Teaching English as a Foreign Language — your gateway to a whole new world!

Whether you are already in the teaching profession or are looking to switch careers entirely, a TEFL qualification will help open more doors than you can imagine. Just picture being able to work in any country in the world, exploring and learning different cultures whilst simultaneously teaching people… There aren’t many more fulfilling or rewarding jobs than that!  

What is TEFL?

You might have heard of it used under different acronyms such as TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) or TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) but to put it simply, Teaching English as a Foreign Language is just that. As a qualified teacher, you will be teaching English to people who do not speak it as their first language. For many, this means being able to travel around the world and teaching the language to people abroad. However, in the UK for example, an increasing number of students are teaching English without leaving the country.

Open to anyone over the age of 16, there is a vast range of courses on offer that once completed, will be able to transform your life. Whilst a certificate to teach English is not always required to teach overseas, more schools and educational facilities are asking for certification, so a TEFL qualification will provide more opportunities. More than that though, without the proper training, you won’t be able to help the people you need to help the most — your students.

How do I choose a TEFL course provider?

There is a growing number of online providers offering multiple variations of TEFL courses. Knowing where to start when you’re new to it all can be difficult. What you should prioritise is finding a well-accredited provider that offers the 120-hour TEFL course. The 120-hour TEFL course is what you should be looking to complete at the very least, as this is typically an essential requirement for many countries and employers.

But what about accreditation? Good accreditation is basically a confirmation that your provider upholds high-quality standards. There is no single accrediting body for Teaching English as a Foreign Language which makes finding the right provider a difficult area to navigate. Accredited is a term that can be misused or stretched, so when it’s used to promote a provider, you should always be easily able to find out more information about where the accreditation is coming from. 

External accreditation from internationally recognised awarding bodies is what you should be looking for, particularly from education and government bodies. Examples of these include OFQUAL (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation) and the BAC (British Accreditation Council), but there are many more.

A TEFL course from an accredited provider is essential in giving you the best chance of being employed as an English teacher, so doing your research shouldn’t be an issue. A quality TEFL certification is accepted and acknowledged by schools and employers across the world; giving you the freedom to explore any country that you want. The most recommended TEFL/TESOL Courses are:

• https://tesolsa.co.za/
• https://www.tefl.org/courses/locations/south-africa/
• https://www.masterstudies.com/Masters-Degree/TESOL/South-Africa/

Opportunities all over the world

With a TEFL certificate under your belt, the old proverb that ‘the world is your oyster’ has never been more apt. Many graduates have gone on to teach English across the globe, working in some incredible places across Europe as well as the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Central and South America. Even if you don’t want to travel, you can build a successful career teaching students via online platforms.

The ability to teach wherever and whenever gives you immense freedom that few other jobs do. You will be able to develop a career entirely on your own terms.

A rewarding career

There are countless benefits to securing a TEFL certificate. Once achieved, it will stay with you for life and the skills you learn will provide you with the confidence and knowledge needed to be able to help students around the world.

Your skills are invaluable to education facilities so you will be rewarded justly, but it’s not all about the money. Ask any EFL teacher and they will tell you that the most rewarding aspect of the job is seeing your students achieve and succeed in English.

Above all of that though, a TEFL qualification allows you to explore the globe and discover incredible new cultures. As long as you’re fluent in English, there are opportunities out there for you to teach it. The first step to an undoubtedly rewarding career is certification.