The TEFL Academy

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There are many TEFL course providers operating in Europe. With so much choice, and with such a vast amount of conflicting information available on the Internet, it can be hard for prospective TEFL course students to make the right choice. The TEFL Academy’s Level 5 TEFL course (168 hours) aims to provide students with accurate information, skills and training to ensure they leave the academy with a sound understanding of teaching English, as well as a clearer picture of the TEFL industry as a whole.

The TEFL Academy specialises in TEFL courses and nothing else. TEFL is not only in the name, but it is also the backbone of the academy. All TEFL Academy trainers are experienced EFL professionals and minimum DELTA qualified assessors. They have all qualified as TEFL teachers themselves, gained years of actual teaching experience and are now passing on their working knowledge to TEFL course students.

The TEFL Academy is fully accredited by Qualifi, an Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, a UK government department) regulated awarding body. Qualifi have robust quality assurance systems and procedures in place which all course providers must successfully pass in order to be accredited under the scheme.

Potential TEFL course students should remember that their prospective employers are likely to be based outside Europe. This means that accreditation bodies based solely in Europe may not be recognised by employers abroad. This is why The TEFL Academy has chosen Qualifi, as they offer international accreditation for training course providers.

Why Choose the TEFL Academy?

Accredited & regulated TEFL Courses

The TEFL Academy is the world's only TEFL course provider that has received official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies both in the US and the UK. It is regulated by Ofqual (UK government department) and awarded by Qualifi, a UK government recognised awarding body. Its Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. The DEAC is a U.S. Department of Education National Accreditor. After successful completion of your TEFL course, you'll be presented with an internationally recognised Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hours), so it's the only qualification you need!

TEFL courses in Europe

The TEFL Academy has courses running every month in locations throughout Europe. The Combined Level 5 course will give you the qualification you need to teach English abroad and in Europe.

The TEFL Academy is Europe's leading provider of combined level 5 TEFL courses, regulated by Ofqual (UK government) and internationally recognised. The course consists of 20 hours of face-to-face tuition and 148 hours of online independent learning which will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the TEFL industry. This combined approach makes sure your qualification will be internationally recognised by all TEFL employers. On completion of the course, you will be fully qualified to teach children and adults, so you’ll have endless opportunities for employment across the globe. You can choose jobs based abroad or here in Europe.

The first section of the course is the 20 hours of face-to-face tuition, which takes place over one weekend. The aim of this course is to understand the basics of TEFL and benefit from group learning and peer feedback. Your professional EFL tutor will build your confidence to a level where you will feel confident standing up in front of your first class. From here you will advance to the online part of the course which covers the theory of TEFL in more detail, such as teaching methods and grammar, and consists of eleven mandatory units. Eight out of the eleven units are exam-assessed and three are course-assessed. You have up to 6 months to complete the course, but the average student completes the course within 4–6 weeks.

The TEFL Academy course is designed to cover every aspect of teaching English, from lesson planning to applying for your first TEFL role abroad. It is one of the most in-depth TEFL courses available, passing on the most information in the shortest time frame possible. 

Job Listings

Do you want to get into teaching abroad? On successful completion of the TEFL courses you can start applying for teaching jobs abroad on the TEFL Academy exclusive jobs board. Remember to check back regularly, new exciting TEFL jobs are posted daily.

TEFL Internships

TEFL internships are a great way to start your new career. Get paid a great salary and receive support throughout your contract!

TEFL internships are open to anyone who has enrolled on the TEFL courses and meets the requirements listed for each opportunity. Applications will also be accepted for those holding other recognised TEFL certificates with a minimum of 120 hours study. Internships are the fastest way to kick-start your TEFL career!  

There are TEFL internships available in Argentina, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand & Vietnam!

Accredited & regulated TEFL Courses

The TEFL Academy is the world's only TEFL course provider that has received official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies both in the US and the UK. It is regulated by Ofqual (UK government department) and awarded by Qualifi, a UK government recognised awarding body. The Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status.

What is a Level 5 qualification?

