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Frequently Asked Questions about
TEFL |
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1 What
is the difference between ESL and EFL? |
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English as a Second Language (ESL) is English taught to non-native
speakers who live in an English-speaking country. This would be the
case, for example, with a refugee living and studying English in the
United States.
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is English taught to non-native
speakers who live in a non-English-speaking country. This would be
the case with a Korean student studying English in his home country.
| 2What
is the difference between CELTA, TEFL, TESOL, and online TEFL
certificates? |
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Whether you choose a CELTA, TEFL, TESOL or online TEFL course, you
should know that all four programs are internationally recognized,
all prepare you for a teaching position overseas, and all are good
for life. There are, however, several significant differences among
them.
CELTA
The University of Cambridge CELTA (Certificate in English Language
Teaching to Adults) is the most widely recognized international teacher
qualification. The CELTA is a standardized teacher preparation program,
so no matter where you take the course, it is more or less the same.
If you have a CELTA certificate, prospective employers know exactly
what to expect in terms of your training. CELTA requires a minimum
of six hours teaching practice time, a minimum of six hours of observation,
four assignments, a pre-interview task, an interview in the application
process, and a pre-course task once you are accepted.
TEFL
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses are also teacher
preparation certificate programs, but they are not standardized. Therefore,
when evaluating an onsite or online TEFL course, it’s important
to do your research.
First of all, you want to be sure that the institution is accredited
and that this information is stated on your certificate. Another helpful
check is to find out how long the institution has been in the language
business. Bridge-Linguatec has over 20 years of experience and is accredited
by ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training),
a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency. Our TEFL Online and BridgeTEFL programs have been approved by ACCET.
Finally, the best
way to be sure a TEFL course meets your needs is to ask the relevant
questions, whether these involve practice teaching hours, the possibility
of live or video observations, the amount of homework expected, or
the number of written assignments required.
TESOL and
TESL
TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) or TESL
(Teaching English as a Second Language) courses are not standardized
either and are usually offered through universities.
Online
TEFL
Cost and convenience are the advantages of online TEFL certificate
programs. The courses can be completed from any computer anywhere
in the world and usually cost a fraction of on-site programs. However,
the real-world experience of observing and/or teaching authentic language
classes is not possible in most online courses.
If spending a month in another city or paying the tuition of an on-site
course is not feasible for you, an online program is your best option.
Online programs are likewise a good choice if you are unsure about
teaching as a career and are not ready to invest the time and money
in a regular TEFL course. Like on-site programs, online TEFL courses
are not standardized and you need to do your homework. For help identifying
a good online course, read the next FAQ.
| 3How
do I choose a good online TEFL course? |
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There are a number of things you should ask when evaluating an online
TEFL course. Is the school accredited? Is the organization an established
institution in the language business? Does the school have a physical
location where you can contact program administrators? Are the tutors
professionals with experience in the field? What kind of interaction
do online students have with these tutors? Does the school provide
testimonials or recommendations from program graduates?
| 4Do
I really need a TEFL certificate to teach English abroad? |
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Although schools in some parts of the world may require only that
you be a native speaker, most institutions prefer to hire teachers
with some training. And in an increasingly competitive environment,
it’s an absolute necessity at some schools. In any case, having
a CELTA or TEFL certificate on your resume will make the difference
between you and another native English speaker, and can increase your
chances of working at a better school and/or receiving a higher salary.
| 5Is
it really necessary to get my TEFL certificate through an accredited
institution? |
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Absolutely. As explained above, TEFL courses are not uniform in either
content or quality. Any person or institution can offer a TEFL training
program without regulation or standardization. Thus, one of the best
ways to know that you are enrolling in a respectable TEFL course is
to check that the institution is externally validated by a reputable
accrediting agency. See our page for more information.
6Do
I have to have a college degree to enroll in a TEFL course?
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No. CELTA and BridgeTEFL courses require only that students be academically
prepared to enter a university. Students must also be at least 18
years old to enroll in the CELTA (20 is preferred) and 20 years old
to enroll in the TEFL (18- and 19-year-olds are accepted at the center’s
discretion).
| 7Do
I have to be a native speaker to enroll in a TEFL course? |
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No. TEFL courses have different requirements for language proficiency.
In order to enroll in a CELTA or TEFL course at BridgeTEFL, you must
have a level of English proficiency that enables you to follow the
program and satisfactorily complete course requirements. This is a
level at which the applicant makes few or no errors in English and
is roughly equivalent to a score of 280 or higher on the computer-based
TOEFL.
| 8What
is the profile of students in your training programs? |
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Trainees in BridgeTEFL programs represent a wide variety of ages and
backgrounds. Many students are young adults between the ages of 22
and 30 who have recently graduated from college or are changing jobs.
We also have a significant number of students between the ages of
45 and 65, who are either recent retirees or are taking time off from
the corporate world to travel abroad.
We have had trainees from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Holland,
and India, but the large majority of our on-site students come from
the United States and Great Britain. TEFL Online students are from
all over the world, including the U.S., Canada, Italy, China, Korea,
and Lebanon.
| 9Where
can I teach with these certificates? |
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The CELTA, BridgeTEFL, and TEFL Online certificates prepare you for
a teaching job in any country you choose. You may end up teaching
a business executive in Chile or a group of 40 high school students
in China. EFL teachers are currently needed all over the world, with
the highest demand in Korea, People's Republic of China, Japan, Indonesia,
and other Pacific Rim nations.
10Do
these training programs enable me to teach ESL/EFL in public
school?
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Most school districts require that you be licensed by the state in
order to teach in public school. Some districts, however, are in dire
need of ESL teachers and will hire people with a TEFL certificate
provided that they are willing to work towards licensure. This often
begins as a long-term substitute teaching position.
For frequently asked questions about teaching overseas, see .
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| I now feel so much more confident in my teaching
abilities because of the TEFL Online program. I would recommend
this program in a heartbeat to anyone that is interested in
getting a TEFL certification and interested in teaching overseas.
I am extremely pleased and satisfied with my progress and with
the great results. |
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| Get the Complete Package! |
| Combine TEFL Online with Grammar Advisor, the comprehensive grammar resource for English teachers worldwide. |
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