TEFL FAQ's

Your TEFL questions answered

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Before the course

During the course - Weekend Course

During the course - online / self-study courses

After the course


Before the course

What's the difference between TEFL and TESOL?

In reality there is very little difference between TEFL and TESOL. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language and TESOL for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

The TEFL acronym is best known in the UK while TESOL is more common in the US, Canada and Australasia. TEFL is traditionally associated with teaching students within their own country where English is rarely the first language. TESOL, however, is more commonly associated with teaching students who have migrated to an English speaking country.

What's important here is the fact that jobs overseas that require a TESOL qualification will happily accept a TEFL qualification and vice versa.

What qualifications do I need?

You don't need any previous qualifications to take an i-to-i TEFL course, though we do ask that non-native speakers demonstrate a good understanding of the English language with a Cambridge CAE qualification or equivalent. Try our FREE Online English Test

See www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/cae.htm see for more details on taking a Cambridge CAE.

Are the courses internationally recognized?

Yes, all our TEFL courses are internationally recognized so you can travel all over the world with your TEFL.

Is i-to-i an accredited course provider?

Our TEFL courses are internationally accredited. Both the ODLQC (Open and Distance Learning Quality Council) and the SQMS (Scottish Quality Management Systems) have recognized the quality of our courses and we monitor our courses carefully to ensure they meet the high standards that these supervisory bodies demand.

Learn more about our accreditation by clicking here.

Can I receive funding for my course?

If you're 18 or over, live in Scotland and earn less than £15,000 a year you qualify for ILA funding. You could get up to £200 towards your i-to-i TEFL course. That means you could take an i-to-i TEFL course for as little as a tenner! Click here to find out more.

How is the i-to-i course different to 4-week courses?

Our TEFL courses are an entry-level program that covers the same essential skills as the 4 week course in a much shorter period of time. Our courses are intensive, jam-packed programs for people who want their qualification quickly or need a more flexible timetable.

The four week course is better suited for people wishing to teach as a career or for prolonged periods of time. If you only plan to spend a year or two teaching then i-to-i TEFL course will save you a lot of time and money while giving you the skills you need to get paid teaching work anywhere in the world.

"The i-to-i course provides the key principles that underlie modern TEFL."

Sunday Telegraph (a leading British newspaper)

How do i-to-i online courses compare to other 40-hour distance learning courses?

i-to-i were the first TEFL provider to offer an online TEFL course and our 40-hour program is still the only totally online TEFL course. This means you can take an i-to-i TEFL course from anywhere in the world as long as you've got access to the internet! With an i-to-i course you'll have instant access and, unlike other online courses, you won't have lengthy downloads to contend with. i-to-i has tutors all over the world, so no matter where you are you'll have a tutor in the same time-zone who can answer your questions quickly and efficiently.

What if I have already done a TEFL / TESOL qualification?

Have a look at our TEFL/TESOL Booster package. This is a short course designed to refresh you're knowledge and teaching skills. This is great if you're planning a second travel teaching experience.

What's the difference between an online and Weekend course?

These two courses are very similar and they'll both provide you with the skills and confidence you need to teach abroad. However, everyone is different and you'll need a course that suits you.

Our online course is designed for people who absorb information better by reading through information and completing tasks on their own. This course contains more teaching and theory then the weekend course and you'll also benefit from the support of a dedicated personal tutor.

The weekend course is better suited to people who prefer more interactive and fun teaching methods. The course is intensive but you'll get practical teaching experience and you'll be actively involved throughout the lesson.

The Premier TEFL course combines both of these courses so you can benefit from both the practical experience of the weekend course and theoretical training of the online course!

Which course should I choose?

i-to-i offer a selection of courses so you can pick one to suit your individual needs. They range from 20 hour weekend courses to 120 hour combination courses. We've teamed up with a one of the world leading 4-week TEFL providers so we can even offer you a 4-week course in a selection of beautiful locations around the world.

Which course you choose depends on a range of factors including:

  • How much time do you have?
  • Do you prefer studying independently or in a group?
  • Do you prefer to learn over a long period of time or in short, intensive bursts?

If you need help making up your mind you can call one of our expert advisors. We'll do everything we can to ensure you're teaching career gets off to the best possible start.

How long will it take to complete my course?

That's pretty much up to you. If you choose the Weekend Essential course you're course will be finished in a weekend, whereas if you choose the Online Essential course you could spread your 40hrs over a six month period. If you need a little longer you can extend this six month period by 28 days for a small fee. The majority of our Online Essential customers complete their course within 2 months of starting but how long you take to complete your is completely up to you.

All of our courses have a prescribed number of hours attached to them and this is a good indication of how much time you'll need to complete and pass the course.

Does the online course include any practical teaching experience?

There is no practical teaching experience on the online course. However, module 6 includes a DVD of a teacher in action so you can watch and analyze a professional teacher in a classroom environment.

