TEFL: Your Complete Guide to TEFL Certification and TEFL Jobs
TEFL: Your Complete Guide to TEFL Certification and TEFL Jobs
What is TEFL, and how can TEFL certification help you find TEFL jobs? TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. TEFL certification provides training in how to teach English to people whose first language is not English. Once qualified, you can explore TEFL jobs teaching English abroad, online or in other language-learning environments, although individual employers and countries can have additional qualification, degree and visa requirements.
If you’ve searched for ways to work abroad, change career or teach online, you’ve probably encountered four letters:
TEFL.
But what does TEFL actually involve?
How do you become TEFL certified?
What jobs can you do afterwards?
And can a TEFL qualification really help you build a new career?
Here’s what you need to know.
What Does TEFL Mean?
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
Traditionally, the term described teaching English in countries where English isn’t the main language.
For example, an English teacher working with students in Thailand, Vietnam, Japan or Spain might describe themselves as a TEFL teacher.
Today, however, the TEFL world is much broader.
English teachers can work:
abroad;
online;
in language schools;
with private students;
with businesses;
with children;
with adults;
and in specialist areas of English teaching.
That makes TEFL both a teaching qualification route and, potentially, the beginning of a highly flexible career.
What Is TEFL Certification?
TEFL certification is evidence that you have completed training designed to prepare you to teach English as a foreign language.
This matters because speaking English and teaching English are not the same thing.
Imagine a student asks:
Why do we say “I’ve worked here for five years” instead of “I work here since five years”?
You may instinctively know which sentence is correct.
But could you explain why?
Could you explain it to somebody whose first language isn’t English?
And could you create an activity that allows twenty students to practise the language?
That’s where TEFL training comes in.
What Do You Learn During TEFL Certification?
A professional TEFL course should teach much more than English grammar.
You’re learning how people learn languages and how you can help them do it effectively.
Your training may cover areas such as:
lesson planning;
teaching methodology;
classroom management;
grammar;
vocabulary;
pronunciation;
speaking;
listening;
reading;
writing;
assessment;
error correction;
and understanding different types of learners.
TEFL Fullcircle’s Professional 120-Hour Online TEFL Course, for example, is structured around practical teacher training for people beginning their TEFL journey.
Do You Need Teaching Experience to Get TEFL Certified?
Not necessarily.
In fact, many people begin TEFL training because they have never taught before.
You might currently be:
a university student;
a graduate;
an office worker;
a parent;
a manager;
a nurse;
a salesperson;
an engineer;
a retiree;
or simply somebody looking for a change.
Your existing career doesn’t automatically determine whether you could become a good English teacher.
Teacher training is designed to help you develop the skills you don’t yet have.
Do You Need a Degree for TEFL Certification?
A university degree isn’t universally required simply to study a TEFL course.
TEFL Fullcircle’s current course information says its online TEFL courses are accessible without previous teaching experience or a degree.
However, this is where an important distinction needs to be made:
TEFL course entry requirements and TEFL job requirements are not the same thing.
Some countries require foreign teachers to have a bachelor’s degree for particular work visas.
Some employers may also ask for a degree.
Others may not.
So you should research the requirements of the country and type of employer you’re targeting before making employment plans.
What Are TEFL Jobs?
TEFL jobs are roles in which you teach English to people who speak another language.
There isn’t one single type of TEFL job.
That’s one of the attractions of the industry.
A TEFL career could involve teaching a class of children in Asia.
It could involve teaching Business English to professionals in Europe.
It could involve teaching individual students online from your home.
Or your career could eventually combine several of these.
TEFL Fullcircle currently maintains a TEFL Jobs section covering both overseas and online opportunities.
What TEFL Jobs Can You Do Abroad?
Depending on your qualifications and legal eligibility, opportunities can include roles in:
private language schools;
international education providers;
after-school programmes;
private academies;
English-language centres;
corporate training;
summer programmes;
and other education settings.
The precise market varies enormously by country.
