“TEFL” is the acronym for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or simply, English language instruction for non-native speakers. Also known as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), English Language Teaching (ELT), and teaching ESL (English as a Second Language). The field of TEFL/TESOL represents one of the fastest growing educational fields in the world, and it presents thousands of excellent professional opportunities for teaching English abroad in all corners of the globe to native and fluent English speakers who earn their TEFL/TESOL certification.
In practical terms, in the field of teaching English abroad, there is little or no difference between “TEFL” and “TESOL.” They are both acronyms that essentially mean the same thing: teaching the English language to non-native speakers. Likewise, in the vast majority of cases, when it comes to ESL teaching certificates & teaching English abroad, a “TEFL certification” and a “TESOL certification” are the same and the terms are interchangeable.
On a more technical level, TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) is the term applied to the teaching of English to non-native speakers in native English speaking countries, so those who will earn degrees and work domestically in the field in the UK, Canada, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and South Africa and US will typically use the term “TESOL.”
Click here to receive your TEFL & Teaching English Online Starter Kit
Learn how to get TEFL certified and begin your online teaching
career from the safety of your home!
TEFL or TESOL Certification and requirements for getting a job teaching English abroad
To Teach English as a Foreign Language in a foreign country (non-native English speaking country), a TEFL Certification is typically required as schools and language institutes want to hire teachers who have received proper training. You don’t need to possess a degree in education, prior teaching experience, or even a college degree to get paid to teach English abroad. Private language schools abroad, online teaching companies and government programs that recruit native English speakers to teach abroad all seek to hire people who have received a certain degree of professional level training.
How does TEFL certification work?
Accredited TEFL certification will provide instruction from a highly qualified instructor covering the skills and tools you will need to work as a professional English teacher. Professional-level TEFL courses must meet certain standards and include live practice teaching.
These standards include:
- At least 100 hours of coursework;
- At least 6-20 hours of practicum (live practice teaching and observation with actual non-native English speakers and NOT role-playing with fellow TEFL classmates);
- An accredited curriculum from a recognized, independent organization within the field;
- Instruction provided by a qualified instructor (who has an equivalent to a Master’s Degree in TESOL or a related field);
- It is also recommended that you take your TEFL certification course from an organization that provides comprehensive job search guidance.
To learn more about what to consider when looking at TEFL certification courses, check out 7 Key Tips to Evaluate a TEFL / TESOL Training School on our TEFL Articles page.
International TEFL Academy TEFL Certification Course Options:
Awards & Recognition:
All International TEFL Academy (ITA) courses are internationally accredited. In addition, International TEFL Academy has enjoyed an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2012.
Since the beginning of 2019, ITA has been named the #1 TEFL school by GoOverseas.com & GoAbroad.com across a range of awards categories for TEFL certification:
Check out a full run-down of ITA’s awards, reviews and recognition in this article.
Is it Possible to Earn a Valid TEFL Certification Online?
With the growing prevalence of online education, one question that frequently arises from those seeking to teach English abroad is: can I actually earn a valid TEFL certification online that employers will recognize when I apply for jobs to teach English overseas?
The answer is “Yes” – as long your online TEFL course is accredited and meets all of the standards outlined above. If you seek a truly professional-level certification that will provide you with the skills, resources and qualifications you need to get a top job, be mindful that many online TEFL courses – especially the cheaper ones – do not meet these standards. Online TEFL classes that do not include a practicum for example, are not recognized by many language schools and TEFL programs around the world.
To learn more, check out: Is International TEFL Academy’s Online TEFL Certification Course Valid & Accredited?
Will a TEFL Certification Qualify Me to Teach English Online?
Yes it will! In addition to providing a recognized qualification for TEFL jobs overseas, TEFL certification will qualify you to teach English online, a fast growing market that provides opportunities to make money teaching English as a foreign language, whether you are living in the U.S., the U.K., or if you are teaching English abroad in a non-native English speaking country. Many English teachers abroad teach English online part-time as a way to supplement their income as an English teacher at a local school.
Others teach English online full-time, which gives them the chance to move more frequently from country to country while still earning income because they can teach English online from anywhere as long as they have a strong Internet connection. Most teachers are able to make at least $10-$20 (USD) per hour & work schedules are very flexible.
Teach English Online: Your Guide on
How to Make Money & Travel the World.
DOWNLOAD AS PDF FILE
Specialty Training Post Class Graduation:
To enhance their online teaching skills and make themselves more marketable for teaching English online, ITA students and alumni have the opportunity to enroll in an optional ESL teaching certificate: ITA’s exclusive 30-Hour Teaching English Online Specialty Course.
