7 Critical Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing The Best TEFL Course

Want to teach English abroad or online? Choosing the right TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification course will play a critical role in providing you with the training, qualifications, and job placement assistance you need to get hired to teach English abroad and online.

Which TEFL Certificate Do I Need?

Look for TEFL certification courses that meet or exceed international standards (100 hours of coursework & 6 hours of practicum) and that are externally accredited. You should also consider which courses include services like job guidance that enable you to get a great job teaching abroad.

Now that we've answered the questions above, let's address the important piece: How to choose a TEFL course.

Key Takeaways: How do I choose a legitimate TEFL course?

When it comes to living and teaching English overseas, here are 7 critical mistakes to avoid when choosing your TEFL course:

Pro Tip! Check out this TEFL Course Checklist to ensure you stay on the right path to choosing the right TEFL Course. 

1. Taking a TEFL Course that is Not Accredited & Does Not Meet International Standards

The Reality: 90% of English teaching jobs and programs like EPIK in Korea require an accredited certification that meets international standards.

How do you know if a TEFL course is accredited and meets international standards? You need to make sure that you take a class that meets at least the following criteria:

• 100 hours of academic coursework and training (equal to a full-time, intensive 4-week in-person course, or the equivalent part-time or online);
• 6-20 Hours of live practice teaching (practicum) to actual ESL students (not role-playing with other teachers-in-training);
• Employs a curriculum accredited by a recognized, independent body within the field, like Ofqual;
• Instruction is provided by a highly qualified, university-level instructor.

Read more: What is Accreditation for TEFL Certification Really All About?

2. Taking a TEFL Course with No Live Practice Teaching (Practicum)

The Reality: Top employers, recruiters, and teaching programs do not recognize TEFL certification that does not include at least 6-20 hours of practicum (live practice teaching and observation).

Why is a practicum so important for professional-level TEFL courses? Taking a course that incorporates live practice teaching with actual ESL students is critical for two reasons:

• First, it will provide you with experience working with actual ESL students, which is critical for gaining the skills and confidence you need to become a successful teacher. 

• Second, thousands of language schools around the world do not recognize TEFL certifications that lack a practicum.

A practicum should incorporate practice teaching and observation in a live setting with ESL students learning English as a second language.  While role-playing with other teachers-in-training can be valuable, it is no substitute for practice teaching with actual ESL students.

Pro Tip! If a TEFL course is 100% video-based and self-paced with no live student interaction, employers will likely filter out your resume and not consider you for employment. 

3. Going Cheap and Taking a $68 Groupon TEFL Class

Let's be honest here. Do you think you can gain a recognized certification to teach English professionally in Germany, Japan, or Dubai, or that you will receive the job placement assistance you need to get a job in Chile or South Korea, by taking a $99 course from a discount website that doesn't include live practice teaching?  

The Reality:  A professional, accredited TEFL course costs between $ 1,400 and $2,000 to cover credentialed instructors, curriculum development, job guidance services, and accreditation fees. 

TEFL courses are like anything else in that you will get what you pay for, and if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you take such a course simply to save money, you will pay for it in the end when you realize that the inexpensive "super-deal" TEFL program that you took won’t qualify you for the teaching positions that you want. Here's what you need to look for:

4. Assuming That You Need to Take an In-person TEFL Course rather than an Online Course

Some people will assume that TEFL certification courses taken in person are automatically better or more valid than any online TEFL course. This is simply not the case. 

The Reality: Accredited online TEFL courses that meet international standards (100 hours of coursework, at least 6 hours of live practicum, and university-level instruction) provide the skills and recognized certification you need to qualify for thousands of teaching jobs worldwide. 

Additionally, an online TEFL course offers the flexibility of taking your class from the comfort of your home or remotely from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. For instance, International TEFL Academy offers two online TEFL courses accredited at Level 5 by Ofqual, which is the same accreditation as well-known in-person courses such as CELTA:

• A part-time, 11-week Online TEFL Course for students who work or go to school full-time.
• A full-time, 4-week intensive Online TEFL Course for students who wish to get certified faster

At ITA, we train and certify 5,000 people a year, and 80% of our graduates take their TEFL course online. Those graduates go on to gain employment in top job markets around the world, from Spain, Germany, and Chile, to Saudi Arabia, Japan, and South Korea. 

