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This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned:
online tefl courses vs Onsite TEFL CoursesOne of the major differences between an online course and an onsite course is the ability for the student to go at their own pace, and this is no different for tefl courses. In an online course, the student is given a time frame in which they need to complete the course by, but they can choose when they spend time on it. In contrast, onsite courses usually have a designated time and goes at the pace the majority of the class is comfortable with. The students wanting to take these courses can potentially already have a full time job or is a full time student. That means that it is possible that they would need to take time off from work or school to attend class. In addition, onsite courses require students to travel to the physical classroom, whereas online can be done if the comfort of the student?s home.
Another major difference between online and onsite tefl courses is the interaction between instructor, other students, and the student themselves with an onsite class. In the physical classroom, the student has a chance of getting some hands on experience, which is next to impossible for the online course and eliminates some of the nervousness of teaching the first class. In the onsite course, the student can learn how to plan a lesson, execute the lesson, and find out what works or not first hand. The student can then immediately get feedback from the instructor and other students immediately (Online tefl course VS In the Classroom, 2010). online courses requires the student to communicate via e-mail for the majority of the time and can lack the immediate feedback in times of urgency. Ultimately, the on-site course is usually much more comprehensive and better prepares the student for teaching EFL/ESL in the long term. The online courses gives students the minimum requirements for teaching, where the student is not considering teaching as a long term commitment (Online vs Face-to-Face tefl courses, 2011).
One difference to consider is that onsite tefl courses usually costs more than its online equivalent. For example, in the UK, the certificate in English language teaching to adults (CELTA) is one of the most recognized certifications for teaching English and costs around 1000 to 1400 Euros for a 4-week course. For an online tefl course, the cost would range from $100 to $600, which is substantially less expensive compared to the in-class version (Online tefl course VS In the Classroom, 2010). But whether or not this is a good thing depends on what the student values most. If the student wishes to have first-hand experience and interaction with others, the in-class is best. If the student wishes to have the flexibility and the cost-effectiveness of the course, online might be more suitable.
As a conclusion, both online and onsite courses have their own advantages and disadvantages. Potential students should consider what they want from the course, financial cost, and their own flexibility in terms of time. students who want the best of both worlds can take an online course initially and decide if they want to further their understanding, where they can then take the onsite course. This may not be the most cost-effective method of learning but it would give the student an edge when attending the onsite course and many students have gained success from this (Online vs Face-to-Face tefl courses, 2011).