To learn more about teaching English Online, check out Teach English Online Your Guide on How to Make Money & Travel the World.
Related Posts
Confused about TEFL (that’s Teaching English as a Foreign Language for you newbies)? That’s not exactly a shocker. We just jumped onto Google and did a quick search for “TEFL” and what did we see? Over 7 million hits…and then some!
If TEFL info overload is currently making your head explode, we don’t blame you. But there’s no need to panic. At Teach Away, we happen to know a thing or two about qualifying for awesome teaching jobs abroad. Not only do we offer online TEFL courses alongside University of Toronto OISE and International House Berkeley, but we’ve spent over 10 years training and placing thousands of teachers across more than 50 countries.
It’s safe to say we’ve picked up some nuggets of TEFL-related wisdom along the way. That’s why, with a little help from hiring experts and real teachers who’ve taught abroad, we’ve created The Ultimate Guide to TEFL Certification.
This handy guide runs through everything you need to know about TEFL, the qualifications you need to land that dream job teaching English abroad.
We’ve tackled four major TEFL topics below that you can explore in any particular order:
Table of Contents
Is all about the fundamentals of TEFL certification, i.e. what it is, why it matters and what it’s needed for – as well as the different alternatives to TEFL that are out there.
Dives deep into what you can do and where you can teach with your TEFL, in addition to the requirements you’ll need to meet in order to enroll in a TEFL course.
Covers common FAQs about TEFL accreditation, costs and some killer advice on choosing the right TEFL course to fit your needs.
Gives key insight into all the things you need to know about getting your TEFL certificate online – one of the most popular and flexible options available (we may be a little biased, but it’s also our favorite TEFL course option for college graduates AND qualified teachers!). It also gives you a heads up about what life after TEFL is like!
Whew, lots to get through! But don’t worry – you can choose to scroll through the entire guide at your leisure or jump forward to the section that’s most useful for you. If you like what you read, feel free to go ahead and share it with a friend or colleague.
So, let’s get right to it. Where would you like to start?
Everything you need to know about Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Lost in a jumble of TEFL and ESL-related jargon? We’ve got you covered!
TLDR:
-
- TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
- Whether you’re a college graduate or qualified education professional, a TEFL certification is the qualification you need to teach English abroad.
What does TEFL certification mean?
TEFL is a four-letter acronym, short for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
You’ve probably seen TEFL pop up a time or two when researching teaching abroad, along with other popular in-person and online ESL certifications like TESL, TESOL and CELTA.
When it comes to researching the different requirements and qualifications for teaching jobs abroad, you might see all of these terms used interchangeably. That’s a big no-no, though.
They’re really quite different from each other.
Let’s get into how and why they’re not one and the same:
A beginner’s guide to TEFL (and other common ESL acronyms)
Before we dive in any further, it’s probably helpful to review some of the common acronyms that are tied to TEFL and teaching English abroad. Here’s what each one stands for:
| ESL |
English as a Second Language |
| EFL |
English as a Foreign Language |
| TEFL |
Teaching English as a Foreign Language |
| TEFL Certification |
An internationally-recognized qualification to teach English abroad, that can be online or classroom-based |
| TESL |
Teaching English as a Second Language |
| TESL Certification |
TESL is the qualification you need to teach English to foreign-language speakers living in a native-English speaking country. |
| TESOL |
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages |
| TESOL Certification |
A TESOL certification is for anyone looking to teach in both non-native and English speaking countries. |
| CELTA |
Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults |
ESL and EFL teaching: What’s the difference?
English as a Second Language (ESL) is English taught to non-native speakers who live in an English-speaking country.
Example:
A Chinese student studying English in Canada.
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is English taught to non-native speakers who live in a non-English-speaking country.
Example:
A Brazilian student taking business English classes in their home country.
Alternative ESL certifications
TEFL, TESL, TESOL: How they’re different
Despite what you might have read online, TESOL and TESL are not equivalent qualifications to TEFL for anyone looking to teach English abroad.
Depending on where in the world you want to teach, one type of ESL certification may be a better fit than another.
TEFL
A TEFL (English as a Foreign Language) certification is the globally accepted qualification to teach English abroad to students (both children and adults) whose first language isn’t English.
A TEFL is what most hiring schools are looking for on a teach abroad application. That’s why you’ll see it crop up time and time again as a requirement on most overseas teaching job posts.
Takeaway:
If your goal is to teach English abroad, TEFL is the most widely accepted (and highly regarded) of the four main ESL certification options.
PS: Don’t forget to check out our TEFL FAQs and articles, which feature tons of advice about TEFL certification and teaching English abroad and numerous firsthand accounts of teaching English in dozens of countries around the world!
