Online TEFL/TESOL Courses

TESOL / TEFL: FAQs

» TESOL or TEFL: What’s the difference?

TESOL and TEFL are both used as catch-all terms to describe teaching English around the world. In the USA, Canada and Australia the term TESOL is more popular. Whereas TEFL is the most-widely used term internationally outside of these countries.

In reality there’s very little difference between TESOL and TEFL. Both focus on teaching English to non-native English speakers – and the teaching methods and techniques are pretty much the same, regardless of where in the world you teach.

• TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
• TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language)

» What are the benefits of a Level 5 course or diploma?

• The Level 5 course or diploma is the equivalent level to a CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL qualification, meaning it’s regarded more highly than a Level 3 TEFL qualification.
• The minimum hours we offer are 180 hours on the Level 5 course, giving you a comprehensive knowledge of TEFL before you start teaching. Our courses range from this 180 all the way up to a 320 Hour Diploma qualification which includes online training and a weekend of in-class training.
• The course is tutor-supported from start to finish, meaning you’ll get help along the way from our expert tutors, in-house Academic Director and Customer Support team.
• You’ll get 6 months’ access to the course.
• You’ll get a diploma certification on completion of your 300 or 320 Hour Diploma and a TEFL Course certificate if you’ve opted for a lower number of hours.

» Who can help me decide which course is for me?

Our TEFL experts are on hand to help you decide which course will get you where you want to be! You can either call our helpful team on the number at the top of the page or request a call here to schedule a call for a time that suits you. We look forward to hearing from you!

Another super handy way to decide which course is for you is to take our 2 minute TEFL Quiz which will give you a Level 3 or Level 5 suggestion based on your answers.

» Do I need to be a native English speaker?

You don’t need to be a native English speaker to take a TEFL Course, but you do need to have a native English speaker level to succeed in it. If you aren’t a native English speaker, we recommend you opt for a Level 3 TEFL Course, unless your standard of English is near-native.

» What qualification will I receive?

You will receive an i-to-i Level 5 or Level 3 TEFL Certificate, or if you have selected a Level 5 300 or 320 Hour Diploma, you’ll get a diploma certification. All qualifications are regulated by Ofqual (UK Government). The qualification is awarded by Gatehouse, an Ofqual regulated awarding body.

Our Level 5 TEFL certificate qualifies you to teach English as a foreign language internationally, including in the UK. The qualification is at the same level as the CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL courses qualifications.

» How do I find a teaching online job?

There are tons of online teaching jobs advertised on TEFL jobs boards, such as, LoveTEFL Jobs (i-to-i’s sister company). Simply, view and apply for positions you’re interested in – or you can go freelance and find your own students online. The opportunities are endless!

» Who can I teach when I have qualified to teach?

With all of our Level 3 and Level 5 TEFL Courses, you’ll be qualified to teach English to adults and children of any age. Within both of our Level 3 and Level 5 TEFL Courses are Specialist Courses which can be taken if you’d like to be TEFL trained in a particular area.

Within our Level 5 Course, we offer two Specialist Courses: Teaching Business English and Teaching One-to-One & Online which will prepare you for specific teaching situations plus adding a welcome boost to your income!

We’re the only TEFL provider to offer these Specialist Courses at Level 5, which will make your CV stand out to future employers. If you’ve opted for our Level 5 qualifications, you’ll naturally have a greater pick of TEFL jobs on offer as you’ll be qualified to a higher level than with a Level 3.