A regulated level 5 qualification means that Ofqual (UK government), have approved the qualification to be at a recognised level of achievement. The TEFL Academy Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168hrs) is the same level as the following qualifications: a diploma of higher education (DipHE), a foundation degree and the CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL qualifications.

There are so many TEFL course providers, how do I know which course to take?

With so much choice and such a vast amount of conflicting information available on the Internet it can be difficult for potential TEFL course students to make the correct choice. 

The most internationally recognised TEFL courses lead to a level 5 certificate, which is the same level as the CELTA/Trinity CertTESOL. The minimum entry requirement for most well paid jobs, with the best packages, is a level 5 TEFL certificate. Our course leads to a Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hours) and is regulated by Ofqual (UK government department) and awarded by Qualifi, a UK government recognised awarding body. 

If you feel you would benefit from face-to-face tuition, including the opportunity to practise all you have learnt in the classroom, you should choose a combined 168-hour TEFL course with 20-hours of face-to-face training. If you cannot attend a classroom TEFL course, or perhaps are looking for a more flexible way to get TEFL qualified, you should choose an online-only level 5 TEFL course (168 hours).

What are the benefits of a Level 5 TEFL Course?

• The level 5 course is the same level as CELTA and Trinity Cert TESOL

• The course is Ofqual regulated (UK government)

• The course is 168 hours 

• The course is tutor-supported

• 6 months’ access to the course

How do I enrol on my free top-up course?

You will be provided with a unique discount code with your booking confirmation email when enrolling on the main level 5 TEFL course. Simply choose your top-up course and redeem your discount code by entering it in the promotional code box. We recommend you redeem your code after you have successfully completed the main course. 

Is the course accredited?

The course is regulated by Ofqual (UK government department) and awarded by Qualifi, a UK government recognised awarding body. Our Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. The DEAC is a U.S. Department of Education National Accreditor.

The Distance Education Accrediting Commission was founded in 1926 and is a U.S. Department of Education National Accreditor. DEAC's goal is to ensure a high standard of educational quality in the distance education institutions it approves by requiring compliance with its published standards, policies and procedures.

The Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status.

You can find out more about the DEAC on their website: https://www.deac.org/

Do I have to pay the full course fee up front?

If you choose the Online Level 5 TEFL Course (168 hours), then you must pay the full course fee up front. If you choose the Combined Level 5 TEFL Course (168 hours), then you can choose to pay the full course fee up front, or if your course is over two weeks away you can book on a course by paying a €50 deposit. You will need to clear the remaining balance no later than one week before your course date. Access to the online course is provided on receipt of the full balance payment. 

Do I need to be a native English speaker to study the course?

You do not need to be a native speaker to study the course. Roughly 20% of students are non-native speakers.

What level should my English be?

Native speakers of English will naturally be above the minimum standard of English for this course. Non-native speakers should have an English level of C1 (Advanced) as a minimum.

If you are not sure what level your English is there are several websites where you can test it yourself.

C1 is the level represented by the following public exams:

The Pearson Test of English (PTE) General Level 4
Trinity ISE III
Trinity GESE Grades 10 and 11
Cambridge CAE (Grade A,B or C)
Cambridge Business Higher
IELTS score 6.5-7.5
Michigan ECPE
TOEFL score 95-120
TOIEIC Listening: 490-495 Reading 455 Speaking: 180 Writing: 180

What qualification will I receive?

You will receive The TEFL Academy Level 5 TEFL Certificate (168 hrs), which is regulated by Ofqual (UK government). The qualification is awarded by Qualifi, an Ofqual regulated awarding body.  

The level 5 TEFL certificate qualifies you to teach English as a foreign language internationally. The qualification is at the same level as the CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL qualifications. 

Will I be required to take an exam or test paper?

Both the Level 5 Combined and Online TEFL Courses (168 hours) are assessed by a mix of short exams and coursework. All eleven units are exam-assessed and for units 5, 10 and 11 there are also coursework-assessed assignments. Please note that in order to pass each test at the end of each unit, you will need to achieve a minimum of 70%. On completion students are awarded Pass, Merit, or Distinction.

