There are many different qualifications in a range of different forms and subject areas. Some of these are academic and in subjects you expect such maths and science subjects. However, there are also a wide range of qualification that come with more practical uses and are only offered in certain forms. In this article, we’ll be looking at one of these, the TEFL qualification.
In short, a TEFL qualification is a qualification that trains prospective teachers in teaching English as a foreign language. This can come in a range of different levels and forms with some of the main ones being the TEFL certificate and the TEFL diploma. TEFL courses may be taught online, in-person or through a hybrid method.
This has given you a brief answer on what the TEFL qualification is. However, in the rest of this article, we’ll be delving into the details, from what you can do with this qualification to whether you should get one at all.
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What is a TEFL qualification?
Before we can get into what the actual qualification is, let’s first look at TEFL is. TEFL is an acronym that stands for teaching English as a foreign language.
This means that teaching of English in a similar way to how you might learn French or Spanish in school, although it is often taught purely in English. However, this teaching can be done in both English-speaking countries and abroad and isn’t limited to school-based teaching or even a physical classroom at all.
The TEFL qualification refers to one type of different qualifications that train prospective EFL teachers how to teach English. This may be taught online, in-person or through a hybrid method.
Although there are also other acronyms in the English language teaching world to refer to similar qualifications, such as TESOL and TESL. You can learn more about what a TEFL qualification is by checking out this article by The TEFL Academy.
What kinds of TEFL qualification are there?
As previously mentioned, the TEFL qualification is there to train prospective English teachers in how to teach the English language. However, this qualification isn’t actually just one.
There are 2 main types of TEFL qualification that prospective teachers can get. The main difference between them is the level that they are at, which is often considered in hours of training.
These types are the TEFL certificate and the TEFL diploma. Although it’s important to bear in mind that some companies may offer different ones as well.
You can learn more about these 2 types by checking out this article by Go Abroad.
In the following sections, we’ll delve further into what the certificate and diploma are.
What is a TEFL certificate?
A TEFL certificate is an entry-level TEFL qualification. This course will generally be 120+ hours although, it may depend on the course provider whether it is slightly shorter or slightly longer.
The exact syllabus will once again depend on the course provider as there isn’t that much standardisation between the different TEFL courses. However, in general, you will learn about lesson planning, teaching methods and techniques and classroom management.
You can learn more about this by checking out this article by I-to-I.
In the UK, certain 120-hour TEFL certificates will also be considered level 3 qualifications. However, this doesn’t automatically apply to all TEFL certificates, it will depend on if the course is regulated by Ofqual. We’ll look more into this when considering if TEFL qualifications are accredited later on in the article.
For more on TEFL certificates as level 3 qualifications, have a look at this page from The TEFL Academy.
A level 3 qualification is equivalent to other qualifications such as A-Levels, Highers and Advanced Highers, BTEC Nationals, Advanced Apprenticeships and other qualifications of this level. You can learn more about level 3 qualifications by checking out this Think Student article.
What is a TEFL diploma?
A TEFL diploma is a more robust TEFL qualification. This course will be a minimum of 168 hours of training. However, many courses have 170 hours, 180 hours and some even have much longer courses, especially if they’re offering an advanced diploma rather than the regular diploma.
You can learn more about this by checking out this article from Do TEFL.
Naturally, the TEFL diploma is a much more in-depth course than the TEFL certificate as it is at a higher level. It also has a slightly more standardised syllabus as to call it a diploma, it must be Ofqual-regulated in the UK, which isn’t a requirement for the certificate.
Again, this course will cover lesson planning and teaching techniques, but it will go more in-depth into the specific things being taught, such as pronunciation or grammar. It also makes sure that you fully understand the English language so that you’re actually able to teach it.
As it must be Ofqual-regulated to even be a diploma, the TEFL diploma is automatically considered a level 5 qualification in the UK.
This is equivalent to the first 2 years of a bachelor’s degree. There are many more level 5 qualifications such as foundations degrees, higher national diplomas (HNDs), diplomas of higher education (DipHEs) and other qualifications of this level.
You can learn more about level 5 qualifications by having a look at this Think Student article. Look at this article from TEFL.org to learn more about TEFL diplomas.
Are TEFL qualifications accredited?
There is a vast range of providers offering TEFL courses at a range of different levels and in different forms, both on and off-line. Not all these courses are accredited, although many of them are.
For a course to be accredited, it means that it has been approved by a professional body. This means that the course is at the industry standard and covers everything that you need it to.
In the case of a TEFL course, this means that the course will cover everything you need to know to be able to teach students English. You can learn more about course accreditation by checking out this article by Bright Knowledge.
Another term that was mentioned earlier on in the article was “regulation”. For a qualification to be regulated it means that the course has been reviewed and approved by a regulatory body. Regulatory bodies hold much more power than simply a professional body and may even cover all qualifications within a country.
In England, the main regulatory bodies are Ofqual and QAA. There are other regulatory bodies in the UK, such as SQA in Scotland, CCEA in Northern Ireland and Qualifications Wales in Wales. You can learn more about regulation by checking out this article by UK Study Online.
Once again, not all TEFL qualifications are regulated. However, you are able to check if they’re regulated by searching on the regulator’s website. For example, you can find Ofqual’s regulated qualifications on their website here.
Should you get a TEFL qualification?
Having done a TEFL diploma myself, I can tell you that there are both pros and cons to doing one of these courses. Personally, I would recommend doing one if you feel that it is right for you.
I would definitely suggest doing at least the 120-hour course if you plan to be in any capacity where you will be teaching English. Although some organisations may not require it, it means that you’re actually able to teach English and can do your students justice.
Let’s start positive and go through some of the pros of taking a TEFL qualification:
- Trains you to teach English with a comprehensive course.
- Can open up opportunities for work.
- Gives you more opportunities if you want to travel.
However, there are also some drawbacks to taking a TEFL qualification:
- Can be expensive.
- May be difficult to study if you’re working full-time.
- Can be difficult to find the right course, especially online.