Fast-track & Accredited TEFL Courses

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and it’s a certificate you need if you want to teach non-native speakers English. With a TEFL certificate, you can teach students of all ages – from young learners to adult business language learners – anywhere in the world. It’s recognised globally and is the key to kick-starting your English teaching career abroad, home or online.

To get a TEFL certificate you must take an accredited TEFL course. The minimum training required by employers worldwide is 120 hours. You can choose between accredited, government regulated Level 5 or combined TEFL courses. You’ll find TEFL courses are either online or combined in-class and online experiences. 

Getting a TEFL certification from a recognised, trusted provider is essential when it comes to receiving high-quality training and finding a job. Always go for a globally recognised accredited certification. It’s also worth double checking company reviews to make sure customers are satisfied with their training.

What’s the difference between accredited and government regulated Level 5 TEFL courses?

The Accredited 120 Hour Premier TEFL Course is what we call one of our fast-track courses. This is the minimum recognised worldwide.

• You have 10 modules to complete usually taking 4-6 weeks.
• Each module has a multiple-choice test at the end, and you need 80% to pass.
• You’ll get your digital certificate on completion and can buy a hard copy from us if you’d like one with an embossed logo.

Level 5 Ofqual-regulated courses offer more in-depth training. If we look at the 180 Hour Level 5 TEFL Course in comparison: 

• Learners typically spend 10-12 weeks to complete 11 modules.
• The pass mark is 100% and assessments are multiple-choice plus open-ended answers. Don’t worry, you can redo quizzes to get 100%. Our academic team will review your answers at the end of your 11 modules and may ask for some questions to be reattempted. Some questions may require you to provide academic references.
• You’ll get your digital coursework completion certificate from us after module 11. Following a successful assessment from our academic team, we’ll be able to claim the licence for your Ofqual (government) certificate from our accreditation body Highfield.

The Ofqual-regulated Level 5 course range is for those who want to gain a higher-level, more recognised qualification.

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) teachers teach English in non-native English speaking countries. TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) teachers teach English in native English speaking countries. CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is a separate qualification you can get to teach English.

TEFL: One of the most accepted certificates worldwide, this allows you to teach English to non-native speakers across the globe. 

TESL: As a TESL teacher, you would likely be teaching English in your home country to students who have moved or live in an English speaking country. In other words, they are continuously surrounded by the language and will be using it every day outside of the classroom, unlike TEFL students who are likely learning in their home country.

CELTA: A very prestigious certification that follows a strict regulation created by Cambridge University. You must complete a 120-hour TEFL course and six hours of teaching real ESL students. Most of the programmes are held over a month and are full time. However, you may be able to find some courses that are part-time and are spread over three months. Due to its intense nature and requirements, the cost tends to be much higher and can be up to €1700!

With many TEFL providers out there, choosing the right one can be tricky. You must select a reputable course provider. Here at The TEFL Institute of Ireland, we pride ourselves on our accreditations, which show our commitment to the highest level of training. What’s more, we are the only course provider in Ireland that offers the prestigious Level 5 TEFL Ofqual regulated courses online.

All our TEFL courses are trusted worldwide and developed by our dedicated team with over 20 years of EFL training and teaching experience. We’re passionate about providing outstanding support before, during and after our students’ studies to help them launch their teaching careers and succeed in TEFL.

First and foremost, an aspiring TEFL teacher must be a native or fluent English speaker. We suggest people who are at least 16 years old with a C1 level of English or higher. A TEFL course and teaching English is perfect for you if you:

• Are passionate about teaching and helping others to learn
• Have a good knowledge of the English language including sentence structure, vocabulary and grammar
• Are open and willing to adapt to other cultures and languages
• Want to travel and see the world
• Are looking for an exciting and flexible career path
• Are outgoing and confident speaking in front of a class or ready to build your classroom confidence.

You do not have to have prior teaching experience or a degree to do a TEFL course. However, the ability to work using your initiative is important. Our TEFL courses are online, so you will need to be well motivated.

Anyone with fluent English can take a TEFL course. If you are not sure which course to take remember you can always take our English Level Test and see what recommendation you will receive. Be aware that non-native speakers often find the Ofqual Regulated Level 5 TEFL courses quite challenging. As a guide, we recommend that non-native speakers have a minimum IELTS 6.5 score.