Teaching English As A Foreign Language - Qualifications For TEFL Teachers

Qualifications For TEFL Teachers

Qualification requirements vary considerably, from country to country and among employers within the same country. For many institutions it is possible to teach without a degree or teaching certificate. Some institutions will consider it necessary to be a native speaker with an MA TESOL. A university degree in English language and literature can also be of value, as indeed can any specialist degree. Other institutions consider a proof of English proficiency, a University degree and a basic teaching qualification to be more than sufficient. The level of academic qualification need not be the most important qualification however as many schools will be more interested in your interpersonal skills. For trainers wishing to enter the academic field publications can be as important as qualifications, especially if they relate to English use in your field. Where there is a high demand for teachers and no statutory requirements, employers may accept otherwise unqualified candidates. Each country is different, and acceptance depends on demand for English teachers and the teacher's previous teaching and life experiences.

As a general rule schools will tend to prefer qualifications that involve a significant amount of assessed teaching. Shorter courses, or online often lack assessed teaching practice. Course makers having recognized this and have begun introducing combined TEFL courses which have an element of assessed teaching. Private language schools are likely to require at least a certificate based on successful completion of a course consisting of a minimum of 100 hours, usually including about 6 hours of observed teaching practice.

The most popular and recognised in the U.K. are:

• Cambridge's CELTA
• Trinity's CertTESOL
• TEFL England, accredited NCFE and ODLQC courses, available in Great Britain and online.
• The TEFL Academy, WTEFLAC accredited courses. Combined classroom and online courses (120 hours) available in Great Britain.

There are many alternative programs, including

• TESL Canada accreditation, which is required by language schools in Canada and is highly recognized worldwide. A TESL program that meets the TESL Canada Professional Standard 1 requirements is a minimum of 100 hours of theory and methodology and includes a supervised practicum of a minimum of 20 hours (CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL equivalent). A TESL program that meets the TESL Canada Professional Standard 2 requirements is a minimum of 250 hours of theory and methodology and includes a supervised practicum of a minimum of 20 hours. A TESL program that meets the TESL Canada Professional Standard 3 requirements is a Masters of Arts in Applied Linguistics, TESOL, or related field and includes a supervised practicum of a minimum of 20 hours.
• Online TESOL Diploma, offered by Coventry House International-Ontesol since 2003 and recognized by TESL Canada at their Professional Standard 2 upon completion of a 20-hour Practicum.
• ACTDEC UK, founded in 1993 by a group of TESOL institutes for maintaining professional standards in TESOL distance programmes.
• Post Baccalaureate Certificate in TESOL (initial and advanced) The School of Teaching ESL, Seattle, WA, U.S.A., which is accredited through Seattle University.
• TEFL Online, which is accredited through OISE at the University of Toronto in Canada.
• CCELT, a TESOL certification from the Center for Communication and English Language Teaching, which is available in Canada and Australia.
• EDI Cert TEFL, which is accredited by OFQUAL at the same level.

Age/gender requirements might also be encountered. In some countries outside Europe and America, for example the Middle East, schools might hire men over women or vice versa. And they might hire only teachers in a certain age range; usually between 20 and 40 years of age. Anyone under 19 may be able to teach TEFL, but usually only in a volunteer situation, such as a refugee camp.

Internet-based TEFL courses can vary in quality, but most are accepted worldwide and particularly in Asia where the largest jobs markets exist in China, Korea and Japan.