FAQs about Online TEFL TESOL courses

Is the online TEFL/TESOL an accredited course?

There are no independent international accrediting bodies for on-line TESOL/TEFL Certificates. The online TEFL certification from ITTO is an internationally recognized qualification for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Our course exceeds international standards and will help establish the foundation for your future career. Our online TEFL TESOL course of 140 hours meets the international TEFL requirements, which are:
1. 120 hours of training
2. Discussion sessions covering grammar, teaching skills, etc.
3. Formal assessment
4. Personal tutors and
5. Information including TEFL theory and practice.

Graduates of our course earn a 140-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate of true international recognition, which is held in high regard by language schools around the world. Click here to see where our graduates are teaching!

Is it necessary to be a native speaker of English?

No. Currently there are English teachers from all over the world. You do need to:
- have a proficient level of English
- have the ability to examine language
- be able to write a brief English essay

We have successfully trained native and non-native English speakers with different backgrounds throughout the years, making TEFL training available to as many people as possible.
Do I need a special computer?

The course is designed for use on any type of computer system including Internet cafes. What you will need is a computer connected to the Internet, speakers, and a video card.

I’ve heard about the importance of knowing how to teach grammar. Does your course include this component?

Yes. Many other TEFL providers do not include a grammar module or will charge for this separately.

How much is the grammar module of you course?

It’s included in your course fee. Many other TEFL providers do not include a grammar module or will charge for this separately.

Do I need to buy books or other materials?

No, ITTO's Online TEFL TESOL Course fee includes everything you need to complete the course. There are no extra or hidden fees. The online course materials, included in the fee, are printable. Click here to see all the features included in your course fee.

What happens if for any reason I don’t complete the course in the given time?

You have 12 months to finish the Online TEFL TESOL Course and 6 months to complete any Specialty Certificate Course. If you need more time or if your account has expired, you can purchase a 6-month extension for $50 USD.

What kinds of students take your online TEFL course?

The type of program we offer attracts people who are recent college graduates, career changers, retired people, and people still studying. Most people have never taught before, while a few have some teaching experience.

Can you give me an outline of the online TEFL course?

In ITTO's Online TEFL TESOL Course, you will learn:
- The skills and methodology of teaching
- Teaching skills: on-line input sessions aim at providing key teaching methodology
- The Teaching of grammar, vocabulary, speaking, reading, listening and writing
- To teach children. Business English can be focal points based upon request
- To create teaching materials
- To techniques for correction
- To evaluate text books
- To distinguish between errors and mistakes
- Tools developed to help you to teach English to beginners, intermediate and advanced students
- To perform individual assessment
- To use games, fillers and warm-up exercises

Our grammar input sessions aim at building trainees' understanding of English grammar systems and providing practical ideas on how to teach it. Topics covered include:

- Nouns/adjectives
- Verbs/adverbs
- Infinitives
- Gerunds
- Modal auxiliary verbs
- Conditionals
- Relative clauses
- Phrasal clauses

Upon successful completion of your course, you will get a 140 hour Online TEFL TESOL Certificate. The hours of study include:
• Answering journal questions at the beginning of each unit.
• Taking all the lessons and answering all the quizzes in the learning platform. The results of the quizzes represent just a minimal percentage of the final grade.
• Reading additional articles.
• Completing 8 tasks and a final project.
• Participating in at least 4 discussion forums.

Grading Criteria:
- Use of platform Total = 25 %
o Journals = 8%
o Lessons & quizzes = 12%
o Forums = 5%
- Tasks Total = 55 %
- Final Project Total = 15%
- Self-evaluation Total = 5%

At the end of your course, your certificate will not include a grade but it will include the following rubrics:
A: Distinction: 91% or above
B: Merit: 81 - 90%
C: High Pass: 71 - 80%
D: Pass: 61- 70 %
F: Fail 60% or below

In Summary, you will be asked to work hard but you'll have the benefit of getting a very complete course where you will not only answer a few quizzes but you will be involved in more interesting tasks where you can learn from others and get personalized feedback from one of our tutors.

Take a look at some comments given by our graduates: Click here!

Why would people spend up to $2,800 U.S. dollars on an on-site TEFL course?

People who are interested in making a TEFL career will spend much more for onsite courses. Yet, most people who are interested in teaching English do not want to devote their lives to teaching or cannot travel to the locations where these courses are offered. Most of the people want to travel and see the world, and teaching English may be the answer, whether teaching part-time, during summer break, or during their traveling.

