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Mon-Fri: 9am-5:30pm CT
Sat-Sun: Closed
Upcoming Holiday Closure: 11/28, 11/29
⚠️ This course is currently held online until further notice.
In-Person, Full-Time
$2,299 $2,099
Named Best USA TEFL Course
Internationally Accredited
Internationally accredited & taught by experienced instructors, this 4-week intensive TEFL course at ITA's World Headquarters in Chicago will provide you with professional-level English teaching skills in addition to a recognized qualification for teaching English online & around the globe.
The Chicago TEFL course will be on hold until further notice. Please check out our online TEFL course page for further information.
Earn your internationally accredited 190-hour TEFL Certification at International TEFL Academy's world headquarters, ideally located in the heart of Chicago's Near North Side. Situated in Lakeview, we are a mile away from Lake Michigan and one mile south of world-famous Wrigley Field. With the Diversey Brown Line "El" (subway) stop just a block away, it's a quick 15-minute ride to "The Loop" in downtown Chicago, home to the city's most significant architectural and cultural landmarks, including Michigan Avenue, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Soldier Field.
As one of the largest and most diverse cities in America with a multicultural blend of over 100 different ethnicities, Chicago is an ideal locale for your introduction to the field of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL).
This TEFL Chicago course is an intense, full-time university-level course. You will be in class full-time, five days a week. During your TEFL Chicago course, you will receive the following:
ITA's Chicago TEFL Course was named #1 Best USA TEFL Course by GoAbroad.com & incorporates 190 hours of training, which is 58% more than a standard 120-hour TEFL course.
This Chicago course offers real teaching experience to prepare you to become a confident English teacher.
All Chicago instructors possess advanced credentials & training in the field of TEFL (MA or Ph.D.). Interact daily with your instructor & receive constructive feedback.
This TESOL Chicago course is externally monitored and approved at a Level 5 Ofqual (British Government) accreditation by TQUK (authorized accreditor of Ofqual).
International TEFL Academy's TEFL Course in Chicago is perfect for:
ITA Chicago Course Graduate
I chose ITA because it seemed like the overall best program. I would be taught how to teach, given an arsenal of techniques to make English fun, get practicum feedback, and receive a 190-hour certification. I chose to do the in-person class because I needed the accountability, and I chose Chicago for financial reasons. I wish I could take the course over and over again. My instructors were amazing and extremely knowledgeable. They were always willing to help improve lesson plans or brainstorm ideas. I really appreciated all of the feedback I received. It really helped me improve each time.
All TEFL Course students receive lifetime job search assistance for finding a job teaching English abroad and online. These exclusive services and resources include:
Read more: ITA's Lifetime Job Search Assistance
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This TEFL certification course has been specially designed to provide all course graduates with the tools to succeed as professional English teachers.
Here is a brief overview of what you will learn in your Chicago TEFL Course:
Supplemental Content— The course also dedicates 2 separate lectures to the following topics: Teaching English to Young Learners, and Teaching English for Specific Purposes.
For more details, check out this Chicago TEFL Class Syllabus & our Chicago TEFL Class Content Page.
4 weeks full-time (190 hours). This is an intensive university-level course.
Students should expect to be in class from 9:30 am - 5:30 pm (with breaks), Monday-Friday. Students will also need to stay later until 8:00 pm approximately twice a week to complete their practicum. Weekends are primarily free for sight-seeing and relaxation, but some homework is required. Check out this sample Chicago TEFL Class calendar.
Earn your internationally accredited 190-hour Chicago TEFL Certification at International TEFL Academy's world headquarters, ideally located in the heart of Chicago's Near North Side, 1 block from the Diversey Brown Line "El" stop.
Classes are capped at 12 students; Internet access is available at the school facilities.
Your Chicago TEFL certification comes with:
Your course tuition does not include personal expenses, transportation, visa, insurance, housing costs and the course textbook (purchase upon enrollment).
Here are the minimum technology requirements to attend the TEFL course:
Laptop - Students are required to bring a laptop with long battery life (at least 4 hours). Tablets, Chromebooks, and mobile devices cannot be used in place of a computer.
