FAQ

About TEFL/ general questions

Q. Do I need to speak another language?

A. Absolutely not! Even if you do speak the local language, don't in the classroom. The whole point of having native English-speaking English teachers is that you provide a feeling of total immersion in the classroom and the students are forced to communicate in English. Of course, learning the language helps in your life outside the classroom.

Q. Is there international TEFL accreditation?

A. There is no single awarding body for TEFL. Most TEFL course providers provide their own accreditation or seek accreditation from accrediting bodies that are not TEFL-specific. TEFL Scotland is an approved centre of the SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority), accredited by the NCFE and the ODLQC (Open and Distance Learning Quality Council), and is a member of several education institutions including SATEFL (Scottish Association of TEFL), IATEFL (International Association of TEFL) and The College of Teachers. For more details, see our accreditation page.

Q. What is TEFL?

A. TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) is teaching English to people who do not speak English as their first language. This is largely done abroad, however, increasingly a lot of people are teaching English here in the UK. You will also find other acronyms like TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) - these are the same as TEFL.

Q. What is the difference between TEFL Scotland courses and other courses?

A. TEFL Scotland courses have been written by some of the most experienced teacher trainers in the TEFL industry. With over 30 years of combined TEFL experience, we have designed the courses to give first-time TEFL teachers the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed in their new career. Our courses are of a high standard with accreditation from a number of high profile training bodies. All of our courses are taught by qualified and experienced tutors, who know exactly what it is like to teach abroad. With TEFL Experts on hand to answer your questions and a FREE Job Placement Service available to all our students, we support you on every step of your TEFL journey.

Booking questions

Q. Can I add on further TEFL courses later?

A. Of course, you can, but booking courses together can save you up to £192 over booking separately. If you just want to do a taster to make sure TEFL is for you, try a weekend course and see how you get on. It's up to you.

Q. Can I book my place on a TEFL course with a £50 deposit?

A. Yes. If your course is more than two weeks away you can pay a £50 deposit to secure your place on the course. The remaining balance will automatically be charged to your card two weeks before the course start date. If your course starts within the next two weeks you will need to pay the full amount at the time of booking. If you don’t want your balance payment to be taken automatically, give us a call on 0800 9 888 200 and we can arrange a way more convenient to you.

Q. How do I book a course?

A. You can book online through our secure payment system by clicking here, over the phone on 0800 9 888 200, or even by post. You can use credit / debit cards or cheques. To make it even easier, we will also accept a £50 deposit to reserve your place.

Q. How do I pay my balance?

A. Click here.

Q. How far in advance do I have to book?

A. We always recommend booking two weeks in advance of your course date as places can fill up quickly. Some places are available at the last minute if you just can’t wait!

Q. When will I receive my certificate?

A. You will receive your certificate within 14 days of completing your course. If you need it sooner then give us a call and we'll see what we can do.

Course questions

Q. Are there any exams on the course?

A. No, our classroom courses are tested through continual assessment. On online courses, assessment is through tutor-marked assignments, each of which can be tried up to three times.

Q. Do I need qualifications to apply for a course?

A. We believe that if you can speak English then you have the potential to teach it. Therefore, we only ask that you are a native-level speaker of English and that you have the enthusiasm to learn something new. No other qualifications or experience are necessary.

Q. Do I need to be a native English speaker to do a TEFL course?

A. Not necessarily. If English is not your first language, you need to be able to speak it to a native level standard. We recommend that you be at Cambridge Advanced Level in English.

Q. Do I need to get anything for the course?

A. Just bring yourself plus a pen and notebook, though there will be more practical activities than note-taking going on! We do recommend getting a grammar reference book since this is the most essential resource any teacher can have. There are a number on the market. Ones we have used when we were starting are Practical English Usage by Michael Swan or A - Z of Grammar by Geoffrey Leach.

Q. Do I need to know grammar?

A. We all use grammar everyday, but the thought of explaining it can be scary! You don't need any prior knowledge as you'll get an introduction to grammar on the course. If you are at all unsure about grammar, we highly recommend taking our grammar course which takes you through the rules and terminology you will need when you step into the classroom.

Q. How long do the different TEFL courses take?

A. The weekend course is done over one weekend within a busy 20 hour period.The three day 30 hour TEFL course runs 9am to 6pm Monday to Wednesday. The online courses will depend on how much time you set aside for completing them. 2 - 3 months should be more than enough to cover the online TEFL course ,grammar course and online video course. However, we appreciate many people lead busy lives and things do not always go as planned and ahve therefore allowed for up to 6 months to complete the online courses.

Q. Is there an age limit on TEFL courses? Am I too old?

A. Age doesn't matter, honest! People of all ages come along to do our courses. Check out our former student stories to hear from a few of them. Many employers value maturity and life experience just as much as youthful enthusiasm!