This online course is specially designed for people who are limited by time or lack finances to take a full-time course, yet they can receive the benefits of obtaining certification from a worldwide recognized TEFL course provider.
How long does the on-line TEFL course last?

The online TEFL course is designed to be learned at your own pace. We will conduct discussion forums with cyber classmates and you will be receiving a 1 on 1 assessment from your tutor. Each unit will be graded by your tutor. He/She will provide a grade, feedback and suggestions to improve your progress. Then you will proceed to the next unit.

Also, one of the advantages of taking our online course is having the option of completing your course at your own time and at your own pace in the lapse of a year, meaning, you may go as fast or as slow as desired, with access to your course 24/7.

For example:
If you wish to finish your course in 1 month, you will have to do 5 hours a day. If you wish to finish your course in 2 months, you will have to do 2.5 hours a day. If you wish to finish your course in 3 months, you will have to do 1.5 hours a day. If you have a date in mind, we’ll be more than happy to help you figure out the amount of time to spend.
Who answers my questions while I am taking the online TEFL course?

All questions related to materials used for the course will be answered by your on-line instructor during the completion of the course. Administrative requests will be handled by our representatives or by our student services coordinator at:
info@tefl-online.com
What can I do if I experience problems receiving your e-mails?

Most of the regular e-mail providers such as Hotmail, and Yahoo or any other web based e-mail accounts are programmed to filter e-mails suspected of being spam, so they are automatically sent to junk folders. If you haven’t received your log-in instructions within 24 hours, please revise your junk folder. If the information is still not there, please contact us to provide you with log-in instructions at:
info@tefl-online.com
How do I apply? Do I need to wait for a specific enrollment date?

Since this is an online course, there are no set enrollment dates. You can start at any time.

To Apply, simply fill out the application on the "Apply Now!" button at the top of the website and We will contact you within 24 hours with your access information. In addition, we will provide you with an official welcome letter from ITTO and your instructor. Your instructor is responsible to provide the 8 units you will need to complete the course. All the information regarding lessons and correspondence will be handled directly via e-mails and attachments. The course is specially designed to be accessible and to accommodate your needs.

You will work at your own pace but please note that you are only allowed to receive materials at the pedagogical pace suggested by your tutor.
The course is specially designed t We highly advise you to complete the lessons at the suggested pacing, in order to obtain all the benefits from each lesson, and to assure comprehension. When completed, materials will be mailed to your instructor. Your instructor will then send you back the corrected materials along with the next unit.
What can I do if I need to contact someone other than the online customer service?

You can contact your online instructor through email at any needed time. If you ever need to contact someone directly, you can request a phone interview, and we will be glad to contact you at the discretion of the administration depending on how urgent your request might be.

You can also contact us daily at:
info@tefl-online.com
What is the full price for the online TEFL course?

The regular ITTO online course fee is $395 USD, although we always have great discounts! The optional 1-1 teaching practice fee is $560 USD, and you can always combine your online TEFL course with any additional Specialty Certificate Course.
Why do people want to take an online TEFL course?

Because they want a career in the EFL/ESL field, a switch of careers or just want to teach during their summer break or while they are traveling (to cover expenses) without investing for a full on-site course. Teaching English is a profession that will always allow you to find an income regardless of where you might be.

Can I pay in something different from dollars?

Yes, actually any currency is accepted:

1) Sending credit card details via our secure, on-line, credit card payment facility:
https://www.tefl-online.com/cgibin/teflonline_application.php

2) Faxing credit card details to the International Teacher Training Organization: +(52)33-3658-4886

3) Sending a cashiers check made out to the International Teacher Training Organization to:

INTERNATIONAL TEACHER TRAINING ORGANIZATION
MADERO 469
GUADALAJARA, JALISCO, 44100, MEXICO

4) You may also wish to make your payment by bank transfer.
Bank Name: BBVA Bancomer
Bank Address: Av. Niños Heroes #2715.
Col. Jardines del Bosque,
Guadalajara, Jalisco, 44520, Mexico.

Account Name: International Teacher Training Organization.
Account Number: 0 1 3 2 5 7 7 7 1 2
Routing Number: 6290692210
Swift Code: BCMRMXMMPYM
IBAN Number: 121 000 358
CLABE: 012320001325777125
When is the best time to do an online TEFL course?

