You want to teach English online, but when it comes to online TEFL courses, there are 100s of options to choose from. So how do you decide between them all? Let’s have a look at what sets the online teacher training with eTefl Online apart.
1. The Online TEFL Course
Generally speaking, there are 3 types of online TEFL courses.
Cheap DIY online TEFL course
You can find these on discount websites like Groupon and generally cost around $20 but, as with everything in life, you get what you pay for. Unless you are already tutoring English online and only need the TEFL certification to add to your paperwork, then avoid these online TEFL courses. And even then, your employer may not accept it (as is the case with DaDa).
There are no interactive lessons, no assignments to complete and no tutor support. This kind of TEFL course will not make you a better teacher as they offer no guidance and there’s no tutor to answer your questions or correct any errors you make.
Online TEFL course with tutor support
This is the option eTEFL Online provides as it includes the best of both worlds in terms of the training and price. You get assigned a tutor who will guide you through the accredited TEFL course step by step, correct your errors, mark your assignments and give feedback.
Our online teacher training programmes include an accredited TEFL course designed and managed by highly-qualified Dr Daniel Portman. Daniel has a doctorate in education and has been training teachers for over 20 years.
All our TESOL/TEFL courses are accredited by the UK’s Online TEFL and TESOL Standards Agency, OTTSA. This ensures that our online TEFL course content, methodology, and delivery meet international standards.
Live Virtual Online TEFL courses
Live virtual online TEFL courses are usually provided by universities. With this option, you attend live virtual classes over the Internet. The benefit is that you attend a live class and can participate with the rest of the students and interact with your tutor, but on the downside, these online TEFL courses are quite expensive at around $1500.
2. Free Cambridge Online Teacher Training
As I mentioned above, all our online TEFL courses now include the Cambridge TKT preparation course and exam fees – which could total $225 if you take all the modules!
The TKT stands for Teacher Knowledge Test and is ideal for people who want to prove their teaching knowledge with a globally recognized certificate, especially those who don’t have a bachelor’s degree. We’ll provide you with a free TKT exam preparation course but you will have to take the exam at your nearest Cambridge examination centre which you can find here Cambridge TKT Exam Centres
The TKT exam is divided into modules and you can take 1 or all of them and receive a Cambridge University Certificate for each one you complete.
There are 3 general modules:
TKT: Module 1
Language and background to language learning and teaching
TKT: Module 2
Lesson planning and use of resources for language teaching
TKT: Module 3
Managing the teaching and learning process
And 2 specialist modules:
TKT: CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning)
TKT: YL (Young Learners)
Then we also include the free Cambridge Teaching English Online course which is a great course for experienced classroom teachers who want to learn how to transfer their classroom skills to an online environment. You can sign up for the course here Cambridge Teaching English Online course.
3. Your Teaching CV/Resumé and Cover Letter
This is the most important, and yet most overlooked, step in your online teaching journey. Just because you have a bunch of papers with information about you doesn’t mean that you have a good teaching CV/Resumé. The bigger online schools receive 100s of CV/Resumés every day, so it would be impossible for a human being to read every single one. Thus they use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). This software scans every CV/Resumé email attachment looking for desirable features like CV length and keywords like “bubbly personality” and “outgoing” to name but very few.
If your teacher CV/Resumé does not meet these requirements, it won’t even be passed on to the recruitment department. If you have applied to lots of schools and have not heard anything back, it’s probably because of this.
We work with Just ESL Resumes who also have extensive experience in ESL recruiting, so are able to write top quality ESL-focused resumes whether you have experience or not. Your resume will then have a much greater chance of getting into the hands of a recruiter and impress them enough to get you an interview. You can also get them to analyse your resume for a report on what is done well, where it is deficient and areas that could be improved.
4. Job Interview Preparation
OK, so now you have your online TEFL certification, your Cambridge TKT, and your amazing CV/Resumé, now it’s time to get those interviews. But what do you say in those Interviews and what do you need to prepare beforehand? We’ve got you covered here too. You’ll need your CV and Cover letter, an introduction video and the right answers to the interviewer’s questions. As part of the Just ESL Resumes package, you also get:
Introduction Video Script + Tips
Personalized 2-minute introduction video script for you to use when applying for positions
Hints and tips for recording yourself in the best way to ensure you get an interview
Practice Interview + Professional Feedback Report
Prior to your practise job interview, you’ll receive:
- A range of choices of time for your practice interview
- A list of questions that you may be asked in your practice interview (and that may be asked during an actual job interview)
- A hints and tips guide to help you prepare for your practice interview to get the most out of it
Your practice interview will be:
- Set up to mirror an ESL job interview
- 10-15 minutes long
After your practice interview you’ll receive:
- A professional report from an experienced ESL recruiter that provides feedback and tips to help you improve your interview style
A professional LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn is the Worlds #1 platform for professional profiles where job seekers and job recruiters can connect.
ESL recruiters widely use LinkedIn to actively contact potential ESL teachers based on their profile. Are you closing the door on potential recruiters just because your LinkedIn profile is out of date and does not convey to them that your main objective is to become an ESL teacher?
They can help you re-open those job opportunities with an ESL-focused LinkedIn profile.
A personalised and tailored response to the most difficult and most commonly asked question in almost every ESL Job Interview
Do you find it difficult to answer the question, “So, can you tell us about yourself?”
Most people do and have no idea what they should and shouldn’t say, and then the voice in your head adds to the confusion with “Now, what do they want to hear?”
After creating your resume and having a Practice Interview with you, they’ll get to know you better and then be able to create a personalized message which you can use in every job interview! It will be written with your skills, experience and personality in mind and help you portray the best ‘you’ to your interviewer.
5. Job support
Ironically, submitting your application through the online school’s website is the worst way to get noticed by them as that’s where the majority of people apply and competition is fiercest. The best route to take is by going straight to the recruiter.
We work with specialist recruitment organizations who prioritize our applications and we’ll connect you with online teachers who recruit for their schools which will greatly improve your chances of getting an interview quickly. And with our Online Teacher Training Bundles, you’ll also get a personal consultant to answer any questions and guide you through the process for as long as you need them.
