Is Your TEFL Certification Worth It?

Posted by CesarMuler on July 13th, 2013

Over the last few years, TEFL certification courses have increasingly become popular and a good number of Americans and people from English speaking countries are heading overseas to teach English.  This makes having a certificate important, as this is a way to show that you have the capacity to teach English.  There are numerous TEFL and TESOL courses available that can meet the budget and needs of everybody.

TEFL is an acronym for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and this involves teaching the language in countries where the primary language is not English.  Individuals who teach to immigrants in the US and Canada are ESL teachers, also referred to as tutor of English as Second Language. Other TEFL certification courses are the TESOL courses (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language). These names are interchangeable and their use may vary according to the institution, in which it is being taught.

Now the question frequently asked in this field is whether or not it would be beneficial to complete TESOL courses and do TEFL certification programs? Just knowing how to speak English does not qualify you to teach it.  Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) needs to be taken seriously because it is hard work and any ESL teacher will confirm it.  A quality TEFL certification will enhance your chances of earning a higher salary, besides making you a better English teacher.  It will also provide you with opportunities to work in a better working environment with friendly and more reliable people.

When considering TESOL courses or TEFL certification program, there are four factors to consider:  (1) course format, (2) level of worldwide recognition, (3) course duration and (4) price.  The course format can be an online or an on-location program.  Both can cover the basic ideologies and methods of teaching English, but they also have differences, so it is important that you look at these options carefully. The level of recognition is very important; the certificate you’ll be receiving on completion of your TEFL should be one, which is recognized internationally.  Otherwise, it can mean nothing, just equivalent to possessing a piece of paper. The 2 TEFL courses that are most widely accepted are the Trinity CertTESOL and Cambridge CELTA.

Also as important as the others to consider is the course duration because most English teaching jobs and employers require 100+ contact hours in training for you to qualify, last but not the least is the price. Make sure that you are paying for a course that offers value in the long run.

So, now, is TEFL or TESOL worth it?  Yes. These programs are highly respected and you need to show certifications as a proof that you can teach English effectively.  Whichever place you go – Europe, Asia, etc. – it is but obvious that you’ll be asked to present a certificate showing that you did a TEFL or TESOL program. Most respected institutions offering a teacher training program provide their graduates with job placement assistance all over the world.  Now don’t forget the pay.  Working for one year teaching English can repay the cost of the certification course.  From the second year onwards, it is guaranteed to be all profit.

Now click on the links to study tesol courses and obtain tefl certification.