Is a 120-hour TEFL Certificate Enough? Learn more | TakeTEFL Blog (2023)

FAQs

Is a 120-hour TEFL course enough? ›

Is a 120-hour TEFL Course Enough to Get a TEFL Job? A 120-hour TEFL certification course is widely regarded as the basic international standard for gaining employment as a paid English teacher abroad or teaching English online, even without prior experience or training in English language education.

An online 120-hour TEFL course is usually Level 3 according to Ofqual, the equivalent of an A level or an advanced apprenticeship. An accredited 120-hour TEFL course will equip you to enter a classroom and deliver effective lessons with confidence.

'120-hour course Pro' consists of 6 modules, '150-hour course Master' - 10 modules, '250-hour course Expert' - 13 modules. The '120-hour course Pro' is a core course. The '150-hour course Master,' besides all the basic units, has an 'Advanced Teaching English online' course.

Depending on how the course is structured, a 120-hour TEFL course can take anywhere from one month to six months. Shorter courses are more intensive and require full-time study. Longer courses are part-time and allow time for other activities.

The vast majority of reputable employers worldwide will require a 120-hour TEFL qualification from a properly accredited TEFL course provider.

A TEFL certification (at least 100 hours in length) is the minimum ESL qualification normally required for a teaching job with ESL/language schools around the world.

Thankfully, you can still start your teaching career and find great teaching jobs abroad without a degree as long as you have accredited Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, which is cheaper and faster to attain.

The general rule

Generally 120 hours minimum is the most common requirement, but some countries only require 100 hours or have no preference at all. Most employers prefer to hire English teachers with an internationally recognized TEFL certification from a 100-120-hour course.

Is TEFL Certification Worth It? Yes. If you want to get a good teaching job and be an effective teacher for your students, then it is definitely worth it. Remember, most schools worldwide require a TEFL certification; and once you're certified you can the ball rolling on applying and interviewing for jobs.

120-hour Premier TEFL course:

It consists of: 10 modules of study where you will learn the fundamentals of everything from planning classes to teaching grammar and vocabulary to your students.

Can I finish TEFL in a week? ›

Getting a basic grasp of TEFL can take as little as 20 hours (in the case of a short classroom course), but getting qualified enough to confidently and effectively teach abroad can take much longer depending on the depth of learning you want to achieve.

Overall, a TEFL teacher's salary can vary anywhere from $600-$4,000 USD per month.

Once you've navigated the world of TEFL certification and chosen a country you want to work in, then comes the job hunt. But is it hard to get employed? Generally, finding employment as a TEFL teacher is quite easy. The demand for English teachers (and particularly native English speakers) is high.

To go back to the question, is TEFL hard to pass? For the most part the answer is no, if you have the time to dedicate to the course and if there are no extenuating circumstances which can derail you. If you're still not sure if TEFL is for you, join a few online forums and ask TEFL teachers what they think.

The international standard 120 hour TEFL course is one of the quickest and most convenient ways to become fully qualified to teach English as a foreign language. On average, it takes 2-4 weeks to complete this course.

In many countries, having a TEFL certificate and being a native-English speaker are enough to get a job teaching English abroad, no degree required. You do not need professional teaching experience, a teaching license, a degree in education or even a college degree to teach English abroad.

Because the demand is so high, teachers can expect to find jobs year-round, and while most language schools prefer a degree, a TEFL certificate is enough to get you hired.

The pay to teach English abroad varies, but you can expect to earn a decent salary. In top-paying countries, teachers can get paid a salary of anywhere from $2,000 to over $5,000 USD per month. Your TEFL salary will depend on your position, qualifications and the country you teach in.

China. China is by far one of the biggest employers of ESL teachers in the world. With the large job demand, plus the generous benefits packages and low cost of living, many ESL teachers are able to save up a good amount of cash while teaching in China.

There are jobs for TEFL-certified teachers in virtually all countries, including English-speaking nations, and for teaching English online. Just know that different schools and employers will maintain different hiring standards and not all are looking for a TEFL certification.

What countries require English teachers? ›

The best places to teach English abroad to make money are South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Gulf Arab States and Vietnam. Being an English teacher in these countries will have you earning enough money to save anywhere from $500 - $1,500 USD per month.

