What is TEFL?

So to get started lets clear up a few acronyms that you’ve probably seen when searching the web. CELTA is Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It is put out by Cambridge and is the oldest certificate of its kind. For a long time it was the only certificate. TEFL, which is Teaching English as a Foreign Language and TESOL, which is Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages have the same 4 week curriculum as the CELTA and are now just as widely accepted.

In France, most schools will look for the TEFL or the CELTA certification. A TEFL certificate will be the minimum requirement but sometimes a university degree will be required as well. That said, this changing so even without a degree, don’t let that stop you from applying for positions.

What Should a Typical TEFL Course Include?

While certification programs may vary, there are certain requirements that must be maintained in order to provide quality training that produces quality teachers prepared to enter the workplace. The TEFL certificate program must include among other things, language awareness, such as grammar and phonology, teaching methodology and techniques. The cornerstone of any good TEFL program is lesson planning and observed teacher practice and feedback with real students of English. This last point is also what most potential employers look for and is what sets apart onsite courses from online programs. Observed teacher practice is essential to the success of an English teacher in training. The minimum requirement is 6 hours of teacher practice but at The Language House, we normally provide 8 to 10 hours.