Is the Grammar Awareness Module online

This module is a self-study book which takes you through all the major grammatical areas of the English Language and encourages you to think and learn about how the language is constructed. This is a marked course and you'll need to return your completed answer sheet to your tutor when you've finished. This can be sent by post or email, whichever is most convenient.

What support will I get on my course?

If you choose a weekend course you'll have constant support from a friendly and professional tutor for the length of your course. It's their key objective to help to complete and pass your course so they'll be doing anything they can to make this happen.

If you choose an online course you'll be assigned a personal tutor who not only marks your modules but is also on-hand to offer advice and guidance throughout the course.

Whichever course you choose, we'll do everything we can to ensure that you have all the guidance and assistance you need to succeed.

What sort of equipment do I need to take the online course?

You'll need a PC or Mac with internet access.

How do I book a course?

You can either Book Online or over the phone by calling any of our offices.

During the course - Weekend Course

What happens if I am finding the course difficult or don't understand what I need to do?

Your tutor will be on hand at all times. They're there to help so make the most of them!

What if I can't attend the full weekend?

If you can't commit to the whole weekend then we'd recommend you take an online course instead. The weekend course is an intensive course and it's important that you're present for the whole 20 hours.

During the course - online / self-study courses

What happens if I forget my log-in details?

Go to the login page and click Forgotten Login Details? They'll be e-mailed to you instantly

How long will it take for each module to be marked?

Our aim is that every module will be marked and returned to you within 48 hours of being submitted (Monday - Friday).

How do I submit my answers for the Grammar Awareness Module?

You can submit your answers by post or by e-mail.

Should I print out my work on the online course?

No. On completion of the course you will be sent a copy of the course book along with your certificate and reference.

Is the Grammar Awareness Module online

This module is a self-study book which takes you through all the major grammatical areas of the English Language and encourages you to think and learn about how the language is constructed. This is a marked course and you'll need to return your completed answer sheet to your tutor when you've finished. This can be sent by post or email, whichever is most convenient.

After the course

How do I get my certificates?

You should receive your certificates by post within 4 weeks of completing your course. If you've selected a package which includes the online course and the weekend course you will get a certificate for both. These will be sent out once you've completed and passed that stage. The same applies if you've chosen one of our extras.

For example, if you choose the Premier TEFL course you'll receive a certificate for the 40 hour online course, the 20 hour weekend course and the 20 hour Grammar Awareness Module. This means you can start teaching before you've completed the whole Premier TEFL package.

How do I get my reference?

All references are dispatched with your certificate.

What happens if I lose my certificate?

You can request a duplicate certificate for a small fee.
£10 / €15 / AUS$25 / NZ$28 / US$20 / CAN$28

Does the certificate expire?

No, but we do advise that you continue to develop your teaching skills throughout your career.

Can I do more courses with i-to-i?

Yes - we offer a selection of "extras" to help you to aim your teaching techniques toward specific situations or students.

These include:

These courses are open to anyone who has taken, or is planning to take a TEFL course and are for building confidence and further developing skills.

Why should I do another course?

Good teachers continue to study and develop their skills and knowledge throughout their career. This enables them to provide better teaching to their students and to secure senior teaching positions. Another course will help you to increase your ability and range as a teacher, but it will also increase your employability. Most employers desire teachers who are committed to continual development and additional courses help to shows that you are just such a person.

How do I find employment?

Our courses are designed to make this as easy as possible. Module 10 of the online course is jam-packed with information and advice about finding work abroad. The weekend course devotes time at the end of the course to this same topic and you'll benefit from the advice of tutors who have years of experience working abroad.

With every full TEFL course you'll get access over 8000 job contracts. All you have to do is download the contact database and you'll be able to search thousands of language schools around the world to find the location for you. Once you know where you want to go start applying to the schools in that area.

For more advice on finding work abroad why not download our Six Steps to Finding Work Abroad

Where can I teach with an i-to-i certificate?

Our certificates are internationally recognized so you could go anywhere in the world!

For more information on where you can expect to teach please click here.

Will the certificate get me a paid job?

Yes - people with our certificates are teaching and earning money all over the world. However, an i-to-i certificate isn't the only thing that your potential employers will be looking at. To get paid work abroad you'll need to make sure your CV/resume and cover letter are well put together and that you're well prepared for any interviews that you might have to attend.

Do you offer any opportunities for teaching through i-to-i?

Yes!

We offer a selection of paid teaching opportunities so you can make your first teaching experience as simple as possible. These packages include your online TEFL course, your accommodation, airport pickup and cultural orientation on arrival and you can choose from one of the following countries:

 

We also offer a selection of volunteer teaching options. You can choose from over 20 countries around the world and assist in a variety of teaching projects. This is a great way to get practical teaching experience in preparation for your teaching career and it looks great on your CV!

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