There is really no best or worst time. Countries in different hemispheres have different academic years and tend to hire year round anyway, on an as needed basis. Teachers come and go at any given time leaving positions to be filled. This ensures that you obtain teaching positions virtually any time of the year.
Do I have to commit to a long period of time to get a teaching job in a given country?

No, you do not have to stay in a country for a long period of time to become employed.

Many schools offer 3 month work periods. This is perfect for teachers on holiday/vacation. If you teach on your own then you will decide how long you want to stay, however, it is important to be honest with your employers and students to tell them how long you plan on staying in any given place.
Is there an age limit?

No. Teaching is one of the professions where you are never too old or young. Some schools and institutes prefer an older, more mature person for the job, because of the respected image that they portray. Some employers prefer younger teachers. Being a younger person has the advantage of being seen as an energetic person who can give their classes a boost.

The majority of our trainees are in their 20's, 30's and 40’s, but we have successfully trained and found employment for graduates in their 50's and 60's and therefore welcome applications from all interested parties regardless of age, gender or religion.
What makes your online TEFL course better than other online programs?

The ITTO online TEFL course distinguishes itself from other online TEFL courses in several important areas. Our course is a state of the art online TEFL course which stands for quality. Graduates of our course earn the prestige of being trained by a worldwide recognized TEFL institution, which is held in high esteem by language schools around the world. Our trained graduates are employed before non-qualified teachers. Click here to compare!

Do schools use contracts and, if so how long are they for?

Schools may or may not work on a contract basis. The ones that do, for the most part, offer a one-year renewable contract. These usually include a clause requiring a one month notice to end the contract early. Other schools hire without contracts, which may pay based upon an hourly basis or others offer work for six, eight or twelve week courses.
When do schools abroad hire?

Some schools do their hiring for teaching positions just prior to September. But in reality many language schools hire teachers on an as-needed basis any time of year.
Is there an exam at the end of the course?

ITTO's Online TEFL TESOL Certificate does not have a final exam but a final project. The final project does not consist of a series of isolated questions to test the student's knowledge. The final project consists of putting together everything that students have learned throughout the course in one big assignment. i.e. the students write a final lesson plan. You will have continuous assessment throughout the course based on different assignments and in the final project students are expected to take into account the feedback given and put it into practice.

Study units contain information about grammar, teaching skills, classroom management, and the four skills in language: learning, phonetics, pronunciation, and lesson planning. The course is divided into the following main study units:

UNIT 1: The Teaching and Learning Process
UNIT 2: Vocabulary
UNIT 3: Grammar
UNIT 4: The Four Skills
UNIT 5: Classroom Management
UNIT 6: Planning
UNIT 7: Games
UNIT 8: Grammar and Pronunciation
Who teaches the online TEFL course at ITTO?

All tutors are required to have had a successful career in teaching for at least five years and EFL Teacher Training experience for a minimum of three years, although most of them amply exceed this margin. All are active teachers, therefore fully aware of the classroom situations facing teachers today. Click here to see our tutor profiles.

How much time will I have to devote to the online TEFL course each day?

The course follows a method where trainees develop their teaching skills and knowledge of grammar through a combination of online group sessions, discussion forums, and assessment of materials given to your online tutor.

The time invested will vary depending on the unit that you may be working on. Your tutor will assess your progress and advise you on how to keep up with the rest of your online class.

Investing from 2 to 4 hours daily to the course more than likely will allow you to master the materials dealt with and to keep up with the course.
Do I need a college degree?

We do not require for trainees to have a college degree, but having one may be an advantage for getting a job. There is no need to have an academic degree in order to take the course; although you need to have a standard of education that will allow you to cope with the material given. Our requirements are for you to be a native English speaker or for you to have a proficient level of English, as well as for you to have the ability to examine language and learn from your teaching methods and from experience.
Is this course recognized?

Yes.
Our online TEFL course gives you the necessary tools to teach in language schools around the world. Employers prefer to employ teachers who have received teaching training.

The ITTO online TEFL course distinguishes itself from other online TEFL courses in several important areas. Our course is a state of the art course. Graduates of our course earn worldwide prestige after taking our course, which is held in high esteem by language schools around the world since we are one of the biggest TEFL course providers.
Is ITTO a member of any professional organizations?

