ESL Courses Learn to Teach English Online

ESL / TEFL FAQs

• Q: ESL or TEFL: What’s the difference?

  ESL and TEFL are both used as catch-all terms to describe teaching English around the world. ESL is a common abbreviation used in schools and it stands for “English as a Second Language”. Whereas TEFL meaning “Teaching English as a Foreign Language” is the most-widely used term internationally. There are many other acronyms around, such as TESOL / EFL, but they all pretty much mean the same thing.

  In reality there’s very little difference between ESL and TEFL. Both focus on teaching English to non-native English speakers – and the teaching methods and techniques are pretty much the same, regardless of where in the world you teach.

• Q: What are the benefits of a Level 5 course or diploma?
  • The Level 5 course or diploma is the equivalent level to a CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL certification, meaning it’s regarded more highly than a Level 3 certification.
  • The minimum hours we offer are 180 hours on the Level 5 course, giving you a comprehensive knowledge of ESL before you start teaching. Our courses range from this 180 all the way up to a 320 Hour Diploma certification which includes online training and a weekend of in-class training.
  • The course is tutor-supported from start to finish, meaning you’ll get help along the way from our expert tutors, in-house Academic Director and Customer Support team.
  • You’ll get 6 months’ access to the course.
  • You’ll get a diploma certification on completion of your 300 or 320 Hour Diploma and a TEFL Course certificate if you’ve opted for a lower number of hours.
• Q: Who can help me decide which course is for me?

  Our ESL experts are on hand to help you decide which course will get you where you want to be! You can either call our helpful team on the number at the top of the page or request a call here to schedule a call for a time that suits you. We look forward to hearing from you!

  Another super handy way to decide which course is for you is to take our 2 minute TEFL Quiz which will give you a Level 3 or Level 5 suggestion based on your answers.

• Q: How do I know which Course provider to use?

  With so much choice and a huge amount of information online, navigating the world of ESL /TEFL Courses can be a tricky place!

  You need to make sure you choose a provider who is internationally-recognized and is regulated by a governing body. This ensures the training you receive is of the highest quality and your certification will be highly regarded by employers worldwide. All of our Courses are regulated by Ofqual, the UK Governing body responsible for monitoring certifications.

  We offer flexible and affordable Courses which are designed to be completed around busy lives and other commitments. Our courses are competitively priced to enable as many people as possible to get certified in teaching English.

• Q: Do I need to be a native English speaker?

  You don’t need to be a native English speaker to take a Course, but you do need to have a native English speaker level to succeed in it. If you aren’t a native English speaker, we recommend you opt for a Level 3 Course, unless your standard of English is near-native.

• Q: What certifications will I receive?

  You will receive an i-to-i Level 5 or Level 3 Certificate, or if you have selected a Level 5 300 or 320 Hour Diploma, you’ll get a diploma certification. All certifications are regulated by Ofqual (UK Government). The certification is awarded by Gatehouse, an Ofqual regulated awarding body.

  Our Level 5 certificate certifies you to teach English as a foreign language internationally, including in the UK. The certification is at the same level as the CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL courses certifications.

• Q: Do I need to know English grammar and grammatical rules?

  Our Courses are designed for those who haven’t studied grammar since they were at school (most of us!) It’s not everyone’s favorite subject, but if you’re a native English speaker, you already have a natural understanding of grammar – it’s all about turning that knowledge into teachable rules which is where our training comes in!

  So whether you’re a native speaker or simply fluent in English, our Courses will help you feel totally confident when it comes to taking your first grammar class.

• Q: Who can I teach when I am certified to teach?

  With all of our Level 3 and Level 5 Courses, you’ll be certified to teach English to adults and children of any age. Within both of our Level 3 and Level 5 Courses are Specialist Courses which can be taken if you’d like to be trained in a particular area.

  Within our Level 5 Course, we offer two Specialist Courses: Teaching Business English and Teaching One-to-One & Online which will prepare you for specific teaching situations plus adding a welcome boost to your income!

  We’re the only provider to offer these Specialist Courses at Level 5, which will make your CV stand out to future employers. If you’ve opted for our Level 5 certifications, you’ll naturally have a greater pick of English teaching jobs on offer as you’ll be certified to a higher level than with a Level 3.