TEFL Institute 120 Hour International Course
Does the TEFL Institute certificate meet international standards?
When is the best time to begin the course?
Do I need a degree or teaching experience to register for this course?
English is not my first language, can I still teach English abroad?
Is this certificate valid for teaching English in North America?
Who do I teach for my Practicum?
Will I be ready to teach by the end of this course?
What about visa and work permits?
How old must I be to take a course through the TEFL Institute?
Does the Course qualify for Academic Credit?
Who is TEFL Institute?
TEFL Institute provides professional TEFL training, job placement advice and international job assistance to obtain paid jobs abroad teaching English as a foreign language. All instructors are university professors with over 10 years experience in the field of English as a Second Language and English as a Foreign Language.
TEFL Institute trains people to become certified to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). TEFL Institute develops relationships with public schools, private language schools, Human Resource departments and recruiting companies around the world to ensure our students find high quality jobs abroad. We prepare our new teachers for their overseas experience through high quality TEFL courses, as well as pre-departure and job placement assistance.
TEFL Institute is a Chicago based company that has spent many years helping people travel abroad through a variety of teaching opportunities. We would love to meet with you, so please feel free to drop by our office or even schedule a time with a TEFL Institute program advisor to look at ways to fulfill your travel dreams. Our staff has visited over 50 countries – teaching, living, working and volunteering abroad. TEFL Institute offers online courses and international in-person courses around the world. TEFL Institute courses are also available for college credit if taken at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
- 100 hours of Professional or in-person classroom training
- Lesson planning workshops
- Mentoring and Discussion Group exercises
- 20 hours of practicum (student teaching and observation) in an ESL classroom for hands on experience.
When is the best time to begin the course?
The best time is to take it now and not to procrastinate. You can take the online course and interview at the same time to line up a job. Other people find that having the class finished and then having an additional 3-6 months available to get their affairs in order works for them. The sooner you make a commitment to take a class, the sooner you'll be overseas.
There is no really good time or bad time to take the course. But, our experience has shown us that there are better times to take on an English Teaching job than others. It usually depends on the country you want to teach. For instance, it is well know that in Europe the months of July, August and part of September are not the best times to look for an English Teaching project because it is height of the their vacation season. Similar dates exist in other countries around the world. Jobs in Latin America typically start in mid February after their summer and again in July. Jobs in Asia are available to begin nearly any month of the year.
Your TEFL Institute advisors will help you select the best course date for your anticipated departure date. A general rule of thumb is to begin your TEFL course at least three to six months prior to your anticipated departure date. Usually it will take at least three months to make sure you have a solid English teaching job abroad. It is best to plan well advance to ensure you have the best experience possible.
Do I need a degree or teaching experience to register for this course?
No. Anyone with a HS Diploma or GED may take our course as they are undergraduate level courses.
English is not my first language, can I still teach English abroad?
There is no language requirement for this course. We give no preference to American, Australian, British, Canadian, New Zealand , etc. forms of English. We require that you are fluent in English both written and verbally.
Is this certificate valid for teaching English in North America?
You cannot use this certificate to teach English in a public school in the North America or the United Kingdom but it may be used to help you gain employment with private language contractors devoted to ESL instruction.
Who do I teach for my Practicum?
You are required to serve as volunteer in an ESL school for at least 20 hours in order to obtain your certificate from the TEFL Institute. Our students find it easy to find a place to volunteer such as ESL classes at community colleges, park districts, language schools, immigrant community organizations. You will see a wide variety of students from the young to the old and from the beginner speaker to the advanced speaker. When you are abroad you will teach a similar wide range of students seeking to acquire Conversational English skills.
Will I be ready to teach by the end of this course?
You will graduate with the necessary course background and practicum experience required to teach English abroad. Our graduates have all the confidence and skills necessary to launch a successful ESL career and to work in a professional manner around the world.
What about visa and work permits?
Some countries will require a work permit and many countries do not required teachers to have a work permit or work visa. Your school may even ask you to travel to the country under a tourist visa. Once you are there for 30 to 90 days and you meet the requirements of the school, your tourist visa will be converted to a work visa. This process can be very costly for the schools and they want to make sure you will remain at the school before they sponsor your visa. The TEFL Institute does not provide visa paperwork. This is a matter between your future employer and you. You can ask your TEFL Institute program advisor about some general rules of thumb for countries.
How old must I be to take a course through the TEFL Institute?
You must be at least 18 years of age and able to travel independently if attending one of our overseas classes. There is no upper age limit to teach English abroad.
Does the Course qualify for Academic Credit?
The TEFL Institute courses qualify for up to sixty CEU or CPDU credits. We are an approved educational training organization by the Illinois Department of Education. Those wishing to take our courses online through Roosevelt University may receive academic credits for the classes. Tuition Fees through Roosevelt University are higher as it is a private university.