That’s why researching TEFL jobs should involve much more than asking:
Where can I earn the most money?
A better set of questions is:
Where am I legally eligible to work?
What qualifications do employers require?
What will my living costs be?
Is accommodation included?
How many hours will I teach?
What kind of students will I teach?
That’s how you compare real opportunities.
Can You Get TEFL Jobs Online?
Yes, online English teaching is another potential route.
TEFL Fullcircle’s current jobs resources distinguish between teaching abroad and teaching online.
Online teachers may work with:
children;
adults;
professionals;
conversation students;
exam candidates;
business clients;
or private one-to-one learners.
Some teachers work through online teaching companies or platforms.
Others eventually build their own client base.
The requirements vary between employers, platforms and clients, so there isn’t one qualification rule covering every online TEFL job.
Where Can TEFL Certification Take You?
This is where TEFL becomes particularly interesting.
Your qualification isn’t tied to one destination.
Depending on your eligibility and the requirements of individual employers, you might explore opportunities across different regions of the world.
TEFL Fullcircle’s current jobs section highlights destinations including Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and European markets, alongside online teaching.
But don’t choose a destination simply because it looks exciting on Instagram.
Research the legal requirements first.
Visa and work-permit regulations vary significantly between countries and can change.
Does TEFL Certification Guarantee a Job?
No.
And any responsible discussion of TEFL should be clear about that.
TEFL certification can give you the professional training required or preferred for many English-teaching opportunities.
It doesn’t guarantee that an employer will hire you.
Your employability can depend on:
your TEFL qualification;
your interview;
your CV;
your experience;
your degree where required;
your work-visa eligibility;
the country;
the employer;
and the particular role.
Think of TEFL certification as something that helps prepare and qualify you to compete for appropriate opportunities.
Not as a guaranteed employment ticket.
How Do You Find TEFL Jobs?
Once you’ve completed your TEFL training, there are several possible routes.
You can search:
TEFL job boards;
language-school websites;
recruitment companies;
teaching platforms;
professional networks;
and direct employer vacancies.
TEFL Fullcircle also provides its learners with access to TEFL jobs and career-support resources. Its current site describes a job board plus CV and interview support.
Before applying, check every vacancy carefully.
Look for:
salary;
working hours;
contract length;
location;
student age;
accommodation;
holiday entitlement;
visa support;
required qualifications;
degree requirements;
and experience requirements.
What TEFL Certification Should You Get?
This depends on your objective.
If you’re beginning TEFL, a substantial introductory qualification can give you the foundational skills needed to start developing as a teacher.
TEFL Fullcircle’s current core offering includes its Professional 120-Hour Online TEFL Course, designed as beginner-level, self-paced training.
For learners seeking a more advanced regulated qualification route, TEFL Fullcircle also offers its Professional 200-Hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma.
Don’t choose based purely on the biggest number.
Ask:
What do I want to do after qualifying?
Then choose the training that best supports that objective.
Is 120-Hour TEFL Certification a Good Starting Point?
For many prospective teachers, 120-hour TEFL training is a logical place to begin.
It provides enough scope to introduce important areas such as lesson planning, teaching methodology, classroom management, grammar and language skills.
TEFL Fullcircle’s current 120-hour programme is specifically positioned as beginner-level training and is delivered online.
But remember that particular TEFL jobs can impose additional requirements.
Always check the vacancy rather than assuming every employer wants exactly the same qualification.
What Is Level 5 TEFL Certification?
Level 5 is a different proposition.
It refers to the qualification level within the relevant regulated qualifications framework rather than simply meaning “more course hours”.
TEFL Fullcircle currently offers a 200-Hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma awarded through Gatehouse Awards.
That can be worth investigating if you’re looking for a more substantial qualification route.
The right choice comes back to your career goals.
Is TEFL a Good Career Change?
It can be.
And your previous career may be more useful than you realise.
Imagine you’ve spent fifteen years in finance.
You don’t suddenly lose that knowledge when you become an English teacher.
