How to choose the best TEFL course for your needs
How to choose the best TEFL course is always a hot topic. This guide walks you through all the options and highlights the pros and cons to help you select the TEFL course that is best for you.
OK, we run TEFL courses and teach abroad programmes, but we have been running TEFL courses since 2003, so we have loads of experience. EBC is one of the best TEFL courses available, but there are other courses.
Types of TEFL course
There are quite a few different TEFL course types:
- Live-streaming virtual classroom TEFL courses
- Four-week face-to-face TEFL courses
- Online TEFL courses
- Hybrid or blended learning TEFL courses
- Abbreviated one-week or weekend courses
However, before we get started, here are the generally accepted guidelines for TEFL and TESOL certification courses.
The critical seven points that your chosen TEFL course must have
These seven points about the best TEFL course content are according to British Council and generally accepted international TEFL standards.
If you are going to invest in a TEFL course and expect to get a job with a good language school, ask the right questions and choose a course that has all the following:
- You get live trainer input (live-streaming in a virtual classroom or face-to-face)
- You get at least 100 trainer input hours
- You get at least 6 hours of teaching practice with none English-speaking learners observed by an examination board accredited observer
- The course is accredited by a government-registered university or examination board
- The course is externally moderated (quality control) by a visiting moderator approved by the university or examination board
- The course can show documented acceptance and recognition by the British Council, an internationally recognised institution with English schools and offices in more than 110 countries
- You get a public domain (public document) TEFL / TESOL certificate that can be apostilled for jobs and visas for teaching English abroad
Only two named certificates worldwide meet all seven points, the CELTA and the Trinity CertTESOL. Both certificates are usually named as requirements in job advertisements.
An accredited TESOL TEFL certificate qualification that meets all seven points is the most attractive to language school hiring managers.
Other courses and their limitations
Many other TEFL courses are available, but they must meet all seven points. If they don’t, you may have to spend additional time and effort defending your certificate when applying for jobs. You may also get rejected because the hiring school won’t accept your TEFL certificate. This is usually the case in the UK, where almost all English language schools demand a CELTA or a Trinity CertTESOL.
Sadly, you will only find these limiting factors after paying for and taking the course and then start looking for jobs.
Let’s find out about TEFL course types
Now that you know how to choose the best TEFL course, read on to find out more about each type of TEFL course.
How to choose a TEFL course: Live-streaming virtual classroom TEFL courses
This section of how to choose the best TEFL course examines the next generation TEFL course, live-streaming virtual classroom courses.
Live-streaming virtual classroom TEFL courses are the result of the COVID epidemic. They are a new breed of courses born out of the necessity to continue training and respect public health concerns.
They replicate the physical classroom. However, you are not in the same physical room. Besides the fact that you cannot touch and smell your classmates, everything else is the same.
The other brilliant advantage is that these courses open up learning opportunities to everyone who wants to learn how to teach English without the high cost of travel. Instead, you get trained at home.
Do not confuse live-steaming virtual classroom courses with online courses. They are not the same.
A live-steaming virtual classroom course is the equivalent of a face-to-face course. The difference is the classroom. One is a physical room, and the other is a virtual room. You can see your classmates and trainers, talk to each other, share ideas, ask questions, etc. Apart from the fact that you are not all in the same physical room, the learning experience is identical.
If you choose a live-steaming virtual classroom course, ensure it meets the critical seven points your chosen TEFL course must have.
A bit of live-steaming virtual classroom versus face-to-face course information
EBC runs a Trinity CertTESOL live-steaming virtual classroom and a face-to-face course. Trinity allocates an external moderator to every course who assesses the quality of each trainee and the quality of the instruction and supporting material. Trinity was initially doubtful about the live-streaming virtual classroom course. However, Trinity has confirmed that the quality level of the live-streaming virtual classroom and face-to-face courses is the same.
The Trinity CertTESOL certificate you get is identical regardless of whether you studied on the live-streaming virtual classroom or face-to-face course.
Is an online course the same as a live-steaming virtual classroom course?
An online course IS NOT the same as a live-steaming virtual classroom course.
Online courses come in many shapes and sizes. They aren’t interactive, and many do not include teaching practice. Moreover, almost none of them are externally moderated, a.k.a. quality controlled.
Many online courses simply present material via an app or computer and have quizzes. There is limited or no interaction with a trainer. They are the equivalent of reading a book and answering questions about what you read.
They have limited acceptance. Something that you will only find out after you have paid for and taken the course and then start looking for jobs.
We run a live-steaming virtual classroom course that gives you the Trinity CertTESOL certificate. We also run a cheaper online TEFL course. We are open and honest so we must let you know that you will have more success with the Trinity CertTESOL than our EBC online TEFL certificate. It all comes down to price and expectations. The Trinity CertTESOL course costs 1,450 Euros and the EBC online TEFL certificate course costs 500 Euros.