Flash Drive - Students will need a flash drive that is compatible with his or her computer.
Word Processing Software - Students should have a reliable word processing system on their computer such as Microsoft Word.
Adobe Acrobat - Students will be required to submit assignments as PDFs. Most computers already have the capability of saving documents as such.
Google Drive - Students will need to know how to use the basics of Google drive. If you are unfamiliar with Google Drive, check out this quick tutorial. Many others can be found on YouTube.
All ITA students & graduates have the option to enhance their skills and credentials by taking additional TEFL Specialty courses in the fields of:
A variety of free & paid activities/excursions are available to students. Popular activities typically include:
We can provide advice on housing options nearby in hostels that are located in Lincoln Park and downtown Chicago, all within minutes from public transportation.
Several hostels are conveniently located near the course location with prices ranging from $27-$35 USD and up per night. Hostel options include Hostellng International, AAE Chicago Parthenon Hostel, and Chicago Getaway Hostel.
Short-term furnished apartments and subleased rooms are available throughout the city year-round.
A great option is found through AirBnB where you can rent a furnished apartment from the owner or rent a room in their place.
The Chicago TEFL course will be on hold until further notice. Please check out our online TEFL course page for further information.
Learn how to teach hands-on thanks to the mandatory live practice teaching (practicum) sessions included in your TEFL course. The practicum is an essential component of a teacher's training process, as it provides valuable insight and experience prior to obtaining independent teaching positions.
You must complete a minimum of 10
hours for your TEFL/TESOL certification. These hours will be achieved through observation and real student teaching.
Apply teaching principles to real-life situations, build confidence in your skill and pedagogical style, and gain exposure to various learning styles and classroom situations.
International TEFL Academy offers free ESL classes to non-native English speakers that live in Chicago. You will practice teaching adult learners of varying levels and cultural backgrounds.
Feel more prepared, and add a competitive edge during your job search and interview process thanks to your acquired teaching experience.
Juliana Dukov, ITA's Chicago TEFL Course Instructor.
Juliana has been with ITA since 2015. She has a Master's in English Philology and Theory of Literature, 18 years of teaching experience and 3 continents she's called home.
All instructors, including myself, possess advanced degrees in TESOL (at least an MA, and usually a PhD) in addition to at least 10 years of professional teaching and training experience. We have also taught English abroad extensively.
Read more: ITA's Academics Department
Remember that it is an intensive, university-level course. Here's what you should expect:
Purchasing the ITA TEFL course textbook is required to take the class in Chicago.
Purchase your textbook here: ITA's Fundamentals of Teaching English as a Foreign Language Textbook
Our courses in the United States are available for all citizenships, ethnicities, native and non-native English speakers. For non-US citizens or non-legal residents of the USA, you will need to understand US law and the visa that allows or doesn't allow you to enroll into job training courses (vocational training).
Aubrey Brown, Chicago TEFL Course Graduate
This course is definitely worth it if you learn best in person like me. I gained so much confidence through this course and it really solidified my goals of being an English teacher. The practicum classes were extremely helpful as you teach so many different comprehension levels. It really gave me an insight into what to expect going forward as a teacher. Finally, the two instructors that I had were amazing and made the class really enjoyable. I learned so much from them and am so grateful for all of their help. 10/10
I knew that I wanted to teach in South Korea and went through an amazing recruiter recommended by ITA. Overall, I found their services very helpful.
This is a very intensive course and you will be at the school for most of the day. It will seem overwhelming at times but you honestly learn so much throughout the 4 weeks. Getting my TEFL and teaching abroad has been a lifetime experience for me. No matter if you choose the online or in-person class, I strongly recommend going in and giving it your all. The instructors here really know what they’re doing and I have taken a lot of their teachings and applied them to my current classroom. Best of luck!
What is included 👇
What is included 👇
What's included 👇
4311 N Ravenswood Avenue
Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60613
Local 773-634-9900
U.K. +44 (0) 2045 402 099
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