Online TEFL or Online TESL Certificate

If you've made the decision of teaching or virtual teaching English, but can't figure out whether it's an online TEFL or online TESL certificate that you need, look no further.  It turns out that the ESL area of teaching (English as a Second Language) has just undergone a few name changes over the years.  Yep, that's right!  TEFL, TESL, TESOL - they all mean the same thing, so the tough decision of whether to get an online TEFL or online TESL certificate just really doesn't matter.  For the sake of consistency, we will just refer to it as an online TESL certifcate.

TESL stands for Teaching English as a Second Language, and the online TESL certificate is needed in order to prove you are qualified to teach English to foreigners.  Some people tend to think that being able to speak a language with a native tongue is enough to make for a good teacher, but it's not.  There's a lot a teacher has to bring to the table including effective teaching skills and well thought out lesson plans in order to properly facilitate a learning environment.

By receiving an online TESL certificate, a person in the career of teaching or virtual teaching English holds proof they have been taught the techniques best used in language lessons.  Teachers have first-hand experience on building lesson plans with the target language in mind, and they are better equipped at how to deal with the struggling or disinterested student.

Online TESL certificate benefits make it a popular option as opposed to the costly month-long programs abroad. The benefits of obtaining an online TESL certificate over a classroom based certificate are as follows:

1. Online TESL certificate courses are cheaper. Much cheaper, to be exact. These courses can range from a couple to a few hundred dollars, whereas classroom based certificate courses will cost a couple thousand. This is generally because they involve an intensive month-long course in a location other than your home.
2. Online TESL certificate courses are convenient. Being online, you can do your work in your pajamas at any hour of the day. Courses can be completed in as short or as long a time frame as you want (up to 3 months), meaning the online version lets you choose the schedule that works for you. Whether you're stuck at home or traveling the world, the online TESL is easy.
   
3. Online TESL certificate courses show self motivation. Because this is a course that you are choosing to manage and complete on your own time, it shows that you need little motivation in order to reach goals. It also shows future teachers that you really want to teach English unlike some people who are just taking the class in Greece for a month-long party.
   

The basic, 60 hour online TESL course will consist of 13 modules covering everything from teacher/student roles and student levels to teaching grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.  There is even a section on how to use your knowledge as a newly certified teacher to find work!

Each teacher-to-be is assigned a personal tutor who is also a practiced English teacher.  The tutors are available for questions at any time during the lessons, and they check and give feedback on the modules when they've been completed.

All work is completed online, meaning the student never has to mail or print anything.  Work can be completed at any hour of the day, at the student's convenience.

Not much has changed in the online TESL course world since I got mine over a year ago.  I chose to upgrade my normal 60 hour course and also undergo a 20 hour grammar awareness option (for a total of 80 hours).  I consider the 20 hour grammar awareness module a bargain, especially since you'll be thanking your lucky stars you had this extra practice when your students start asking questions about the English language you had never given a second thought to before.

Courses are also available in 100 and 120 hour options, giving the teacher-to-be more practice and the opportunity to achieve specialist status in certain teaching areas.

The online TESL course can be completed in as little as 2 weeks, while most teachers-to-be finish in the range of 6 weeks.  The 60 hour online TESL course must be completed in no more than 3 months from enrollment.

i-to-i provides sufficient, quality, cost-effective online TEFL and TESL certificate courses.

*Learn more about i-to-i and online TESL courses.*

Choose from 60, 80 or 100 hour courses with proven results for opening the door to teaching English around the world, or virtual teaching English as you make a life as a Digital Nomad.