Why are live-streaming virtual classroom courses very popular?
The main attraction of a live-streaming virtual classroom course is convenience. You study at home and save a lot of money because you do not have to travel, pay for airfare, hotels, food, local travel, etc.
Live-streaming virtual classroom courses are for people who can dedicate themselves to 4 weeks of full-time learning and want to remain flexible about where they go to teach.
Live-streaming virtual classroom training is interactive. Many practical exercises are performed under your trainer’s direct supervision, and, most importantly, you get to teach practice classes to genuine English language learners (ELLs). Ideally (as in EBC’s case), you should teach your lessons to real ELLs rather than fake classes given to your trainer or classmates. You should also get to teach different levels of ELLs to experience the learning challenges for each group.
Finally, a significant benefit of live-streaming virtual classroom training is that you learn how to teach in physical and live-streaming virtual classrooms. You get prepared for teaching English in a physical and an online classroom.
Pros
A live-streaming virtual classroom course is the best way to learn alongside face-to-face learning. You are in a classroom with your trainer and classmates. You can interact with your classmates who face the same challenges as you. You can ask questions and ask for clarification in real time. If you take your TEFL course with EBC, you will finish in 4 weeks, so the learning cycle is intense and, most importantly, fast.
You get to teach practice classes to genuine English language learners. Apart from the invaluable experience of doing this, you will be infinitely more attractive to employers than the other job candidates who have not had any teaching practice in their course.
A bonus with EBC is our Road2Spain programme. This means you can study at home and save money, then fly to Spain as a qualified English teacher, learn Spanish and work for up to one year as an English teacher in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga or San Sebastian.
Cons
You are not in a physical classroom.
Summary
A live-streaming virtual classroom course is the best way to learn alongside face-to-face learning. Top-quality courses (like EBC’s) are externally moderated. This means an independent, external moderator will interview you, quality-check your work and perform quality checks on the course instruction and material.
What does this mean? CREDIBILITY. Would you like to interview for English teaching jobs with ease? Would you like your certificate to speak for itself? Would you want the hiring school to regard you as better qualified than the others because of your certification?
It all comes down to “What’s in a name?” A Trinity College CertTESOL is that name. Schools worldwide will always prefer a trusted name in EFL and ESL training. When shopping for services or goods, the brand’s reputation plays a significant role in our buying decision. You want the best; a trusted name speaks for itself.
How to choose a TEFL course: Four-week face-to-face TEFL courses
This section of how to choose the best TEFL course examines traditional onsite classroom courses.
The main attraction of a face-to-face course is living, studying and working in a great new location. Somewhere where you have always wanted to live, like Spain, for example.
Face-to-face courses are for people who can attend a training centre course, have a healthy budget, and can dedicate themselves to 4 weeks of full-time learning.
Face-to-face training is expensive because you must pay for flights, lodging, food and other expenses that can quickly add up to a few thousand dollars.
Face-to-face training is interactive. Many practical exercises are performed under your trainer’s direct supervision, and, most importantly, you get to teach practice classes to genuine English language learners (ELLs). Ideally (as in EBC’s case), you should teach your lessons to real ELLs rather than fake classes given to your trainer or classmates. You should also get to teach different levels of ELLs to experience the learning challenges for each group.
If you choose a face-to-face course, ensure it meets the critical seven points your chosen TEFL course must have.
Pros
A face-to-face course is the best way to learn alongside live-streaming virtual classroom learning. You are in a classroom with your trainer and classmates. You can interact with your classmates who face the same challenges as you. You can ask questions and ask for clarification in real time. If you take your TEFL course with EBC, you will finish in 4 weeks, so the learning cycle is intense and, most importantly, fast.
You should get to teach practice classes to genuine English language learners. Apart from the invaluable experience of doing this, you will be infinitely more attractive to employers than the other job candidates who have not had any teaching practice in their course.
Cons
A face-to-face course means that you must set aside four weeks to take the course.
You must spend on airfare, lodging and living expenses while training on your face-to-face course.
Public health situations like COVID could mean that your course is cancelled without warning if schools are closed, limits on the number of students in a classroom, travel is restricted where you live or where the school is located, etc.
Summary
A face-to-face course is the best way to learn alongside live-streaming virtual classroom learning. Top-quality courses (like EBC’s) are externally moderated. This means an independent, external moderator will interview you, quality-check your work and perform quality checks on the course instruction and material.
What does this mean? CREDIBILITY. Would you like to interview for English teaching jobs with ease? Would you like your certificate to speak for itself? Would you want the hiring school to regard you as better qualified than the others because of your certification?
It all comes down to “What’s in a name?” Your Trinity College CertTESOL is that name. Schools worldwide will always prefer a trusted name in EFL and ESL training. When shopping for services or goods, the brand’s reputation plays a significant role in our buying decision. You want the best; a trusted name speaks for itself.