Q. What funding is available?

A. ILA Scotland offers funding of up to £200 towards any TEFL Scotland course. For eligibility and more information, please click through to our ILA Funding page

Q. What happens if I need to change the date or location of my course?

A. Please phone us on 0800 9 888 200, giving as much notice as possible and we can attempt to transfer you on to a different course.

Q. What is the difference between online courses and classroom courses?

A. What you learn on the courses is pretty much the same. The classroom courses are practical and fast-paced, whereas the online course is more theoretical and in-depth. You can also progress through the course in your time, plus you have one-to-one tuition. Many TEFL students take both courses so they can see the theory of the online course put into practice on the classroom course and teach a practice lesson.

Q. What is the difference between the weekend and weekday course?

A. There is very little difference between the weekday and weekend TEFL courses. As the weekday course is spread out over three days, it is slightly less intense. The weekday course includes an extra teaching practice and a handy module on teaching young learners. Choose whichever one fits into your schedule best.

Q. What support will I get on the course?

A. All of our courses are tutor-guided, so you will receive the support you need from knowledgeable and approachable teachers. You can access the TEFL Scotland forums and discuss aspects of the course with others in the same position as you. You will also have access to our helpdesk should you have any queries about your course or other TEFL issues.

Q. What’s a TEFL course like?

A. TEFL Scotland classroom courses are highly practical and lots of fun. There are usually around 10 – 20 people of all ages on a course taken by one of our experienced tutors. Don’t worry – everyone is very friendly! The course covers a lot in a short space of time, including classroom management, practice activities, job advice and even getting to teach practice TEFL lessons yourself!

Online courses happen on our dedicated website, with forums for chatting about the course with your peers and a personal tutor or Grammar Guru to answer all your questions.

See the individual course pages to find out more about what you will study or Check out this video to see a TEFL course in action.

Q. Where are TEFL Scotland courses held?

A. TEFL Scotland courses are held throughout Scotland. For the most recent list of upcoming courses, see our dates and locations page. If you think we should be holding a course somewhere we are not, then let us know at info@teflscotland.co.uk. Online courses can be accessed from any computer connected to the internet, so you can study TEFL anywhere in the world!

Q. Which course should I take?

A. All of our courses will find you paid teaching work overseas. We offer a number of different courses so you can choose the right one to suit you. A simple rule is that the more you learn, the more prepared and more confident you are. Also, your CV will look more competitive if you have a 130-hour course rather than a 20-hour course. Some people already have the confidence or teaching experience and just need the basic weekend or online course (perhaps with the grammar course too). It really depends on you. For some of the common decisions on which course to take, click here. If you have any doubts or questions, give us a call on 0800 9 888 200.

Q. Who will be teaching me?

A. Our courses are taught by qualified teachers, all of whom have TEFL experience themselves. All our tutors are passionate about TEFL and know exactly what you need to get your first teaching job abroad. To get to know some of our TEFL tutors, click here

Job questions

Q. Do I need a degree to get a TEFL job?

A. Not necessarily. Some countries, such as Japan and South Korea, require a degree, usually for visa reasons. Others have no requirements beyond a TEFL certificate. Investigate the countries you want to study in to find out more.

Q. Does the TEFL Scotland TEFL certificate expire?

A. No, it doesn't. But, be realistic. Employers might be less attracted to you if it has been a couple of years since you took your course and have done no teaching in that period.

Q. How can TEFL Scotland help me get work?

A. All TEFL Scotland students have access to our FREE job placement service. This offers TEFL careers advice for as long as you want it. Our TEFL Experts offer application guidance as well as a free CV checking service and you can get access to our 8,500 job contacts worldwide. Positions are posted on the jobs section of our website and the latest vacancies are sent out in our TEFL newsletter - Sign up now on the homepage.

Q. I have a qualification with another provider - can I still apply for a job with you?

A. The positions we offer are only available for TEFL Scotland graduates. However, have a look on www.TEFL.com if you're looking for jobs.

Q. Is accommodation included in jobs?

A. Sometimes. Accommodation and other benefits such as health insurance and flights are included in many TEFL jobs, however exact benefits packages vary from country to country and school to school. Have a look at our Jobs section to get an idea

Q. When can I start teaching?

A. As soon as you have your certificate!

Q. Where can I teach?

A. Almost anywhere! There is a huge demand for English teachers across the world. Many of the positions are for new teachers, so experience is not important as long as you have a TEFL qualification. Some countries do have specific requirements, particularly for visas, for example countries like South Korea and Japan require a degree for most jobs. Check out our country profiles to find out more about TEFL in individual countries.

Q. Will a TEFL Scotland certificate get me a job?

A. A TEFL Scotland certificate is all you need to get your first TEFL job. There is a great demand worldwide for TEFL teachers and with our qualification and careers advice, you can start a successful career teaching English. Our students have found work all across the world! Read about the experience of just a few of our students by visiting our Former Student Stories page

Q. Will I be able to apply for jobs straight after the course?

A. Yes, some students even have a job lined up waiting for them to qualify! You can start applying for jobs as soon as you make the decision to go abroad.