Teaching English abroad and online is a very popular career choice for travellers and digital nomads, but it can be daunting in the beginning. There are so many acronyms associated with this specific field and it can be difficult to know what they all mean. TEFL, TEYL, CELTA, IELTS, and TOEFL are some examples of these.
Let’s break down these acronyms to have a better understanding:
TEFL: (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is a teaching qualification for teaching English to learners who do not have English as their first language. There are many TEFL courses offered by various schools both online and in the classroom. Some of these courses will have an in-class practicum (teaching practice) portion which is looked upon favourably by prospective employers. The courses are not all the same length of time, and the study hours are usually printed onto the certificate. The 120 hour qualification is generally the minimum amount for finding employment.
TEYL: (Teaching English to Young Learners) is a teaching qualification that can be done after finishing a TEFL certification. It is specifically for teaching young learners who do not have English as their first language. You will learn specific skills such as TPR (Total Physical Response), classroom management, positive reinforcement, etc.
CELTA: Originally the acronym stood for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, but it has since changed and now CELTA stands for Cambridge English Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of other languages. CELTA is a brand of teaching qualification that is through Cambridge University. It is very intense and quite expensive. The CELTA is a great certificate for people who are serious about making English teaching a long-term career.
IELTS: (International English Language Testing System) is probably the most popular English language exam for people wanting to work or study in a country where English is the official language. It is an assessment test on the four skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students receive a band score on a scale of 1-9.
TOEFL: (Test of English as a foreign language) is an English language test for academic purposes such as university admission, exchange programs, or student visas.
Now that you have a better understanding of some of the acronyms, the next step is to decide who, where, and what you want to teach. Perhaps you see this as being a long-term career and want to teach overseas in places like Europe. For that, I would recommend saving money and taking the CELTA course. Maybe you do not know what you want to do yet and would like to try out teaching English either abroad or online but do not want to pay a lot of money to get started. If you relate more to the second option, then this article is for you. I can help you get an IELTS Teacher Training Certification, as well as multiple professional development certificates from the British Council for free.Â
IDP AUSTRALIA IELTS TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is a popular exam for students wanting to study abroad or move abroad for work. Often, universities and/or employers in countries where English is the official language will request an IELTS score as proof of English language proficiency. This free course through IDP Australia prepares teachers in assisting these specific students in preparing for the speaking and writing part of the exam. The course is very useful for understanding the requirements to get a good band score on the exam. There are also many useful PDF documents to download and keep for reference as well. Even though you may not be interested in doing IELTS preparation with your students, this is still very useful information to have, and it is another certificate to add to your portfolio for free. Once you have completed the course, a digital copy of the certificate will be sent to you.
Click on this link to register in the course: https://ielts.com.au/australia/about/ielts-for-teachers/ielts-teacher-training-program
TEACH ENGLISH BRITISH COUNCIL
The British Council is a big name in the world of teaching English, and they offer many free training courses for teachers. When you go to their Teaching English website, you can register your name for access to your account. Once you have access, you can register for teaching courses with the click of a button. They offer new courses each month and each course comes with a digital copy of a British Council certificate once completed. It is possible to earn many certifications each year from this website. I have earned 10 just this year. If you are just starting out in the world of teaching, this is a great way to boost your CV and to stand out to employers.
Here is a list of the certifications I earned in just one year with British Council:
- How to teach listening
- How to teach speaking
- How to teach pronunciation
- How to teach grammar
- Online skills for the 21st century teacher
- Focus on professional development
- Teaching English through literature
- English in the multilingual classroom
- Motivating learners
- Teaching English to refugees and displaced learners
Click on this link to register in the course: https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/
Once registered, all the information from the course will be on the website. You will be able to download workbooks and PDFs, and well as attend webinars. These really are fantastic courses and it is great that the British Council cares so much about professional development for teachers.
Good luck with creating these first pieces of your teaching portfolio!