When choosing a certification for teaching English, three primary options emerge: TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA. Each has its own merits, and the best choice often hinges on your teaching aspirations. TEFL is typically favored for teaching children, while CELTA focuses on adult learners. TESOL bridges both demographics. Understanding the distinctions among these certifications can guide you to the right path for your educational journey and global adventures.
Table of Contents
What do TEFL, TESOL and CELTA stand for?
What is the difference between TEFL and TESOL?
What is a TEFL certification course?
What is a TESOL certification course?
What is the difference between TEFL and CELTA?
Is CELTA better than any other TEFL qualification?
What do TEFL, TESOL and CELTA stand for?
Understanding the acronyms in English teaching certifications is important. TEFL represents 'Teaching English as a Foreign Language'. TESOL signifies 'Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages'. Meanwhile, CELTA, previously known as 'Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults', now stands for 'Certificate in English Teaching to Speakers of Other Languages'. While TEFL and TESOL define broad areas of English language instruction, CELTA refers to a specific, globally recognized certification within this domain.
What is the difference between TEFL and TESOL?
TEFL and TESOL are terms often used interchangeably, but they highlight distinct teaching environments. TEFL focuses on teaching English to non-native speakers in countries where English isn't the dominant language. In contrast, TESOL encompasses the broader scope of teaching English to speakers of other languages, regardless of the country's primary language, including nations where English is predominant. Geographically, 'TESOL' is a term frequently adopted in the USA and Australia, whereas 'TEFL' is predominantly used in regions like the UK and Ireland.
What is a TEFL certification course?
The term TEFL refers to the practice of teaching English to non-native English speakers. A TEFL certification course will teach you how to accomplish just that. If you successfully finish the course, you will receive a TEFL certificate.
Since there is no internationally recognized TEFL accreditation board, there are a wide range of TEFL courses available. This is why it's important to take your time and thoroughly research all the options available to you. Here are some tips on how you can determine if a TEFL course is legit:
- The course is supplied by a qualified provider (i.e., the course provider has gone through external quality checks by a recognized quality assurance body)
- Provides different types of TEFL certification ranging from 100 hours to over 500 hours
- The course provider and TEFL trainers are TEFL/TESOL qualified and possess university degrees and relevant work experience in the EFL field.
- Gets good reviews on independent sites such as reviews.co.uk
What is a TESOL certification course?
A TESOL certification program is comparable to a TEFL certification program. As TESOL teachers are more likely than TEFL teachers to teach English in a native English-speaking country, there may be some differences in tone, but the great bulk of the content is the same.
The key difference is that you will receive a TESOL certificate rather than a TEFL certificate at the completion of a TESOL certification course.
Is TEFL or TESOL better?
There is no concrete answer to this question. Despite the acronym distinctions between TESOL and TEFL, the courses teach similar material in practice, and many TEFL providers don't differentiate between the names on a certificate.
If you wish to work in a specific school or country, check to see if they have any preference over one term before enrolling in a course. Otherwise, choose the course (and name!) that best suits your needs.
What is the difference between TEFL and CELTA?
The certificate awarded at the end of a TEFL certification course is known as a TEFL certificate. It does not refer to a particular institution or organization.
CELTA is a TEFL qualification, and a CELTA course is a course that leads to that qualification. This means that CELTA is a recognized TEFL qualification, yet it is essentially only a 'brand' of TEFL certification.
Is CELTA better than any other TEFL qualification?
As aforementioned, a CELTA certificate is a type of TEFL certification. This does not mean that a CELTA is better than a TEFL or TESOL qualification. It is simply a "brand name," if you will.
It is true that a CELTA certificate is a well-known TEFL certification, but so are other TEFL certifications. If you follow the tips mentioned above when choosing a TEFL or TESOL course, you won't have anything to worry about when it comes to your teaching career.
