The location of your TEFL certification is mostly determined by how and where you intend to utilize it, as well as how much time you have and how interested you are in leaving home a month ahead of time to complete your requirements. Are you looking for a long-term career or a temporary position in between jobs? Is it more important to you to add to your savings account or to simply have fun?
Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each and decide whether obtaining TEFL certified online or offline is the best option for you by reading this post, doing some soul-searching, and selecting the best path forward.
You can learn teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) by taking an online TEFL course or attending in-person classes. The online curriculum is less expensive and more flexible, but you lose out on benefits like practice chances.
Let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of online TEFL classes over on-site classroom training.
Benefits and Advantages of Online TEFL Courses:
Many of the general benefits of online learning are available when you take a TEFL (or TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) degree. These are significant and as a result, the online option is absolutely worth considering.
1. Ease of Use & Flexibility
One of the most appealing aspects of an online TEFL course is that it may be easily integrated into your weekly routine. You can work through the course material whenever you want, ideally when you’re free of the pressures and distractions of your regular daily activities. You aren’t limited in the same manner that you are when you attend lessons in person. Online courses do not interfere with your daily routine, but you must still set aside time to study.
2. Cost-effectiveness
When compared to attending classes in person, enrolling in an online TEFL programme is less expensive. Tuition fees (which are typically lower), transportation costs, and other time and monetary expenses associated with attending the classroom can all be reduced. You can learn online from anyplace, including a less expensive location. Because course materials are more likely to be made available for free online, you may be able to save money on textbooks as well.
3. Demonstrate Before Purchasing
When you study to teach English online, you can test out a few different things without making a large commitment. You may, for example, take a low-cost course to see if online learning is right for you. You might have a better notion if you actually want to teach while doing this. You can also use online training to try to obtain a certification from a foreign country where you want to teach before traveling there.
3. It’s Simple to Communicate with Tutors
Because you’re taking the classes online, it doesn’t mean you can’t connect with the tutors. You have the ability to effectively conduct talks, ask questions, and receive any other assistance you require. There are a variety of apps that make this feasible, and all you have to do is download them to your device. During the learning process, video chat can make it feel as though you’re meeting tutors face to face.
4. Take Advantage of Customized Education
You can learn at your own pace and in whatever style fits you best when taking online TEFL classes. You can, for example, hit pause in the middle of a recorded presentation to go over something vital. You may also look out alternate sources of information fast on the internet. Many students find that taking notes on digital flashcards keeps them engaged as well as helps them review and retain important knowledge later.
Online TEFL Courses Have Some Drawbacks
One disadvantage of taking an online TEFL course is that you miss out on some of the advantages of in-person lessons. In addition, the online format poses certain unique study problems, and success requires strong study abilities. The following are the top five drawbacks of online TEFL programmes.
1. Insufficient practical learning experience
If you take a TEFL course entirely online, you will almost always miss out on the opportunity to obtain practical experience. A 120-hour TEFL certificate involves at least 6-10 hours of supervised teaching practice.
Students in the TEFL programme are supervised by a licensed professional and teach real students (not classmates). One of the things that companies may check for when recruiting teachers is observed teacher practice. If you’re studying online, you can still show that you’ve taught in various ways (including by doing your first job).
2. Missed Out on a Study Abroad Opportunity
Instead of studying online, you might wish to study overseas if you want to teach English – especially to future foreign students. You’ll get a greater sense of the difficulties and rewards of studying in a foreign country. This aids in the development of greater empathy for overseas students. You could also profit from studying in a country like Australia or the United Kingdom.
3. You Might Feel Alone
One disadvantage of online learning is that it might lead to feelings of isolation. Aside from text-based interactions, you’ll be on your own for the most of your studying. Consider whether you have the right personality and a diverse enough social life to succeed at online learning.
4. You must be a self-directed learner
Taking a TEFL course online may not be the ideal solution if you are not an active student. You don’t get the regular reality checks and psychological support that comes from being part of a group because you don’t meet face-to-face with the tutors and classmates. You also lose out on group conversations, which can help you learn more quickly. As a result, you must be an active, engaged learner who appreciates learning.
5. Design Your Own Structure
Another disadvantage of online training is that there isn’t much in the way of learning framework. There are no set class times for you. As a result, you can’t just show up and expect everything to be ready for you. Instead, you’ll need to get organized and establish healthy work habits and routines. If you want to complete an online course successfully, you must be well-organized.
So, if you’re debating whether to earn your TEFL certification online or in a classroom, we hope this post has aided you in your decision. Please contact us if you require any assistance or advice regarding a course. You might also be interested in reading our guide to teaching overseas or looking for TEFL employment.
Which TEFL course is the best fit for you?
Finally, if you want to teach English in another country, you may want to visit then taking a TEFL course in the same country/region of your choice is a good way to get this project started. This strategy allows you to take advantage of the one-month time limit to ensure a smooth transition. Even if you’re not sure you’ll stay, now is a good time to look into all of the concerns that aren’t always obvious on the internet, such as housing, quality of life, and career opportunities. Arriving in an unfamiliar place can be intimidating, but if you want something you’ve never had, you’ll have to try new things.
