TEFL FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What's the difference TEFL, TESL, TESOL, TEAL, Cambridge, CELTA?
Confusingly, the English language teaching world has a bewildering array of abbreviations and acronyms, which all mean the same thing. Currently there is no one-standard for learning to teach English.

I thought you needed an education degree to teach.
Normally that would be the case. However, due to the massive, world-wide shortage of professional English teachers, many individuals who would not normally have an opportunity to teach can.
Typically an education degree is earned over a period of about five years. Would-be teachers, however, are not learning various methods of teaching for that long. Much of their time is spent on the subject(s) they intend to teach, for example, history or mathematics. If you speak English fluently, English is probably the one thing that you know more about than anything else. You may need to fine tune some grammar points, but more than likely you know intuitively what is correct English and what is not.

The Canada English Center can provide you with the training you need to become an English teacher and it will only take a month.

Even though I am a school teacher I am being asked for a TEFL certificate. Why?
Your education and experience will certainly help you become an employer's first choice when they hire. Part of the hesitation on the part of the employer to hire professional teachers stems from the fact that your initial training is for you to do most of the speaking. As an English teacher you may have to undo the way you've been teaching and learn to become a facilitator allowing the student to do most of the speaking.

When I was in high school, I found English grammar difficult. Can I be an English teacher?
You may not understand participles or past/perfect when they are labeled as such, but you use them everyday. You should take a refresher course to brush up on your English grammar.

I speak and write English well. Do I really need a TEFL certificate to get a job overseas?
Nowadays, overseas school administrators are more strict about who they hire than they once were. In the past, any native speaker that asked for a job as an English teacher got one. Not all native speakers have the ability to teach English though. Language teaching, like any teaching, is challenging and not everyone can meet the challenge. It is a skill that can be improved upon by being familiar with various language-teaching techniques, conversation strategies, language games, songs and accent reduction strategies. In addition, most employers will request a TEFL certificate to prove that you are skilled at running a classroom.

What kind of people enroll in a TEFL Certificate program?
Our TEFL Certificate program attracts people from many different backgrounds-university students in their first to last year, people looking to change careers, people looking to start a career, husbands and wives, mothers and sons/daughters/fathers, international students going back to teach English in their respective countries, retirees, school teachers needing a TEFL certificate in order to be hired and many others. Most have never taught before, and some want to brush up on their skills. Some see teaching English as a way to travel and explore the world. Most have been told they must have a TEFL certificate to get a job.

Do I need to know the language of my students?

No. Most language schools are "English Only Zones" thereby alleviating the need for teachers to know another language. International students study and live in English-speaking countries in order to completely immerse themselves in English culture. It is the same way a child learns a language. Participants in our program will learn the creative techniques language teachers use every day to teach English.

Do I need a degree to take the TEFL/TESL course?
We do not require that participants in our program have a college or university degree. A degree is helpful and will in most cases result in better wages. However, there are still many opportunities to teach English without a degree.
What is most important in granting a CEC TEFL certificate is not whether or not you have a degree, but the quality of the work you do to meet the requirements of our program. Good teachers are always in demand.

What can I expect from the program? Will it be difficult?
You can expect classes where participation is not only encouraged, but expected. By the end of the course you will be able to confidently teach full classes of ESL students. Practice teaching will always be under the guidance of experienced teachers, and you will receive constructive feedback to help you hone your own unique teaching style.
It is an intensive program so you should expect to do homework. The extra time you spend preparing your lesson plans will give you a strong foundation for what may become a profession for you.

What kind of Jobs can I get?
People with TEFL certificates find jobs in grade schools, high schools, universities and private language schools. Some people free-lance, teaching business people in their offices, or meeting in cafes for one-on-one conversation classes. The kind of job you get depends on what you want, where you are, experience and your performance in job interviews.
As you get more work and more experience you will have wider access to better jobs all over the world. At the Canada English Center we have a special workshop that reveals the "Secrets of Getting Hired as an English Teacher". You will receive tips on how to get the job you want, interviewing techniques, resume writing, evaluating a contract, and other skills that will get you started. In addition, we'll provide you with listings of useful resources for teachers.

How much can I expect to earn?
How much you earn will depend both on the country you are in and your ability/experience teaching. A general rule of thumb is the more industrialized a country is, the better the wages will be. However, just because you make more does not necessarily mean you will be able to save more. Sometimes you can get paid less, but save more because the cost of living is lower.
Some teachers are able to get their accommodation and airfare paid. Usually in these cases the teacher is signed to a one year contract minimum. Expect to receive lower wages in exchange for benefits.