Due to widespread demand, ESL teaching jobs are typically available in more than 100 nations. In addition, TEFL-certified teachers can choose to teach abroad for a period of just a few months, or they can make it a lifelong career.

Level 6 TEFL courses require at least 350 hours of study time and are equivalent to the final semester of an undergraduate degree. These courses are ideal for anyone wanting to take on a more leading role in the EFL industry, such as a head teacher at an English language institute or a university teacher abroad.

It is estimated that over 100 000 positions open up for TEFL teachers all over the world EVERY YEAR – and that's not even considering online teaching. But there is still a need for more TEFL teachers. The nature of teaching English as a foreign language is that teachers are constantly moving.

Getting your TEFL certificate is definitely worth it, as you'll reap the rewards of all the hard work you put in to passing it once you qualify. Some of the big benefits of being a certified TEFL teacher include: Having a qualification that's valid for life!

However, they do expect their teachers to work for between 5 to 20 hours per week. When you teach those hours is completely up to you however and you can set your own schedule each week. Experience needed: Lingoda asks for 2 to 3 years of teaching experience plus your TEFL qualification.

Teaching English is a really adaptable side hustle, meaning you can essentially pick it up and put it down whenever you want to. Also, it's super easy to get started. Once you have a TEFL qualification, there are myriad businesses online looking to get English teachers tutoring students.

ITT International TEFL and TESOL is the most affordable, accredited online TEFL course available right now. TEFL students can enroll in a course for as low as $79, with certification options spanning 60-hour, 120-hour, and 180-hour courses.

There's a particular need for online TEFL teachers, as there's a huge demand for English language learning in Asia, especially in China. You'll be able to earn an income while building your experience interacting with international students and maintaining the flexibility of an online job.

How much does a TEFL 120 hour course cost? ›

You'll see a range of prices when you browse online TEFL/TESOL courses – from $150 to as much as $1,500. The average 120-hour online TEFL/TESOL course with a tutor typically falls in the middle range of this, at around $300-$600.

CELTA is certainly a widely recognized and respected type of TEFL certification. However, that doesn't mean it's the best TEFL certification for you. If you're interested in teaching children, for example, a TEFL certification is better since CELTA is specific to adults.

Yes, it is possible to fail the TEFL course.

TEFL teaching is anything but straightforward. It can be stressful and pressurised trying to work out and meet the expectations of the students, parents and school leaders. As well as having to settle into a new culture away from family and friends, money can be tight and the next payday can seem a long way off.

Not only does a TEFL certification not expire, it's also accepted worldwide.

Teaching English online salaries depend on your qualifications and the specific job, so you can expect to make anywhere from $12-$40 USD/hour.

Even the education industry has a 1%

Teachers in Luxembourg earn 30% more than any other teacher in the world, with a starting salary that exceeds nearly every other nation's maximum teacher salary.

Typically, a fully accredited TEFL certification course will last anywhere from 4 weeks to 6 months. Shorter, 4-week long courses will generally run full-time (30-40 hours per week) and are very demanding.

120-hour Premier TEFL course:

It consists of: 10 modules of study where you will learn the fundamentals of everything from planning classes to teaching grammar and vocabulary to your students.

How many modules are in the 120-hour Premier TEFL course? ›

Our 120-hour Premier Online TEFL Course consists of 5 modules.

Is TEFL Certification Worth It? Yes. If you want to get a good teaching job and be an effective teacher for your students, then it is definitely worth it. Remember, most schools worldwide require a TEFL certification; and once you're certified you can the ball rolling on applying and interviewing for jobs.

It is possible to fail a TEFL course. If you have a degree already and are a native English speaker, you will absolutely be able to handle the course load.

Most teaching positions require aspiring teachers to have a bachelor's degree and/or a TEFL certificate, so it's crucial to showcase these qualifications proudly on your resume. It's typically best to list your educational background and qualifications near the top of your CV.

Having your TEFL isn't required to teach anywhere abroad, but if you have your heart set on teaching in a country where TEFL certification is required then yes, you do need your TEFL to teach abroad there.