Online TEFL Certificates

There are countless websites offering online courses to get you qualified as a teacher of English as a foreign language. A quick Google search brings back all of the major online course providers. But can an online course really train you to teach?

The cons

There are many who would argue that an online TEFL course is not very beneficial. There are several reasons behind this. First of all, we are talking here not about Trinity College or Cambridge accredited qualifications, but of so-called TEFL certificates/qualifications that just don’t have the cachet of Trinity TESOL or CELTA. Therefore, they are not as widely recognised by employers as being authoritative training. Second, many (although not all) online certificates provide no practical training. There is no classroom experience, no face to face teaching – just online audio and visual materials. Third, there are a lot of cowboy operations out there offering TEFL certificates with no independent authority and no real ability to provide such training. Beware.

The pros
On the other hand, there are many arguments for online TEFL courses. The most obvious factors are price and time. A $1000 on-site course or a $300 online course? Your bank account says ‘go for the latter option’. The investment in time is also heftier with an on-site training course. These are generally a minimum of four-weeks full time study. That means you have to either give up all other commitments for a month, or not sleep for four weeks. Conversely, online courses – which generally range from 40-120 hours of study – are easier-going, and more practical on the schedule

The result
The real test of any qualification’s merit is whether it will:

1. Train you to teach English effectively
2. Make you a desirable employee

Before you embark on any course I would recommend researching whether the training will help you to achieve those two things. Many employers (depending on the country, type of school, or even the whims of the Director of Studies) will be aware of the drawbacks of online courses. Further, you do not – repeat, do not – want your first experience of classroom teaching to be on your first day as an employed teacher! Get some experience somehow – either by doing some volunteer work or by taking a course that provides practical training with real students.

Have you taken an online TEFL course? Did it help you to gain employment? Did you feel confident when you stepped into class for the first time? Let us know!