Yes. We are proud members of: The College of Teachers, IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language), NAFSA (Association of International Educators), AMCHAM (American Chamber of Commerce) and IALLT (International Association of Language Learning Technology ).
How will I get confirmation of my registration?

We will confirm by e-mail, we also can contact you by phone or fax when requested.
What is an online TEFL-TESOL course?

An online TEFL / TESL (Teaching English as a Foreign / Second Language) course is designed to prepare trainees to teach English as a Foreign Language without having to go to a specific location where full courses are given. Selecting an online course from an internationally recognized provider like ITTO will give you the necessary skills to teach as well as receive the prestige that we offer our trainees.
Will I be a competent teacher by the end of the online TEFL course?

Due to the masterful content of our TEFL course, all graduates will receive the necessary skills, confidence and ability to embark on their teaching careers and work in a professional manner anywhere in the world.
Do I need teaching experience?

No. ITTO's on-line TEFL course includes all the methodology, skills, and knowledge that will make you an excellent EFL teacher.
Why are people interested in taking an online TEFL course?

The reason is because they are interested in a TEFL career. The majority of students are looking for an additional career. Whether teaching part-time, during summer break, or during their traveling. This course is specially designed for people who might have time limits or may lack the finances to take a full- time course. No matter the circumstances, they benefit from a worldwide recognized TEFL course provider.
TEFL? TESOL? TESL? ESL? EFL? What does it all mean?

- TEFL means the "Teaching English as a Foreign Language"
- TESL is “Teaching English as a Second Language"
- TESOL is used to refer to the "Teaching English to Students of Other Languages" or to the worldwide recognized organization based in the United States: TESOL “Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages”
-EFL stands to “English as a Foreign Language”
-ESL stands to “English as a Second Language”
What is the success rate and how many people fail?

The people who sign up for our course are very dedicated and therefore failure rate is rather low. We have had only 1 or 2 cases of people who were not able to finish our online course.
How do I know if I am suitable?

If you:
Can read an English newspaper or book with no problem;
Have attended English school at the high school level;
Can carry on a conversation in English with ease or with few difficulties;
Can watch and fully understand English TV or English movies, you can probably become an English teacher around the world.
My grammar is weak; Could I make it through your course?

As a native speaker, you know grammar. You now need to understand how to teach your knowledge using a communicative approach. Our tutors will guide and support you with this and other issues. Many other TEFL providers do not include a grammar module or will charge for this separately.

Is it true that these online courses are really tough?

Our course is intensive and challenging to some degree, yet it is very attractive and fun as you develop your teaching techniques. Click here to try our FREE demo lesson.

Why teach English?

Being an English teacher will be a rewarding experience. Taking an online TEFL course will enable those interested in teaching as a career to get quickly started and develop from there. For those interested in teaching English for a shorter time and/or simply wanting to feel what teaching is like, it will be an opportunity to also visit several different places.

Many companies and regular schools value international experience. The cultural awareness that you gain living and working in another part of the world will be invaluable to you in the long term. For many people this is their opportunity to really travel.
I speak English pretty well. Why do I need to take an online TEFL course to get a job?

Administrators are more strict about who they hire than they once were. Those with no experience and/or training will find it difficult to find teaching positions. The TEFL teaching market is very competitive all over the world so preference will be given to holders of certification. If you take an online preparation course, it will show employers that you have been trained and are acquainted with the skills and methods of teaching English. It therefore makes you a much more attractive job candidate over unqualified applicants.
What can I expect of the program?

You can expect interactive online style classes in which full participation is expected. It is a program that will give you the foundation of what teaching is. You can be sure that when you finish our TEFL course, you will have a solid base upon which to build your future growth as a teacher.
Do I need to speak British English or North American English?

ITTO regards English as a global language and therefore welcomes applicants from all countries (as well as non-native speakers with a proficient level of English). There is no preferential treatment for, or discrimination against, trainees because of origin, accent or pronunciation.
Do I have to be fluent in other languages to teach English?

No, you do not have to speak other languages fluently in order to teach. Some students will prefer that you don’t know their native language. It forces them to communicate with you in English. If you do know the host country’s language be careful of using it as a ¨crutch¨; some of the best international language schools insist that only the language being taught is spoken during class.
Working papers?

When you are hired, in many cases, the schools will accept the responsibility of helping you with the work permits you will need.

Online TEFL TESOL Courses Teach English Abroad

Online TEFL
TESOL Courses
Teach English Abroad