With so many TEFL course providers out there, it can be tricky to decide which one is the best one for you. On the blog today we look at things to consider when choosing a TEFL course and, more specifically, the so-called TEFL Academy scam.

Considerations when choosing a TEFL course

• Quality

• Value for money

• Accreditation

• Reputation

• Reviews

Quality: A TEFL course should be at least 120 hours. Anything less than that and TEFL employers are unlikely to offer you jobs. But it needs to be 120 hours of quality instruction and coursework. Your TEFL course should cover everything you need to know before stepping into the TEFL classroom.

The Level 5 TEFL course from The TEFL Academy Reviews, for example, covers the following:

• Lesson Planning

• Teaching English Vocabulary

• Teaching Pronunciation

• Understanding English Grammar

• Teaching Receptive Skills: Listening and Reading

• Teaching Productive Skills: Speaking and Writing

• Teaching English Grammar

• Principles of Teaching English as a Foreign Language

• Materials and Aids for Teaching English/Classroom Management Strategies

• Using Resources Effectively when Teaching English as a Foreign Language

• Case Study, CV and Cover Letter, Job Sites and Resources

As you can see, it’s a very comprehensive course.

Value for money: When it comes to studying, if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A TEFL certificate is a teaching qualification, so you can’t expect to get a decent one for peanuts. If ever there was a TEFL scam, it’s those TEFL courses advertised for $20!

The TEFL Academy’s courses are very reasonable in comparison to others of comparable quality. Even better, they often run specials so you are sure to be able to get one of their courses for a discounted price.

Accreditation: This is an important one. Accreditation is what sets good TEFL courses apart from the not-so-good TEFL courses. There is no one accrediting body for TEFL, so you need to make sure the TEFL course is accredited by recognized and reputable accrediting bodies.

The TEFL Academy Level 5 TEFL course is regulated by Ofqual and awarded by Qualifi. It is approved by the DEAC. This accreditation proves the legitimacy of The TEFL Academy and puts any TEFL Academy scams to rest.

Reputation: This is the part about The TEFL Academy scam. The reputation of the TEFL course provider that you choose is important. However, you shouldn’t believe everything you read. It makes sense to consider reviews of the course from the people who have done the course themselves - the graduates!

The TEFL Academy has won the Go Overseas and Go Abroad Top TEFL Awards for 3 consecutive years! This immediately gives credibility to The TEFL Academy and its courses, which no one can question.

Reviews: Which brings us to reviews. Read online reviews of the TEFL course to find out what their students have to say.

Here are a few of The TEFL Academy’s online reviews:

Floris: “I found the platform very friendly and engaging and the content very accurate and useful. I definitely recommend The TEFL Academy to anyone who wants to be an English teacher.”

Mark: “The course is definitely great value for money. I found the units followed a logical pattern and the assignments were engaging and interesting. Money well spent!

Davide: “A very well organized online course! I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. Teaching is completely new to me but I feel confident stepping into my new career with what I've taken away from this course.”