Can I fail the course?

The 20-hour classroom training session on the combined course is not assessed. As long as you attend and participate, you will pass it. It is possible to fail the online tests and the three submitted coursework assignments. However, if you fail a test, you can see which answers you got wrong, revise the Unit and take it again as many times as you need to pass it. If you do not pass a submitted assignment you will receive very clear feedback on what you need to do to pass and given the opportunity to resubmit. You can make up to three submissions for each assignment. Over 90% of the students who submit the final assignment pass the course.

Do I need a superior understanding of English grammar and grammatical rules?

We are fully aware that most of our students have not studied grammar since they were at school as children, as a result grammar is covered in the course. Your grammar skills will be satisfactory to complete the course if you are fluent in English.

Do I need any books or materials to bring with me to the course?

All course materials are included in the course fee. You do not need any books or special materials to bring with you to the course.

Will I be able to practise teaching on the classroom course?

Peer to peer teaching practice is one of the fundamental aspects of the course. 

How many people will attend the classroom course?

On average around 20 people will attend each one of the course dates. Please note these are only averages and course numbers do fluctuate.

Is there disabled access at training centres?

Disabled access varies from one training facility to another. Please contact the TEFL Academy to find out specific information for individual training centres.

When will I receive my TEFL Certificate?

Your certificate will be issued, approved, and dispatched within 14 working days of the course completion date from Qualifi. Most students take an average of 4-6 weeks to complete the course.  

How soon can I start applying for TEFL Jobs?

You can start applying for jobs in Europe and abroad as soon as you have passed the course. Your TEFL certificate will be issued, approved, and dispatched within 14 working days of the course completion date from Qualifi.

Can The TEFL Academy find me a TEFL Job once I have completed the TEFL Course?

There are literally hundreds of jobs boards and other resources newly qualified teachers can use to find employment. The TEFL Academy will point you in the right direction and assist you in making job applications. All students who complete the full 168-hour course can also apply for jobs on the exclusive jobs board. 

Can I apply for jobs before I finish the course?

Many students choose to start applying for jobs before they complete their qualification. Employers will often accept applicants without a TEFL certificate, as long as they can prove they have enrolled on and started a suitable TEFL course. This is a good way of ensuring you have a job waiting as soon as you qualify.  

What technology will I need to do the online course?

There aren't any specific technology requirements for doing the online course, other than having Internet access with a modern Internet browser and a PC, laptop or tablet.

When should I start the online course?

Your 6-month access to the online course will start as soon as you pay for the course in full. It doesn’t matter how much of the online course you have completed before the weekend training but we recommend completing at least one unit before you attend.

Are cheap TEFL courses on daily deal websites like Groupon and Amazon too good to be true?

Offering a high quality TEFL course that provides students with qualified tutors and leads to a government regulated qualification doesn't come cheap! Course providers selling on daily deal websites must heavily discount their course fees and then split what they make 50/50 with the deal portal such as Groupon, Wowcher & Amazon.

With such small revenues it’s impossible for TEFL course providers selling on daily deal websites to:

• Offer on-going support from experienced & qualified tutors
• Have fair & moderated marking/grading systems
• Develop and continually update quality course content & resources
• Offer a course that leads to a government regulated qualification
• Offer job support and on-going assistance after course completion

TEFL courses sold on daily deal websites are unregulated, unaccredited, lack academic credibility and will not be respected by employers.

Is a level 5 course always a level 5 course?

You may see cheap TEFL courses advertised online that claim to be a “level”, such as “Level 5 140-Hour TEFL Course” (often advertised on daily deal websites), unfortunately these courses are not the level they claim to be and are highly misleading.

The level of a course tells learners where the qualification sits on the UK’s Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). If a course is not listed on the Register of Regulated Qualifications, then it is not really a level at all.

Make sure you ask any TEFL training provider that claims to be offering a “level” of TEFL course to provide a link to the Register of Regulated Qualifications. If they cannot provide this, then the qualification is not the level they claim it to be and will not be accepted by foreign embassies and employers.