Teaching English Abroad: Your Guide To TEFL Certifications

Teach while you travel — the ultimate way to experience other cultures through TEFL.

If you’re looking to discover new places and cultures while really getting to know the people who live there, then teaching English abroad is the perfect way to do just that. Obviously, you can’t just wander into any classroom and start reeling off verbs and nouns, but getting a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certification will get you there in no time.

We’ve listed everything you need to know about teaching English abroad and the TEFL certification so you can decide whether this is the right path for you.

Taking a gap year? You need to check out these amazing gap year ideas.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What is a TEFL course?
• What’s the difference between TEFL, TESOL and TESL?
• Why get TEFL certified?
• How long does TEFL certification take?
• What are the benefits of teaching English abroad?
• How much does it cost?
• Should I do an online or in-person course?

What is a TEFL course?

While it might sound complicated, TEFL is simply an acronym that stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It’s an internationally recognised entry-level certification for native or fluent English speakers that allows you to teach English in schools and communities around the world where English is not a first language.

With international travel more accessible than ever, many people are looking to get work experience abroad, however, by having a TEFL qualification, you’ll stand a cut above the rest when it comes to getting work in teaching English.

What’s the difference between TEFL, TESOL and TESL?

Ready for the ultimate acronym breakdown? Let’s do it.

So, we already know that TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, so TESOL, similarly, stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The big difference is that TESOL allows you to teach English to non-native speakers in native English-speaking countries such as the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. while TEFL is generally used for those looking to teach in non-native English-speaking countries.

So, if you’re looking to teach English in schools in the UK or another native English-speaking country, then perhaps a TESOL qualification will suit you better.

TESL is also commonly used interchangeably for both TESOL and TEFL and stands for Teaching English as a Second Language. Put simply, this means teaching English to those whose first language isn’t English.

So, if you’re looking to teach abroad, then you most likely want to apply for a TEFL certification to work in the majority of countries around the world, especially if English isn’t the native language there.

Why get TEFL certified?

Other than standing out from other English teaching applicants, there are many benefits to getting a TEFL certification. For starters, qualifying as a TEFL-certified teacher can mean you receive higher pay, as well as introducing you to a whole community of other teachers to support you on your journey.

The course will also teach you valuable skills in lesson planning, classroom management and proficiency testing to ensure you feel comfortable entering the classroom.

Kate Pilling, who taught English to students in France found training extremely helpful:

“It can be daunting suddenly finding yourself stood in front of a class of students and there were plenty of challenges – knowing the right level to pitch lessons, making learning engaging and useful, managing poor behaviour.”

Finally, some countries require you to have the qualification and the TEFL network will support you in finding the right role for you.

How long does the certification take?

The TEFL course on the whole takes around 120 hours of work. This is broken down into 100 hours of coursework and 6-20 hours of practical teaching with actual non-native English speakers — essentially great practice for your job!

What are the benefits of teaching English abroad?

Teaching abroad can hugely boost your career chances further down the line as it demonstrates a whole host of skills that are highly desirable in the workplace.

Kate Pilling, who taught English to high school students in France and now works for the Civil Service feels it greatly enhanced her job prospects:

“I haven’t ended up going into teaching, but the experience of teaching abroad helped me to develop my presentation skills and confidence — presenting to colleagues or stakeholders doesn’t feel so intimidating when you know you’ve survived getting a room of 16-year-olds to engage with English grammar rules!“

Teaching is also a great way to immerse yourself in local culture, as well as pick up some of the local language. On a more practical level, it also gives you an income to support your travels, meaning you could potentially stay longer than if you were travelling without an income.

Kate also enjoyed knowing she had a job and community already in place for when she arrived in a new country:

“I liked having this certainty when moving to a new country, especially with everything else being quite new and a little confusing.”

How much does it cost?

The cost of a TEFL qualification varies due to the many course suppliers in the UK and other countries. Most courses cost between £300 and £500 to ensure you have reached the level of qualification needed to meet the teaching job entry requirements needed. If you opt for a university-level TEFL or TESOL course then this can be quite a bit higher at around £1,000.

Should I do an online or in-person course?

Whether you should do a course online or in person really depends on your priorities and learning style. For example, if you need flexibility to do the course around other commitments, such as a job or university work then an online course might be the best way forward. Online courses also tend to be a bit cheaper.

However, if you know you learn better in an in-person environment where you can get support from the instructor, then an in-person course may be beneficial. It’s worth noting that in-person courses do tend to be more expensive and you may need to consider travel and accommodation costs for the duration of the course (about 4 weeks).

You may also want to take the course in the country you intend to teach in. For example, you can take a TEFL course in Vietnam and then you’ll be able to interview face-to-face for roles in the areas you like the most. If this is your plan, ensure you’ll be arriving and ready to interview during the major hiring seasons for that country.

Not ready to teach abroad? Why not check out our article on how to study abroad while at uni.

How do you teach English abroad?

To be qualified to teach English abroad you’ll need to decide what country you’re set on and first research their working visa laws as well as their hiring requirements, for example, how much is a teacher going to make and which TEFL certification you’ll need to be able to teach there.

Once you’ve decided where you’d like to travel, enrol on a TEFL course to get certified. You can often complete these courses online too, so you can go at your own pace.

Once you’re qualified you’ll need to arrange your visa, book your flights and make a plan for where you want to live and work, as well as search for a job if you haven’t already.

Remember that visa applications can take a while to complete, so research the typical timeframe and make sure you complete it in good time.

It might sound like a lot of prep, but once you’re officially certified you can pretty much go anywhere!

Don’t forget to check out a guide to studying abroad for free.