Online TEFL FAQ's

Before the 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.

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

Are the courses internationally recognised?

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 international 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 couple of years teaching then the 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 have 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 have 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.

Is the online course right for me?

The online and weekend 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 TEFL 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 grammar theory than the weekend course and you’ll also benefit from the support of a dedicated personal tutor.

The Weekend TEFL 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 80 hour 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!

How long will it take to complete my course?

That’s pretty much up to you. You have six months to complete your course so you can work at your own pace. 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 customers complete their course within 2 months of starting but how long you take to complete your course 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. The online course is designed to prepare you for teaching so you can go out and get experience overseas. Though there is no practical experience Module 6 does includes a video download of a teacher in action so you can watch and analyze a professional teacher in a classroom environment.

Is the Specialist Grammar Certificate online?

This certificate is an online module 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.

What support will I get on my 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.

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

You’ll need a PC or Mac with internet access. Module 6 of is available to download online.

How do I book a course?

You can either book online or over the phone by calling any of our offices.

During the course – online / self-study courses

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 Specialist Grammar Certificate?

You have the choice of submitting your answers by post or by e-mail.

Can I print off the on-line course material?

Yes you can download the course in a printable version.

Who do I contact about my paid teaching or Volunteer placement and when do I need to finish the course by?

For information about a Volunteer or Paid Teaching programme overseas that you have already booked please contact our Desk Officer team. You need to complete your course before you start either your volunteer placement or teaching role overseas. If you are finding it difficult to complete the course please contact the Desk Officer team and they will be able to discuss options with you.

What are the pass marks for the modules and can I re-take a module if I fail it?

Module 2 has a pass mark of 75% and is marked automatically. The same applies for take 1 of module 4. The remaining modules are marked by your tutor to a set of criteria that has been developed with the course to ensure that you are absorbing and producing the key elements of English Language Teaching. If you do not pass a particular module your tutor will let you know and you will have a chance to re-take the module.

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 that includes the Specialist Grammar Certificate you’ll get a certificate for both. These will be sent out once you’ve completed and passed that stage. The same applies if you have chosen one of our extras.

For example:

If you choose the 60 hour Online TEFL course you’ll receive a certificate for the 40 hour online course and the 20 hour Specialist Grammar Certificate. This means you can start teaching before you’ve completed the entire TEFL package.

“I got my first TEFL job before I had even completed the course.” Miss Cathryn Dale

How do I get my reference?

All references are despatched 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. We offer a selection of useful books in our online shop to help teachers to develop their skills and further improve their teaching.</p> <a name="anchor35">

How can I arrange to do the Specialist Certificate courses in Young Learners, Business English or Teaching with Limited Resources?

If at any stage of your course, or even during your course, you decide that you would like to take one of our Specialist Certificates to increase your teaching skills and knowledge further please either call your nearest i-to-i office or go to www.onlinetefl.com.

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 show 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.

With every full TEFL course you’ll get access to over 8000 job contacts. 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?

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 click here to view our TEFL jobs section.

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!

Teaching resources

Have a look in our online shop for a selection of teaching resources that will help you to develop your skills and confidence.

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