What's the Difference Between TESOL/TEFL Certificate Programs

What's the Difference Between TESOL/TEFL Certificate Programs?

If you do a quick google (isn't it becoming a verb), you'll see a seemingly endless list of schools, institutions, and companies that offer some version of an English Language Teaching Certificate.

People who are considering getting a TESOL Certified and teaching English overseas probably find the quantity of TESOL Certificate Courses daunting.  In addition to things like location, length, and price, considering whether the format of the TESOL course is right for you can help you narrow your choices down.


At the macro level, there are three choices of TESOL Certificate Courses:

1. Face-to-Face TESOL/TEFL Courses
2. Hybrid (part online and part face-face) TESOL Courses
3. Online TESOL Certificates

There are many aspects to consider when gauging the quality of a TESOL Course (something we covered here).  The format of delivery can also give you an indication of the quality of the course and how it fits with your goals.

Let's take a look at each of these course formats and what they provide the participant........

Close Your Eyes, Spin the Globe, and Pick Your Place to Teach

Teach Your Way Around the World©

Close your eyes, spin the globe and pick a place to teach

Pick Your Place to TESOL™ 

With the proper preparation and a TESOL Certificate, you can literally close your eyes, spin a globe and pick a place to teach.

As long as your finger didn't land in a large body of water, the chances are there are jobs for you teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). 

From Asia to Africa, Guatemala to Guayana, and from Moscow to Micronesia, there are English language teachers and following their dream of teaching their way around the world©.

There is an unquenchable thirst for qualified English language teachers and that global demand has never been greater.   


Understanding what the field of TESOL and what the range of teaching opportunities looks like will help you determine if teaching English to non-native speakers fits into your own life goals.  If it does, get ready to open the door to a literal universe of teaching opportunities.

The field of TESOL {Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages} is unique for a number of reasons:

1. English language teaching jobs are found all over the world.  While you could also probably go just about anywhere and flip burgers at a fast-food restaurant, it most likely not your dream to serve french fries in Fez, Morocco.
2. There is a huge variety of teaching assignments ranging from teaching the traditional language class (e.g. Conversation I, Advanced Writing) to teaching specialized English language programs (e.g. Medical English, Business English).
3. Teaching positions differ greatly in terms of working hours, conditions, compensation, and support.  Some positions require you to work a 'normal' work week, others evenings and weekends; some provide generous benefits including flight others won't even pay the cab fare.

Traveling through the field of TESOL...

TESOL Trainers - A scaffold to success