TEFL Transition Year Programme: How Ard Scoil na nDéise TY Students Earned an International TEFL Qualification in Waterford

The TEFL Transition Year programme is giving Irish students the chance to earn a real TEFL qualification before they even sit the Leaving Cert. At Ard Scoil na nDéise in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Transition Year students have just completed the TEFL for TY school elective with the TEFL Institute of Ireland (TEFL.ie), and the response from students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive.

As a Guaranteed Irish provider based in Dungarvan, TEFL.ie is uniquely placed to connect local schools with globally recognised TEFL training. This case study of Ard Scoil na nDéise shows how a TEFL TY course can fit into an Irish Transition Year programme and why more schools are choosing a TEFL school elective as part of their TY offering.

What Is the TEFL Transition Year Programme?

The TEFL Transition Year programme is a structured, accredited course designed specifically for Irish TY students who want to:

• Improve their English and communication skills

• Learn how English is taught to non‑native speakers

• Explore future careers in teaching, languages and travel

• Gain a TEFL certificate that can be used after school

Based on the TEFL Institute of Ireland’s experience training thousands of adult teachers each year, the TEFL TY course simplifies key teaching concepts into manageable modules. Students complete an online TEFL course, supported by their school and the TEFL.ie schools team, and earn a certificate that is valid for life.

For schools, this means they can offer a TEFL for schools solution that’s already accredited, quality‑assured and built around the Irish Transition Year structure.

Why Ard Scoil na nDéise Chose a TEFL TY Course

Ard Scoil na nDéise is a well‑known girls’ secondary school in Dungarvan with a strong reputation for academic standards and a varied TY programme. When the school looked at options for new Transition Year modules, a TEFL school elective stood out because it delivered:

• A clear progression from Junior Cycle English into applied language skills

• Practical experience in communication, presenting and classroom management

• A recognised TEFL qualification that can strengthen CVs and college applications

• A global dimension that fits with the school’s ethos and international outlook

Partnering with a local education provider also mattered. TEFL.ie is headquartered in Dungarvan, so students are not just taking an online course, they’re working with a Waterford‑based TEFL provider whose team can visit the school, present certificates and talk about real TEFL teaching experiences.

How the TEFL TY Course Works in Practice

The TEFL Transition Year programme at Ard Scoil na nDéise followed a blended model that any school can replicate:

1. Online TEFL modules for TY
   Students completed ten short, interactive modules on the TEFL for TY platform. These covered topics such as how languages are learned, how to teach vocabulary and grammar, planning lessons, managing classroom talk and understanding CEFR levels (A1–C2).

2. In‑school support
   TY teacher Siobhán Twomey supported the class, scheduling regular TEFL sessions into their timetable. The TEFL.ie schools team provided guidance, progress tracking and help with any content questions.

3. Flexible, student‑friendly delivery
   Because the TEFL TY programme is fully online, students could log in at school or at home, using desktop, tablet or the mobile app. This flexibility is ideal for Transition Year where timetables often change.

4. Assessment and certification
   On completion, students received an accredited TEFL certificate from the TEFL Institute of Ireland, a real qualification they can use for future TEFL opportunities, not just a TY participation award.

Our TEFL.ie team then visited Ard Scoil na nDéise to present printed certificates and hear about the students’ experiences.

Student Feedback: What TY Students Really Thought of TEFL for TY

When we asked Ard Scoil na nDéise TY students about their favourite parts of the TEFL Transition Year programme, certain themes kept coming up.

Many enjoyed discovering how teaching English actually works:

• “My favourite parts of this course were learning how everyone will learn differently depending on different techniques.”

• “Learning English and how to teach it.”

• “I enjoyed learning about the English language.”

Others highlighted the feeling of achievement that comes from completing a full TEFL school elective:

• “My favourite parts were learning the English and getting the certificate.”

• “Getting my certificate.”

• “My favourite part was learning about working with the TEFL course and passing my modules.”

The students also identified specific skills they learned from the TEFL TY course:

• “I learned different ways to teach English and also grammar and vocabulary.”

• “I learnt communication skills and language skills.”

• “Classroom skills like teacher or student talking time, different methods of teaching, lesson planning and the different levels of English such as A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2.”

This combination of language awareness, TEFL methodology and soft skills is exactly what many TY coordinators aim to deliver.