Is ITA's Level 5 TEFL accreditation equivalent to a CELTA?

Yes, ITA's regulated Level 5 qualification from Ofqual (the British government) is the same level as a CELTA qualification in the U.K. and will successfully qualify you for thousands of elite teaching jobs worldwide. 

Read more: Is ITA's Online TEFL Certification Course Valid and Accredited? 

5. Ignoring Job Placement Assistance

The Reality: Getting TEFL certified is only half of the process for a successful teach-abroad experience. The other half is navigating international job markets, including interviews and visas, which vary country to country. 

Top-level TEFL programs include lifetime job guidance to ensure that you are able to get hired for a great teaching job that will meet your personal goals and expectations.

What job guidance services do I need to ensure I don't get screwed over on my job search?

• Real live staff to speak to, in person or on the phone, to guide you and answer your questions;
• Personal assistance with resume and cover letter development;
• Coaching on how to interview for English teaching jobs across the globe;
• Access to listings of thousands of job opportunities around the world;
• Guidance regarding hiring seasons, visas, hiring requirements, and salaries;
• Referrals and contact information for top-level recruiters; government programs in countries like France, Spain, and Japan; and individual schools and language institutes.

If you do not receive this level of job search guidance, then whatever you will pay for that TEFL course simply will not be worth it.

Read more: Job Search Guidance at International TEFL Academy

What to Look For and Avoid When Considering "Guaranteed Job Placement" Programs?

While you don't need to pay extra for a job when you enroll in a high-quality TEFL course, you may opt to pay an additional program fee to a TEFL certification provider for a "guaranteed job placement." There's nothing wrong with seeking the security of knowing that you will have a job waiting for you when you complete your TEFL course.

How do I know whether to trust a "guaranteed job placement program"?

• Watch out for "fine print" that may include fees, waivers, and other conditions that make any guarantee less than what it seems.
• Look for programs that take your preferences into account and provide options and flexibility when it comes to your choice of teaching jobs. You should never pay for a job or accept a job that you don't want.
• Ensure that you will at least receive a market-average salary, benefits, and working conditions. 
• Quality programs will provide personalized support from experienced experts in areas like documents & visas, interview coaching, and resume development.
• Provide support and guidance throughout your placement to assist with any issues that arise with your teaching job.

Read more: Guaranteed Job Placement Programs for Teaching English in Asia.

6. Signing Up for a TEFL Course Without Speaking to a Representative of that TEFL School First

The Reality: If a TEFL training organization cannot answer basic questions over the phone or in person in a manner that inspires confidence, then you don’t need to waste your time or money taking their TEFL course.

What questions should I ask a TEFL school before enrolling in a TEFL course?

• What are the course training hours and accreditation?
• Course Instructors: Who will teach my TEFL course? Are the instructors qualified at the university level?
• Student Teaching Hours: Do your courses incorporate live practice teaching with actual ESL students (not role-playing with other teachers-in-training)?
• Job Search Assistance: What is the quality of job placement that is provided, and what resources and personalized job assistance are provided?
• Are there any hidden costs such as book fees, registration fees, or fees for job placement assistance?

Read more: 10 Questions You Need to Ask Any TEFL School Before Enrolling in a TEFL Class

Read more: Why You Need to Speak with a Professional TEFL Admission Advisor if You Want to Teach English Abroad (and do it right)

7. Assuming that all TEFL Courses and TEFL Certification schools are the same (and then signing up for the wrong course!)

The Reality: There are a wide variety of different TEFL training courses with similar-sounding names and programs – don’t assume that they are all the same organization or that they meet the same standards or provide the same services just because they have the word “TEFL” or “TESOL” in the name.

How do I know which TEFL Courses are worthwhile?

• Always verify that a course is independently accredited to meet strict international education standards.

• Additionally, research student reviews on verified third-party websites like GoAbroad.com and GoOverseas.com.

Read more: 7 Key Tips to Choosing the Best TEFL School