then this can be fairly interchangeable. (Disclaimer: we at Teach Away have partnered with the University of Toronto to create the only online TEFL program that is accredited by a top 20 university. If you want to learn more, you can click "TEFL Certification" at the top of this page.) You can learn more about the difference on Go Overseas: http://www.gooverseas.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-celta-and-tefl