Frequently Asked Questions

Nothing formal, just a reasonable standard of education and the ability to speak English in fluent conversation. You do not need a university education or degree. To enrol for the distance learning course you must have first done the weekend course.

• Do I have to be a native English speaker?

No, providing you can speak English in fluent conversation that will be fine. The majority of TEFL teachers in other countries speak English as an additional language.

• Do I need to be able to speak a foreign language?

Being able to speak another language is useful but not essential. You will be given the skills necessary to teach English in English! Experience of learning a foreign language is useful however as you can draw upon your learning experiences.

• What are the age limits?

You need to be at least 17 years old to do the course. There is no upper age limit and TEFL teachers are of all ages from late teens to retirement age.

• Will I be able to get a job after doing the course?

We can offer no guarantees, but you will certainly be better placed to apply for jobs in TEFL. A TEFL certificate can also be a valuable addition to any CV.

• Do I have to do the distance learning course as well?

  

Our weekend course is an acceptable qualification for getting work. Many students however feel they would benefit from further training and the follow-up course does give an added advantage when seeking TEFL work.

• Can I just do the distance learning course and not the weekend course?

The distance learning course is a follow-up to the weekend course and cannot be done on its own. It is designed to build upon skills and knowledge covered during the initial weekend.

• What happens if I fail the courses?

You cannot fail the weekend course. Your certificate is for attending and participating.
The distance learning course is assessed. In the unlikely event that you do not ‘make the grade’ on the distance learning course, our tutors will help you overcome the difficulties and give you the opportunity of another assessment.

• What is your cancellation policy?

Providing you give at least 2 weeks notice we will try to allocate you an alternative date from our list. We regret that we cannot normally refund your deposit if you are unable to accept the alternative dates.

• Do you arrange accommodation?

  

We will provide you with a list of possible accommodations when you enrol, but you are responsible for your own accommodation arrangements whilst on the course. Our courses are held in hotels and there are usually rooms available, although we advise that you book early as demand can be high.

• What happens after I enrol?

We will send you a confirmation letter giving details of the course and venue, plus advice on what to bring. We will enclose possible accommodation contacts and a map of how to reach the venue.

• Where is the course held?

We hold courses at a number of city locations throughout England. Click here to see the dates and locations, or contact us for details.

• What facilities are there at the venues?

Where possible we try to ensure that there is adequate car parking and good connections with road and rail links. As our venues are hotels, they have accommodation and usually a restaurant. (These can sometimes be expensive and you are welcome to bring a packed lunch). Other facilities will depend upon the hotel.

• What should I bring?

We will let you know in the joining letter. You will need to wear comfortable clothes. Bring basic writing materials and a notepad. A clipboard is useful. You may wish to bring a packed lunch and a bottle of water. We will provide flipcharts and pens, and any textbooks that you may need.

• Is the weekend course difficult?

It is intensive, but not academically advanced. Anyone with a reasonable standard of education who can speak English with conversational fluency should cope easily. Contact us for advice if in doubt.

• How quickly can I do the distance learning course?

If you apply for the distance course at the same time as the weekend course then you will receive the course pack when you arrive for the weekend. You could therefore start the next day. Although it is called an 80 hour course, some people complete it more quickly. There are two assignments which may take up to 10 days to mark and return to you (often quicker). With hard work the course could be completed within a month or less.

• How slowly can I do the distance learning course?

We normally ask that the course is completed within one year of starting, and ideally within 6 months. This is to ensure continuity of learning.

• What breaks do we get on the weekend course?

Course times are 9.0am to 9.0pm Saturday and 9.0am to 5.0pm Sunday.