Be the first to hear about special offers, including discounts on TEFL courses from University of Toronto OISE and International House Berkeley.
You may unsubscribe from these communications at anytime. For more information check out our Privacy Policy.
TEFL vs TESL
TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) certification is primarily geared towards those who are looking to teach English to non-native English speakers living in native English speaking countries.
Let’s break that down a little. Are you from the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia or South Africa? Thinking of pursuing a career teaching English language learners in your home country?
Awesome! In that case, TESL is the most commonly recognized ESL certification you need in order to qualify to teach ESL students domestically.
Takeaway:
If your goal is to teach English in your home country, look no further than TESL.
TEFL vs TESOL
A TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification is what you need if you’re looking to teach English to non-native speakers in your home country as well as abroad.
For anyone who’s unsure whether they want to teach abroad or at home, TESOL might be a great option. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that TESOL is a newer qualification and isn’t as highly regarded by overseas employers as TEFL.
TESOL is also far more intensive and usually offered as a graduate degree program, in contrast to 100 to 150-hour professional certifications like TEFL.
TEFL vs CELTA
CELTA (Certificate in Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages) is an easy one to remember – think of it as the branded version of a generic TESOL course! For all intents and purposes, the two terms are interchangeable – it just means that any CELTA is specifically affiliated with Cambridge University.
Takeaway:
If you’re looking for an advanced degree that gives you the option to teach English both at home and abroad, then a TESOL or CELTA course could be your best bet.
Recommended Reading:
Which ESL certification is right for me?
Why you should get TEFL certified
Well for starters, the international job market for teaching English abroad has never been stronger, with new jobs cropping up on a daily basis, from China and Spain to Japan and Costa Rica.
Fueled by the high demand for English language learning around the world, TEFL teaching is one of the fastest growing education industries around the world:
2 billion English language learners by 2020? You know what that means – a whole heap of native speaking English teachers are needed.
Teaching English abroad provides thousands of opportunities for native English speakers from all walks of life and all backgrounds to live, work and travel abroad – anywhere where English isn’t the official first language.
For example, right now, 24 million people are studying English in Mexico. Living the good life in a Mexican beach town while teaching English on the side – sign me up!☝️
Read this: Why millenials should teach English abroad
Here’s why you need a TEFL if you’ve got a bachelor’s degree:
1
You need it to teach abroad
A TEFL and your bachelor’s degree (any major!) is all you need.
2
You’ll land a teaching job abroad quicker.
ESL and language schools all over the world are looking for English-speaking university graduates with a TEFL.
3
A TEFL gives you the skills to actually teach in the first place.
You’ll learn essential stuff like how to teach English grammar, plan lessons and manage a classroom!
And here’s why getting a TEFL certificate is still worth the investment, even if you’re a certified teacher:
1
You’ll beat out the competition.
Top international schools are looking for certified teachers who are also TEFL qualified.
2
You’ll earn a higher salary.
With your teaching background and TEFL in hand, you’ll qualify for the best paying teaching jobs abroad.
3
You’ll learn must-have skills for teaching English language learners (ELLs).
You’ll learn strategies for tailoring your lessons more effectively for ESL students in your classroom!
I didn’t have the knowledge to properly get my ideas and lessons across to foreign language learners. A TEFL certificate would have helped me learn strategies for teaching normal subjects, like math and social studies to ESL learners.
Katie, taught high school students in India
Learn more about Katie’s experience teaching English in India
Recommended reading:
Who is TEFL for?
1
All college graduates looking to teach abroad
If you’re a recent or soon-to-be graduate, you’re probably sick of being asked about your plans for the future. Before starting out in their long-term careers, more and more college graduates are looking to spend some time living and traveling abroad after finishing their studies.
Not only does getting TEFL certified and teaching English abroad help fund your travels, it’s also a great way to pay down student debt and avoid having to move back in with your parents after graduation.
Along with the team at OISE University of Toronto TEFL, we produced Beyond Magazine – a publication with everything new college and university graduates need to know about fueling their wanderlust by teaching English abroad!
GRAB YOUR FREE COPY
Recommended reading:
2
New (and experienced) teachers
Faced with teaching job shortages in their home countries, more and more recent teacher graduates and experienced educators are getting the urge to take off and explore the world by teaching English abroad.
Recommended reading:
3
Career changers
If you’re officially over the 9-to-5 grind, you’re in luck. Hiring schools around the world are clambering to hire TEFL-qualified English teachers with life and professional work experience!
Some other lingering TEFL questions you might have:
