How to Get TEFL Certification

Teaching English as a foreign language (or TEFL) involves teaching English to non-native speakers specifically in an area where English is not the dominant language. TEFL teachers usually teach abroad, most commonly in Asia, although teaching opportunities exist worldwide. Not every TEFL teacher is certified, although many schools and employers do require teachers to obtain certification.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Decide what is most important to you about a program. There are many programs that offer a TEFL certificate or certification, and they vary by location, tuition fees, length of program, whether they require a BA degree before enrolling, methods of instruction, and whether they are taught face-to-face or online.

2. Choose a program wisely. The Internet has literally thousands of listings of TEFL programs. Some better-known programs are listed below in Resources, but this list is far from exhaustive. Request information from the ones that interest you the most and spend time deciding which program would be the best fit for your teaching goals. If you can, meet some of the trainers in the program and make sure you feel comfortable with them and their teaching style.

3. Research the program's reputation. Don't be shy about talking to a program representative and asking for data on its graduates' placement and employment in the field. You want to make sure that graduates of the program are actually finding jobs as TEFL teachers.

4. Arrange your life to maximize your training. Most training programs are short in duration and high in intensity. Make sure that you can dedicate the time and energy it will take to get through the course. If you have a heavy "social" season coming up, do not schedule your course during that time, for instance.

5. Enroll in your chosen program.

6. Prepare for the program. Read as much as you can on TEFL methodology and theories. Refresh your knowledge of grammar if it's been awhile since you studied it.

7. Attend class regularly, keep up with assignments, and use the time in your course to try out different methods of teaching. Remember, once you're in the field, you won't have your trainer to fall back on.

8. Complete the program, and if required, final exams.

Tips & Warnings

• There are slight differences between TEFL and other designations/certifications of teaching English to non-native speakers. While TEFL teachers usually teach overseas, in non-English speaking countries, TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) teachers teach English to immigrants in English-speaking countries. The two most widely known certification programs are the certTESOL and the CELT (see Resources below), although other programs offer similar levels of instruction.
• There is no official body or set of standards for TEFL certification. The "worth" of your certification depends on the brand recognition of the program you attend and if the program meets your specific goals. Most TEFL certification programs do not require you to have a college degree to enroll, but many employers of TEFL teachers do. It's a good idea to research the areas you'd like to teach in to see if a degree is a requirement of employers.

Resources

• Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (certTESOL)
• Certificate in English Language Teaching (CELT)
• The Boston Language Institute TEFL program
• Online TEFL courses and certification
• The International TEFL Corporation

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