Perhaps most importantly for any school considering the TEFL Transition Year programme, every student who responded said they would recommend the course to a friend, particularly if they like English, enjoy more advanced English work, or are “interested in travelling to teach English” in the future.

Will Students Use Their TEFL Qualification?

Not every Transition Year student plans to become a teacher, but the TEFL TY course still adds value.

At Ard Scoil na nDéise:

• Some students said they plan to use the qualification “for travel” or to “teach in the future.”

• Others said they would “put it in my CV” as a strong extra credential.

• One student commented that “it’s always good to have a course for a CV, especially TEFL,” even if they don’t go into teaching immediately.

Because the certificate from the TEFL Transition Year programme is valid for life, students can come back to it years later, for example when applying for summer work in language schools, tutoring online while at university, or planning a gap year.

Teacher Perspective: TEFL TY Course Benefits

TY teacher Siobhán Twomey offered a powerful summary of how students benefitted from the TEFL Transition Year programme at Ard Scoil na nDéise.

She explained that students are now “more aware of language learning and acquisition, and are more mindful of the challenges faced by our own visiting or EAL students in school.” This aligns perfectly with whole‑school inclusion goals and the growing number of EAL learners in Irish classrooms.

Siobhán also highlighted that TEFL for TY is not only about teaching English abroad:

“They have learned that TEFL is not just about actually teaching English as a foreign language, but also just being mindful of the different experiences and abilities of all English speakers, regardless of level.”

Students, she added, now see the TEFL TY certificate as something that “will potentially open doors for them in terms of job prospects, be that for a part‑time summer job in our tourist town, where we welcome lots of English learners and improvers, but also further down the line in considering career prospects.”

When asked if she would recommend the TEFL school elective to other schools, her answer was clear: “Absolutely, 100%. Students have benefitted massively from this course.”

Why the TEFL Transition Year Programme Works So Well for Irish Schools

The TEFL Transition Year programme directly answers the needs of any TY programme by providing a ready‑made, accredited course that:

• Fits easily into existing TY timetables

• Supports Junior Cycle English and prepares for Senior Cycle work

• Enhances students’ communication, teamwork and digital skills

• Introduces real TEFL methodology and CEFR levels

• Delivers a recognised TEFL certificate they can use beyond school

For students, the TEFL TY course feels different from traditional classes. They’re treated more like trainee teachers, learning how to teach English, plan lessons and manage an English language classroom, skills that are directly transferable to many careers.

How to Bring the TEFL for TY Course to Your School

If you’re a TY coordinator, English teacher or school leader researching TEFL for schools options, here’s what you can expect from partnering with the TEFL Institute of Ireland:

• A fully developed TEFL Transition Year programme with 10 online modules

• Flexible delivery to suit your timetable (one class per week, block weeks, or a mix)

• Teacher guides, onboarding support and progress tracking

• Access to the TEFL.ie schools team for training and queries

• Accredited TEFL certification for every student who completes the course

We currently work with schools across Ireland, including multiple schools in the South East, and can tailor the TEFL TY course to your cohort size and schedule.

Schools can also combine the TEFL Transition Year programme with:

• Gaisce President’s Award activities (only valid if students complete the course independently)

• School language weeks or international days

• Local volunteering with EAL learners or language centres

This allows the TEFL TY certification to become part of a broader whole‑school approach to languages and global citizenship.

A Local TEFL TY Course with Global Impact

The story of Ard Scoil na nDéise shows what’s possible when a school integrates the TEFL Transition Year programme into its TY curriculum. TY students in a Waterford town are now holding an international TEFL certificate, equipped with classroom skills, communication strategies and a qualification that could take them anywhere in the world.

For some, the TEFL TY course will lead directly to teaching English abroad or online. For others, it will simply remain a powerful line on their CV and a reminder that they are capable of completing professional‑level training while still in secondary school.

If your school is exploring TEFL for TY, TEFL school electives or new Transition Year courses in Ireland, we’d love to support you.

Visit our Transition Year programme and TEFL for schools pages on tefl.ie or contact our schools team at to learn how the TEFL Transition Year programme can work in your school.

Contact:
TEFL Institute of Ireland – Jessica Jeffery
Shandon Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford​
Tel: 058 73135​
Email: schoolelective@tefl.ie
Website: Teachers Transition Year – TEFL Institute of Ireland
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