If you are looking to study to teach English as a foreign language there is a range of TESOL and TEFL courses for you, but how do you know which one is for you?
Finding a good TEFL or TESOL course will be your first step towards an exciting new career teaching English as a foreign language. However, courses vary in nature, style and quality. Finding the right fit for you can feel daunting. The WTEFLAC was set up to raise overall standards and help people find high-quality courses. Its code of conduct remains one of the most reliable ways to spot good quality providers.
TEFL versus TESOL
First, though, it’s worth explaining the difference between TEFL and TESOL courses. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and leads to an internationally recognised qualification that can secure work anywhere in the world.
TESOL stands for Teaching English to speakers of other languages. It helps you to communicate with students even when there isn’t a shared language. It can be a good foundation for teaching English to people coming to this country looking for work and is a great way to either earn primary or secondary income.
The WTEFLAC provided accreditation for both types. Its code of conduct listed several qualities on which they should be assessed. You can also use that to make your own decisions.
Qualifications of teachers
Teaching standards vary. The WTEFLAC code of practice requires all teachers at an institution to be fully qualified and have at least three years of practical experience teaching English as a foreign language. Such practical experience can be invaluable in providing you with skills you’ll need in real classroom situations.
Marketing material
Anyone can pull together good marketing content. The difficulty comes from producing high-quality course content that matches the promises made by marketing material. As part of the accreditation process, the WTEFLAC would compare course content against marketing material to ensure it provided an accurate representation of what customers could expect.
Peer-to-peer tuition
A good course should provide a certain level of one-to-one tuition and practical experience. Some courses offered online offer very little practical tuition. Even if it leads to a qualification, the quality of the course may not provide you with a rich experience to take your studies forward.
Number of hours
Courses vary in terms of their length and the number of hours of tuition you can expect to receive. Most employers will look for an industry standard of 120 hours. If your course offers less you may find yourself at a disadvantage. Some of the best courses offer 150 or more hours. This will provide a greater depth of teaching and will look good to potential employers.
Help with employment
In addition to the basic course structure, some courses will proactively help you get a work placement. This could be advice in finding work or others may have partnerships with teaching institutions to ensure students are placed in a job.