You could eventually specialise in Business English for finance professionals.
Worked in recruitment?
You might help students prepare for English-language interviews.
Worked in sales?
You understand presentations, negotiation and professional communication.
TEFL can give you the teaching methodology.
Your existing experience can give you a niche.
Can TEFL Give You a Flexible Career?
Potentially, yes.
Some people pursue full-time overseas teaching careers.
Others use TEFL for a period of international travel.
Some teach online.
Some work part-time.
Some combine teaching with another career.
And others eventually specialise in areas such as:
Business English;
young learners;
exam preparation;
academic English;
one-to-one teaching;
or online education.
You don’t necessarily need to know exactly where TEFL will take you before you begin.
How Do You Start a TEFL Career?
The process can be broken into five broad steps.
1. Decide what you want from TEFL
Do you want to teach abroad?
Teach online?
Travel?
Change career?
Earn additional income?
Your objective influences everything that follows.
2. Research TEFL certification
Compare course content, training, assessment, support and accreditation rather than buying solely on price.
3. Complete your TEFL training
Learn the methodology properly.
Don’t treat certification as a box-ticking exercise.
4. Research suitable TEFL jobs
Check your target countries and employers carefully.
5. Start applying
Prepare your CV, practise interviews and apply for roles for which you’re genuinely eligible.
And remember:
getting TEFL certified is the beginning of your teaching development, not the end.
Why Choose TEFL Fullcircle?
TEFL Fullcircle was founded in 2015 and currently states that it has supported more than 70,000 learners.
Its current offering connects three important parts of the TEFL journey:
TEFL training
↓
TEFL certification
↓
TEFL jobs and career support
That matters because most people don’t start researching TEFL because they desperately want a certificate to frame on their wall.
They want to do something with it.
Maybe that’s teaching abroad.
Maybe it’s teaching online.
Maybe it’s changing career.
The qualification is the bridge between where you are now and where you’re trying to go.
Frequently Asked Questions About TEFL
What does TEFL stand for?
TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
What is TEFL certification?
TEFL certification shows that you have completed teacher training designed to prepare you to teach English as a foreign language.
What are TEFL jobs?
TEFL jobs are English-language teaching roles working with learners whose first language isn’t English. Opportunities can exist abroad and online.
Do I need a degree for TEFL?
Not necessarily to complete TEFL training. However, particular countries and employers may require a degree for employment or work-visa purposes.
Can I get TEFL certified online?
Yes. TEFL Fullcircle offers online TEFL courses, including its Professional 120-Hour Online TEFL Course.
Can I teach English abroad after TEFL certification?
Potentially, but eligibility depends on the destination, employer and applicable work-visa requirements.
Can I get an online TEFL job?
Online English-teaching opportunities exist, but requirements and working arrangements vary between platforms, employers and private clients.
Does TEFL certification guarantee employment?
No. A TEFL qualification can prepare you for appropriate teaching opportunities, but it does not guarantee a job.
Is 120 hours enough for TEFL?
A substantial 120-hour course is a common starting point, but some jobs may require additional qualifications, experience, teaching practice or other credentials.
Where can I find TEFL jobs?
You can search specialist job boards, recruitment companies and individual schools. TEFL Fullcircle also has a dedicated TEFL Jobs section for overseas and online opportunities.
Is TEFL Right for You?
Maybe you’re not searching for another qualification.
Maybe you’re searching for what comes next.
A new country.
A new career.
A flexible way to work.
An opportunity to teach online.
Or simply the chance to do something completely different.
That’s why the three stages belong together:
TEFL gives you the profession.
TEFL certification gives you the training and credential.
TEFL jobs give you somewhere to use it.
If that sounds like the direction you want to take, your next step is to understand the qualification options available to you.
Explore TEFL Fullcircle’s online TEFL courses, compare the 120-Hour Online TEFL Course and Level 5 TEFL Diploma, and find the training route that fits where you want your TEFL career to go.