The 10 Best TEFL Courses for Teaching English Abroad or Online
Teaching English as a foreign language (in short: EFL) is a booming market all across the world. Whether it’s in-class or online, thousands of teaching positions are waiting to be filled in all parts of the world. When you are TESOL or TEFL certified, you can pretty much pick and choose between the best positions – even in highly competitive regions like big cities in China, South Korea or Japan. But with so many courses to choose from – how do you know which are the best TEFL courses?
I have taught English in China and South Korea and obtained my TEFL certificate from International TEFL and TESOL Training (ITTT). Ever since then, I’m still a part of the ITTT alumni community and stay in touch with fellow course grads.
ITTT has a wide range of online TEFL and TESOL courses on offer – depending on what best suits your needs. Below, is a breakdown of the best TEFL courses for teaching English abroad or online.
If you want to save some time from reading the whole post, here are the best TEFL courses in each category:
Best TEFL Course for New Teachers: 120-hour online TEFL/TESOL course
Best TEFL Course for Certified Teachers: 50-hour CTBE course and 50-hour CTEYL course
Best TEFL Course for Career Seekers: 250-hour TESOL Diploma Course
Best TEFL Course for Teaching English Online: 170-hour Teaching English as a Foreign Language with Online Specialization
Best Overall TEFL Course: 220-hour TEFL/TESOL Master Package
TEFL/TESOL Course FAQs
Check out the following FAQs before deciding to take a TEFL/TESOL course.
What are the requirements for teaching English as a foreign language?
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How long does a TEFL course take?
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We offer a range of TEFL courses to suit different requirements and most do not have a set timetable. The exception is our in-class TEFL course that runs for a set four-week period. All our online courses can be completed at any pace up to a maximum of six months.
How much does a TEFL course cost?
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The price of TEFL certification varies depending on the provider, the length of the course and method of study. An in-class course that includes teaching practice generally offers the best preparation, although they are also the most expensive. Online courses provide an affordable option but do not include teaching practice.
Can non-native English speakers take a TEFL course?
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As long as you are fluent in written and spoken English you are eligible to take our TEFL courses. You will need to demonstrate a high level of understanding, but simply being a non-native English speaker will not prevent you from getting qualified and teaching English.
The Best TEFL Courses
for Teaching English Abroad or Online
For New Teachers
Since teaching overseas is a lucrative career for many native and fluent English speakers worldwide, most TEFL courses are targeted at people without any prior teaching experience. The following courses are best suited for those new to teaching English as a foreign language.
120-hour TEFL/TESOL Course
The 120-hour online TEFL/TESOL course is one of the most popular TEFL course formats out there. This mostly has to do with the fact that the minimum training hours most schools require is at least 100 hours.
This course includes a full range of high-quality materials (available for printing out) and results in a certification that is internationally recognized and welcomed by employers all over the world.
The 120-hour course is divided into 20 units, carefully chosen and organized to ensure a gradual build up of knowledge whilst not overloading students with too much information at any one time. The best thing about this course is that you can study at your own pace from anywhere in the world and you have six months to complete the course.
Upon course completion, ITTT also assists in finding a teaching position.
Sign up through my link and get a 20% discount!
150-hour Certification Course with Teaching Practice (CTP)
The 150-hour TEFL certificate course is available with or without tutor and commences with an online study section and a wide range of informative videos. Once this first part is complete, you complete six hours of real teaching practice.
One of the most popular features of this course is that the online section can be completed at any pace that suits your personal preference.
Upon graduation you will receive your hard-copy certificate in the mail and also have access to lifetime job support services.
Sign up today and get 20% off the course fees.
60-hour Introductory Course
This 60-hour introductory TEFL/TESOL course is a popular choice for those who want to teach only for a short period of time or do some volunteer teaching.
The course covers 10 units and provides the perfect insight into the world of teaching English as a foreign language. You can choose to take the course with or without the help of an experienced EFL tutor.
Get 20% off the course fees when applying through my link.
Best Deal: 220-hour Master Package
The 220-hour TEFL/TESOL Master Package is one of the best TEFL courses on the market. This course offers the best solution for new teachers with three courses in one, all conducted online and available with or without full tutor support:
- Part 1: 120-hour TEFL course
- Part 2: 50-hour course in business English (CTBE)
- Part 3: 50-hour course in teaching English to young learners (CTEYL)
Priced at only $399 (total value $899) for the tutored version and $349 (total value $589) for the untutored version, this course package is the best deal for your teacher training out there. Get 20% off the course fees today!
For Certified Teachers
The following courses are aimed at TEFL and TESOL certified teachers who are looking to obtain an additional qualification in a specialized area of teaching. I have personally completed both of these extra courses and find them to be very useful.
50-hour Teaching Business English Course
Business English is a great field to specialize in since it’s a rapidly growing area of the EFL market. The 50-hour CTBE course aims to show you how you can adapt your existing teaching skills and knowledge to suit this specialized area of the teaching world.
50-hour Teaching English to Young Learners Course
Teaching English to children is one of the fastest growing areas of the English language teaching market. This 50-hour CTEYL course addresses the issues that are unique to this form of teaching and help you adapt your existing skills to suit them.
For Career Seekers
While some only want to spend a year or two abroad to pay off college debt, save money or simply to explore the world, others want to make a career out of teaching English for the long-term. The following courses are TEFL/TESOL diploma courses for a successful EFL career that can last forever!
250-hour TESOL Diploma Course
This Diploma course is an advanced-level course that has been designed to suit the needs of practicing teachers or those who already hold a TEFL/TESOL certificate.
This course is intensive and research-based. The modules cover a range of important subjects, such as the historical development of English language teaching, different approaches to course syllabus design, designing classroom materials, student assessment strategies, classroom management, and so much more.
Save 20% when signing up with my link.
Best Deal: 470-hour Professional Package
This TEFL course package is the most valuable course package in the TEFL industry. It equips you with a broad spectrum of teaching skills that you can use in a variety of classroom situations. As with all other courses mentioned, you are able to work through it at your own pace and with your own learning style.
This course package is made up of the following parts:
Part 1: 120-hour TEFL/TESOL course
Part 2: 50-hour course in teaching business English (CTBE)
Part 3: 50-hour course in teaching English to young learners (CTEYL)
Part 4: 250-hour TESOL Diploma course
For Teaching English Online
Teaching the English language online is a fast-growing area of TEFL that is set to increase even more in the coming years. It’s also great for “traveling teachers”: you can teach students from any location in the world!
170-hour Teaching English Online Course
This course is ideal for anyone wanting to take the route of becoming an independent online teacher – whether it’s from home or while traveling the world.
This course will give you the knowledge and skills needed to teach English in both classroom and online settings. The course consists of two parts:
- 120-hour course
- 50-hour specialization
50-hr course in Teaching English Online (CTEO)
For those who already possess the 120-hour certification: you can simply upgrade and take the 50-hour online teaching specialization course for only $175 without tutor and $275 with tutor support!
Ready for your own teaching adventure?
Teach English can be a great way to make money – short-term or in the long run. Whether you want to teach English online or travel the world teaching in different countries, a TEFL certificate certainly helps make that happen.
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