I'm a
big proponent of online and distance education. I've personally taken distance education courses during high school that counted towards my BA as well as done both my masters from brick and mortar schools online. There are lots of benefits to taking courses online, like not having to travel and having access to many schools rather than just ones nearby. Online education isn't for everyone. I know that some people can't get motivated or are wary of distance degrees. Here's an article that discusses more about
the pros and cons of online TEFL certs.
I understand that it can be hard to separate the good from the bad, especially when you're dealing with a school you may never visit. Many people look at price when deciding which TEFL course to go with. While that is an issue, please remember that you get what you pay for. Finding a great deal on Groupons for a TEFL cert that's less than $100 probably isn't going to mean much to a potential employer. Here are
somethings to look for when choosing a TEFL course.
I think that the big three in TEFL certs are CELTA, SIT, and Trinity. However, the problem with these is that none of them can be taken completely online. SIT and Trinity are face-to-face courses. CELTA just came out with a mostly distance TEFL cert a bit ago, but some parts of it still need to be taken face-to-face and some people aren't able to do that.
If you're looking to take a TEFL cert completely online, I'd recommend going with the
University of Toronto's. It's from a legit institute (one of the best in the world), can be done completely online, and is affordable. By doing a TEFL cert online, you won't have to take time off work nor will you have to travel to the city where the TEFL course is given. If price is still an issue for you, if you enroll before the end of November you can
save $200 on the new 150-hour TEFL course by entering the code "tefltips" when you enroll. After November, you can still use the code to
save $50.
More and more employers and countries are requiring TEFL certs, so if you don't have one you should seriously consider getting one. While the University of Toronto does offer a 100-hour course, most employers do ask for at least 120 hours, so consider taking the 120 or 150 hour one.
Earning your TEFL certificate online from the University of Toronto gives you the best quality TEFL training, combined with job placement from a global leader in international teacher recruitment. Travel the world while teaching English overseas as a TEFL-certified teacher.
Advantages of the University of Toronto’s TEFL Online
ESL teachers who enroll in the University of Toronto’s online course have four distinct advantages:
- The best quality training – The University of Toronto ranks in the top 20 universities worldwide. Graduates of the course receive a certificate with the official seal of the University of Toronto and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), ensuring that the certificate is recognized internationally.
- Worldwide accessibility – The University of Toronto’s TEFL course is 100% online and entirely self-paced. Access the course anywhere, at any time, from any internet-enabled device.
- Opportunities for elective specialization – The 120-hour and 150-hour TEFL certificates give teachers the chance to choose elective units tailored to their professional interests. By specializing in areas of TEFL, graduates stand out in their fields. Areas of specialization include Teaching English to Arabic Speakers, Teaching Business English, Teaching English to Young Learners, Teaching English to Korean Speakers, and many others.
- Job placement assistance – TEFL Online is partnered with Teach Away Inc., the world’s leading international teacher recruitment company. TEFL Online graduates receive free job placement consultation from Teach Away, giving them the best chance of landing a competitive teaching job overseas.
TEFL Course Options
ESL teachers have three options: the 100-hour, 120-hour, or 150-hour course.
100-hour course
120-hour course
- Six core course units
- 2 elective specialization units
*NEW* 150-hour course
- Eight core course units
- 2 elective specialization units
- Additional unit on teaching abroad
Introductory promotion: To celebrate the launch of the 150-hour TEFL course, the University of Toronto is offering a very limited-time offer of
$200 off the regular price – meaning that you’ll get the 150-hour course for the same price as the 120-hour course!
Use coupon code "tefltips" (all lowercase letters) until November 30th, 2013!
About Teach Away
Teach Away is the leading international teacher placement company. Every year, Teach Away’s international offices work with thousands of teachers to help them find teaching jobs in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Teach Away’s placement coordinators match educators with
international teaching jobs and conduct pre-departure training to ensure that teachers are prepared to live abroad.
Every graduate of the University of Toronto’s TEFL course receives free job placement consultation with a Teach Away placement coordinator after completion of the course.
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