Written by Aidan Tyler-Scott
If you are considering entering the English teaching realm, there may be some questions you have before signing up for a TEFL course. So, to help you navigate the world of teaching English to international students, we share a few Frequently Asked Questions about TEFL.
#1. What is a TEFL course?
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. A TEFL course teaches you all the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to teach English to individuals with other native languages.
The course includes the tools to teach English in a classroom and online. You will learn a variety of teaching methods and techniques, how to plan a lesson, present a lesson to a class, and how to teach different age groups. An acccrediated TEFL course will open the doors for you to teach English online and abroad.
#2. Do I need to be a native English speaker?
Yes, you need to be a native English speaker to teach TEFL. A native speaker is someone who has spoken a language since a young child rather than someone who learnt it as a foreign language.
There are many South Africans who are bilingual (speaking two languages fluently) and only learnt English later on in life but are at a native level of speaking English. As long as you are able to speak English fluently and have the knowledge of grammar, you can apply for a TEFL course.
It is crucial that TEFL teachers are native English speakers because they need to be able to answer students’ language questions on the spot and guide their students to speaking English fluently.
#3. Do I need any other qualifications to take a TEFL
course?
Besides being a native English speaker, there are no other qualifications that are prerequisites for taking a TEFL course. Only a positive and committed attitude is necessary for completing the TEFL course. Like taking any other course, self-discipline and hard work is required for succeeding and obtaining a TEFL certificate.
#4. What do I need to teach English online?
Obtaining a 120 hour TEFL certificate is the minimum requirement for teaching English online. If you would like more experience, TeachTEFL also offers 20 hour Teaching English Online course and a 20 Hour Teaching Young Learners course. You also need a resume, cover letter, and a professional attitude once you start applying to online English platforms. It is also important to have a dedicated quiet workspace where you can teach, and a good internet connection and quality tech equipment to successfully teach English online.
#5 How can I teach English abroad?
There are some countries, like South Korea, that require you to have a degree alongside a TEFL certificate to teach abroad. However, there are many countries in South America, Asia, and Europe that only require a TEFL certificate and some teaching experience. Make sure that you find an accredited school and platform when applying to teach English abroad, and they will help you with the entire process. Once you have been accepted after your interview and maybe a successful demo lesson, they will help you with getting your Visa.
Final Comments
TEFL is an exciting venture if you are passionate about teaching English. There are many perks that come with getting a TEFL certificate like teaching online and abroad in countries you have never experienced. Contact TeachTEFL if you have any other questions or are unsure about anything.
