English Teaching Certificate Online – What is TESOL?
English Teaching Certificate Online – TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. When people refer to “having a TESOL” , what they mean is having a TESOL certificate.
Why TESOL?
Teaching English as a foreign language is the perfect way to travel the world. You can enjoy a fantastic adventure, while inspiring the next generation. Have in mind, English will not stop being the lingua franca. So let’s try to connect as many people as possible. The way to do that? Teach them English.
We know what it is to feel the excitement and trepidation of embarking on a new adventure. I’ve been there! If you are nervous, don’t worry, your dedicated ESL online tutor is there to help you. Also, I provide you with all the training, tools and support you need to help you become a confident and inspiring ESL teacher.
You can achieve your accredited TESOL certification in an accessible and affordable way, and you don’t need any previous teaching experience. If you speak English fluently, you have everything you need to get started with the course and teach English abroad or online from home.
In late 2018, the Chinese Ministry of Education announced they would be implementing tighter requirements for teachers. Especially for those teachers who teach Chinese to primary and/or to middle-school students.
These requirements are for bricks-and-mortar academies, as well as online platforms such as VIPKid, Gogokid, SayABC, Palfish, and iTutor Group.
As of November 2019, all major online English teaching companies require their teachers to have 120-hour teaching certificates.
What’s the Difference Between TESL, TEFL, TESOL, CELTA?
TESL stands for Teaching English as a Second Language and refers to teaching English to non-native speakers in a native-speaking country.
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and refers to teaching English to non-native speakers in a country where English is NOT an official language.
TESOL is an umbrella term that stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and refers to teaching English to non-native speakers in your home country, or abroad. TESOL certificates are generally more in-depth and deliver more learning material.
CELTA stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.
Do I Really Need a TESOL Certificate to Get Hired?
A few years ago in this industry, it was simply an asset.
As of November 2019, the Chinese Ministry of Education requires that all online English teachers that teach Chinese students have a 120-hour teaching certificate. The majority of companies in the online English teaching industry serve Chinese students.
VIPKid will actually train new recruits and give them a TESOL certificate before they start teaching on the VIPKid platform. However, if you already have one, you are more likely to be hired, and you can skip that part of the training process. On top of that, VIPKid’s TESOL certificate isn’t recognized by other online English teaching companies.
Does it really take 120 hours?
For anybody who is familiar with the English language or education in general, the course can take much less than 120 hours.
However if teaching English is totally new to you, you may need the full amount of time.
English Teaching Certificate Online – A Bit of History
There is growing global access to TEFL/TESL/TESOL programs because of to the advent of distance learning.
Future English teachers can enroll in an online TEFL certificate program, most of which are affordable enough to fit almost any budget constraints. For those interested in more general information regarding distance learning, check out our ranking of the top online colleges.
Rating and Ranking Methodologies
- Quality of online classroom portal and learning resources (1-3 points)
- Student-teaching practicum or similar experiential learning opportunities (1-4 points)
- Range of TEFL/TESOL/TESL courses that provide an accredited, reputable certificate (1-3 points)
- Quality and range of job placement opportunities (1-4 points)
- Graduate testimonials and reviews (1-4 points)
- An additional point was awarded for noteworthy features that made it a top TEFL certificate online.
English Teaching Certificate Online – Are there any age restrictions?
Our courses are designed for those aged 16 and over. When it comes to finding work teaching English abroad, there can be age restrictions on some working visas.
Can I take a TEFL course if I have a disability?
Of course. If you require any special arrangements to take either the classroom or online course, please get in touch, and we will be happy to assist you.
Which course should I take?
There are several different courses, but a simple rule is that the more you learn, the more prepared and more confident you are. Also, your CV will look more competitive if you have a 140-hour course rather than a 20-hour course. However, some people have teaching experience and already have the confidence to take a class and therefore enrol in the online-only course. It depends on you. If you have any doubts, give us a call, and we can discuss which course would suit your needs.
English Teaching Certificate Online – Can non-native English speakers teach English?
Yes, but it can be more difficult to find work as an English teacher as some schools/recruiters stipulate native English speaking teacher (NEST) on job advertisements.
I am a qualified teacher. Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach English abroad?
Yes, language schools abroad will look for EFL teacher applicants to have a recognised TEFL qualification. We find that the majority of qualified teachers we train choose to opt for our 120-hour Premier Online TEFL Course.
Learn more: TEFL for Qualified Teachers
English Teaching Certificate Online – What qualifications do I need to apply for a course?
We believe that if you can speak English, you have the potential to teach it. Therefore, we only ask that you are a native-level speaker of English and that you have the enthusiasm to learn something new. No other qualifications or teaching experience necessary.
After reading “English Teaching Certificate Online”, you can check important issues for ESL teachers on the section PDFs. And visit my channel by YouTube.