How to become a TEFL teacher
Teaching English as a foreign language could give you an exciting and rewarding career and the opportunity to earn money while experiencing life in another country.
Alternatively, it could allow you to work from home – wherever that is – and generate a steady income by teaching English online.
To have access to the best job opportunities, you will need an internationally recognised qualification that is valued by employers and students.
We offer a range of affordable online TEFL courses that will qualify you for TEFL jobs all over the world.
Is teaching English as a foreign language a good career?
A recognised TEFL qualification opens up many career pathways. For some TEFL teachers, this means a position as a classroom teacher in a prestigious language school abroad with a regular salary and potential for career progression.
Other teachers prefer to travel the world using their teaching qualifications in short-term roles that generate an income and allow them to spend time in a country of their choice.
Increasingly, TEFL teachers are teaching online, which means that they can be anywhere and still deliver quality teaching to their students remotely.
What does a TEFL teacher do?
The TEFL teacher’s role is to teach non-native English speakers to read, write, and speak English with fluency and accuracy.
English language teaching can be highly varied, and once you have your TEFL certification, you could find yourself in any one of the following roles:
A classroom teacher working with young learners, teaching overseas students online;
in a corporate environment, or online, teaching Business English to business people who need to operate in an English-speaking country
Our online TEFL courses will qualify you to work in these environments and many more, as an in-person TEFL teacher or a provider of distance learning.
Do I really need a TEFL qualification?
You may know of a native speaker who has started teaching English abroad without a TEFL qualification.
Although it may be possible for some, as a qualified teacher with the accredited TEFL certification that our courses provide, you are likely to find better-paid and more satisfying roles.
Upon completing one of our courses, you will possess the teaching skills necessary to work with various types and levels of learners, enabling you to prepare lessons that will set you up for an exciting and lucrative career as a TEFL teacher.
How do I become a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language?
You will need to complete a TEFL course. We offer a range of online courses, and you will be sure to find one that gives you everything you need to begin teaching English as a second language.
TEFL courses from FullCircle
Professional 120-hour online TEFL course
Our 120-hour TEFL course includes 18 modules to give you all the skills you need to find TEFL work. While it is our shortest course, it will still provide you with the international accreditation and skills that will make you attractive as a TEFL teacher.
Professional 160-hour online course
With an extra nine modules, including specialist training for teaching English to young learners, this is an excellent qualification for teaching TEFL online or in person.
Professional 200-hour online TEFL course
Students on our 200-hour online TEFL courses benefit from modules for the Teaching English for Young Learners course and a 40-hour Professional Teaching English Online course, setting you up to provide distance learning from anywhere in the world.
Professional 200-hour level 5 TEFL Diploma
The professional 200-hour course is a Level 5 UK government OFQUAL-regulated Diploma. This course comprises 32 modules to train you to the highest level possible as a teacher of English as a foreign language. The course gives you a qualification of equivalent standard to CELTA courses.
What is the quickest way to qualify as a TEFL teacher?
Our 120-hour online TEFL course provides the fastest route to certification.
Once you have successfully completed the course, you could be certified and ready to apply for your first TEFL job within weeks.
Is previous teaching experience required?
Our courses don’t require you to have any previous teaching experience or even a degree. You just need to have a passion for teaching English, and we will supply the rest.
Are online TEFL courses as good as classroom courses?
FullCircle TEFL courses are all internationally recognised for the quality of their content.
They are designed by experts to enable you to develop all the skills necessary and provide 24/7 access to the course material for six months and top-quality tutor support.
Online TEFL courses are also convenient as you can work at your own pace whenever and wherever you wish, combining your qualification with work or family commitments.
Will it really take me 120 hours to complete my course?
Although all course titles state a duration, the learning materials have been designed to provide a reasonable study load for the average student to complete in that period of time.
However, some previous students have completed their online learning much more quickly, becoming TEFL certified in no time.
Are there plenty of vacancies for jobs teaching English abroad?
Learning to speak English as a second language is still a highly prized skill worldwide, with native speakers being particularly valued, and there are thousands of job opportunities for TEFL teachers every year.
How do I find a TEFL job?
We can help you with your job search. Take a look at our jobs board for TEFL opportunities across the world.