TEFL Certificates

Hi EFL World!

I've just been doing some research on schools that offer properly accredited TEFL Certificates and two names that stood out from the crowd were The International TEFL Academy (ITA), and International TEFL TESOL Training (iTTT).  They've both been around quite a while, and have proven track records.  Actually I mentioned ITA in my other blog www.summercampthailand.blogspot.com.  They may be a little more expensive than a school like English For Fun, but at least you will get a proper internationally accredited certificate.  Best of all, of course, is the full blown CELTA, if you can afford it.  Unfortunately, the old adage "you get what you pay for" still stands true.

If you want a job teaching in Thailand I recommend doing ITA or iTTT's online course (both are pretty cheap), and then going straight to a placement agency in Thailand, who will give you an orientation course and placement for free, because they take a direct cut from the school.  Don't be conned into doing English For Fun's orientation course, particularly if you're signed up with Camp Thailand, because you'll be paying through your nose for something that should be free.

Some people have managed to go on to get jobs in Korea using an EFF certificate, but I'd say that's just luck or poor checking by the school in Korea.  Often they'll take you on the back of your teaching experience in Thailand rather than the validity of the certificate.  The point is that any reports of people getting jobs there doesn't suddenly make the EFF certificate "internationally accredited" as Philip Crabb claims.  It's still a junk qualification.

Good luck to all of you in the New Year !!

EFL Greg

ITA stands for International TEFL Academy
iTTT stands for International TEFL and TESOL Training