How to choose a TEFL course: Online TEFL courses
This section of how to choose the best TEFL course examines online courses.
Online courses grew from the old distance learning courses. Distance learning started in the 1970s, and they worked using the postal service. Material and assignments were interchanged between students and teachers using the postal service. As we are now in the internet age, the postal service has been replaced by email and other types of internet-based delivery.
Online course delivery varies depending on cost – the cheaper the course, the lower the quality and job prospects.
Unlike the Trinity CertTESOL course, most online TEFL courses are simply quizzes where you are shown material and asked questions. Your reward is a certificate of questionable quality.
Sadly, you will only discover the limitations of your cheap online certificate once you start looking for work.
Unlike the Trinity CertTESOL course, most online courses do not have any input from experienced trainers, do not have lesson planning, do not have teaching practice, and are not externally moderated to ensure quality. Therefore, this type of certificate will not be attractive to hiring managers in quality language schools. But, as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for”.
Online courses do not meet the critical seven points your chosen TEFL course must have.
Pros
Online courses are cheaper than live-streaming virtual-classroom courses.
Cons
Online courses (self-study TEFL quiz courses) are unattractive to language school hiring managers.
Language schools have low or no respect for online TEFL-certified teachers who have never taught in a classroom (real or virtual).
Your job opportunities are limited if your online course does not include teaching practice.
Summary
Online courses are for people with a limited budget and who don’t mind having limited job opportunities.
How to choose a TEFL course: Hybrid or blended learning TEFL courses
This section of how to choose the best TEFL course examines “old technology” hybrid and blended learning courses which are quickly being superseded by live-streaming virtual classroom TEFL courses.
Hybrid and blended learning courses are halfway houses between online and face-to-face courses.
The hybrid / blended learning course usually combines an online course where you learn the theoretical aspects of teaching with a short face-to-face teaching practice course.
Make sure that the hybrid / blended learning course has the best TEFL course content according to British Council international TEFL standards:
If you choose a hybrid or blended learning course, ensure it meets the critical seven points your chosen TEFL course must have.
Pros
A hybrid or blended learning course combines most online and face-to-face learning advantages.
A hybrid / blended learning course includes teaching practice to help you get work.
Cons
The online part has the problem of a lack of immediate response by a tutor to your questions. The face-to-face part still has the problem of you needing time and travel to complete the face-to-face part or teaching practice module.
There is uncertainty; for example, you could have finished the online part, but if the country where you are to do the face-to-face part is closed to travel, what then? You paid for a blended course and cannot get your certificate because you have not finished the course. Money and time wasted.
Summary
Hybrid / blended learning is for you if you want more than an online course but cannot afford the time or the cost of a 4-week intensive face-to-face course.
How to choose a TEFL course: Abbreviated one-week or weekend courses
This section of how to choose the best TEFL course examines short courses that even if branded as TEFL courses; they aren’t.
These courses provide the equivalent of a management summary about teaching English. They are not designed to train you how to teach. They are overview courses. Anyone who tells you otherwise is not telling the truth.
The course is usually given over a weekend or a few days (usually one week). You typically get 16 to 20 hours of tuition, so as you can imagine, you will not learn anything to the level of detail you need to teach. Usually, there is no teaching practice either.
Abbreviated one week and weekend courses do not meet the critical seven points your chosen TEFL course must have.
Pros
Short and appear to be cheaper than the previously mentioned courses.
Cons
On a cost-per-hour basis, they are usually twice the price of a live-streaming virtual classroom and face-to-face course and are often more costly than an online course.
If you are given a certificate, very few employers will accept it because it fails the critical seven points for a TEFL certificate.
Summary
If you have some time free on the weekend and are looking for something to do this type of course, it could be for you. However, if you are serious about teaching English and want an acceptable qualification, do not take one of these courses. If, due to personal circumstances, the abbreviated or weekend course is the only type of course you can do, save your money.
Aside from slick marketing, we have yet to learn how these courses survive, as they are useless if you want to teach English abroad.
Conclusions about how to choose a TEFL course
We’ve shown you what you need to know about how to choose the best TEFL course. Your choice will be fine if your chosen TEFL course meets the seven critical points:
- Live trainer input (live-streaming in a virtual classroom or face-to-face)
- At least 160 hours of total study time
- At least 6 hours of observed teaching practice with none English-speaking learners
- Accreditation by a government-registered university or examination board
- External moderation (quality control) by a visiting moderator of the university or examination board
- Documented acceptance and recognition by the British Council, an internationally recognised institution with English schools and offices in more than 110 countries
- A public domain TEFL / TESOL certificate
Now that you know how to choose the best TEFL course your only decision now is, do you want to study live-streaming in a virtual classroom or face-to-face?
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