Where can I find a good TESOL course?
Initial TESOL Teacher Training Qualifications Explained
Where can I get a free TESOL? Where can I get a cheap TEFL qualification? Where can I find a good course? These questions are frequently asked, particularly in social media groups, so I thought I would offer a definitive answer once and for all. This article examines the range of initial teacher training (ITT) options available to new or unqualified teachers.
Note: This article expresses the ideas and opinions of Focus on Learning. It does not contain any affiliate links and we do not work with any qualification providers. this article has been written to help rather than make money through advertising.
Q: Should I do a TESOL, TEFL or TESL course?
Let’s make things nice and clear: TEFL/TESL/TESOL are all basically the same thing. Based on name alone, no single course is in any way better than another. All of these terms can get a bit confusing but our article on TEFL Terminology can help you clear things up. So don’t pick a course based on the assumption that TESOL is better than TEFL or because a course has TESOL/TEFL/TEFL in the title… because it really doesn’t make it better. You need to do a bit more digging.
Q: Where can I find a free TESOL/TEFL qualification?
The answer really is quite simply… you can’t find a free TESOL/TEFL qualification that is worth doing. Moreover, even if you could find such a course, it really wouldn’t be worth the PDF it was printed on! Essentially, you would be better off keeping the ink in your printer and turning the paper into an aeroplane.
Q: Where can I find a cheap TESOL/TEFL qualification?
Here the new would-be teacher does have some options – although they are certainly not all equal or of anything like the same quality. It is possible to find a course for under $20 or even under $10. While this might look like a real bargain… it isn’t! In most cases you are better off buying lottery tickets. As they say: if something sounds too good to be true then it usually is. This is a classic example. If you saw a car priced $20, you wouldn’t think, ‘Oh, wow, what a bargain!’ you’d more likely think ‘Hold on, why is it so cheap? What’s wrong with it?’ – yet somehow people (often) seem to only be sceptical in the first instance - with the car - but crucially, not with the course! So, if you wouldn’t buy a super cheap car and expect it to be amazing, why would you expect the same with a teaching qualification? Just let that sink in.
Q: Where can I find a reasonably priced TESOL/TEFL qualification?
Basically, these are all just entry level qualifications. There are no shortage of TESOL/TEFL qualifications out there. Really, they should only be used as a way of helping people decide if teaching is the right choice for them. Now these courses should be 120 hours at a minimum but you will also see 140, 180, 200 hour variants. Don’t be fooled, the extra hours don’t necessarily make the course significantly better: they are still entry level or initial qualifications only. In terms of price, these courses vary dramatically from $50-$1,500. Note, these are all short courses you could do in a weekend or a week. Do you actually think this is enough time to become a qualified teacher? Probably not. It is worth noting that many schools do not consider these teaching qualifications to be sufficient (or indeed any of those previously mentioned) to offer you a job. Can I sell you a certificate that a large number of employers won’t accept? Thought not. How about these magic beans? Or this rock that keeps away tigers?
Q: Where can I find a good TESOL/TEFL qualification?
‘Good’ may be a subjective term but if you want to be taken seriously – and earn more than $6 an hour – then you really only have two options: the Cambridge CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL. Both courses are regarded as the ‘gold standard’ of initial teacher training. When it comes to choosing between the two, it should be said that the CELTA is better known, but both courses are really very similar. These courses tend to be more expensive than those in the previous paragraph and will likely cost over $1000. Essentially, these are what many in the industry consider to the ‘basic minimum qualification’ to function as an English language teacher. These qualifications have the benefit of being legitimate as a result of being accredited by well known internationally renowned international institutions: Cambridge University (CELTA) and Trinity College London (CertTESOL). These courses can be completed in as little as 4-6 week full-time or around 3-4 months part-time. Both of these qualifications are graded so you can get a sense of how well you have done. All in all, they should be regard as a good place to start, but more of a stepping stone, rather than a complete course that will teach you the A-Z of teaching.
Good luck on your teaching journey!
Please note: one size does not fit all and this is a general guide that does not take your individual circumstances into account. If you would like personalised support, we offer a range of teacher training options, coaching and support (but no, we don’t sell worthless qualifications or pieces of paper) which can be found in our teacher training guide.
