TEFL vs. TESOL: Understanding Your ESL Certification Options
This is a frequently asked question, and it can start to be answered by asking another question… Where are you in your ESL teaching career? Regardless of your answer, there will be a course that will meet your specific needs. So what are the options?Let us start with the basics; the minimum qualification required by most ESL employers worldwide is a 120-hour TEFL or TESOL certificate course. The good news is that there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved.
Table of Contents
Travel to learn or stay at home?
What are onsite TEFL courses like?
What are online TEFL courses like?
a. 120-hour TEFL certification
Are you ready to teach English abroad or online?
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TEFL or TESOL
TEFL The Teaching of English as a Foreign LanguageTESOL The Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Despite these being two different acronyms, they essentially are the same. TEFL is a term more commonly seen in the UK and Australia, for example, whereas TESOL is more common in the USA. Employers rarely make any distinction between the two.
Travel to learn or stay at home?
The first distinction in TEFL/TESOL course type depends on whether you want to travel to a training center to complete your studies or stay at home. If you wish to travel, then an 'onsite' course is best for you. Should you wish to complete your training at home, then an 'online' course is best.
What are onsite TEFL courses like?
Typically, a four-week 120-hour TEFL certification course may be completed at a training location in many countries across the globe. As the name implies, you attend the training center over a period of four weeks, during which time you will receive all the training required to allow you to teach an effective ESL lesson anywhere in the world. The training is usually broken down into theory and practice. The theory sections cover all the basic teaching skills required to successfully teach a class, as well as language knowledge, which covers what you actually teach. The practice sections involve planning and teaching real classes of English language learners whose first language is not English. You should look for a course where there will be an opportunity to teach at least six hours of English to non-native speakers and where these lessons are preferably observed and receive feedback.
What are online TEFL courses like?
These can be taken in your own home and at your own pace; many, for example, allow six months to a year for completion.There is a whole range of online courses available to meet all needs and previous teaching experiences. These course options include:
a. 120-hour TEFL certification
As mentioned, this is the standard entry level for employment worldwide and requires no previous training or experience.
b. Specialized TEFL courses
These include courses in teaching business English, teaching young learners, teaching English online, others may include grammar teaching and phonology, and courses in academic planning.
c. Diploma level courses
Diploma courses are the next step up from the 120-hour certification and cover the "why" of teaching rather than the "what".
Combined TEFL courses
Combined TEFL courses bring together many advantages from the onsite and online options as it uses both. In the combined course option, the theory is covered by the regular 120-hour online TEFL certificate that is completed first. This is then followed by eight or ten days at a training center to complete your teaching practice. This option gives the equivalent certification to completing the 120-hour onsite TEFL course, as it covers all the same requirements.
Are you ready to teach English abroad or online?
Concluding, the choice between TEFL and TESOL, onsite and online courses, or specialized and diploma-level programs depends on individual preferences, prior teaching experiences, and career aspirations. Regardless of the chosen path, obtaining a 120-hour TEFL or TESOL certificate is the key to unlocking a world of opportunities in ESL teaching. From immersive onsite experiences to flexible online learning, the field offers a diverse range of courses to cater to aspiring educators worldwide. So, whether you're embarking on a teaching adventure abroad or seeking professional development in the comfort of your home, there's a course tailored to meet your unique needs and propel your ESL teaching career forward.
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