Digital Badges for TEFL/TESOL: What Are They and How Can You Use Them?

Maybe you’ve heard of digital badges in fields such as higher education or IT as a simple yet dynamic tool to showcase the full scope of academic and professional accomplishments earned. Now, Bridge is proud to be one of the first in the industry to offer digital badges for TEFL/TESOL, making this innovative, 21st-century credential available to graduates of our teacher training and professional development courses!

How do digital badges work?

Graduates of Bridge online TEFL courses (see full list below) will now receive a digital badge when they complete their course, in addition to their certificate. Backed by blockchain technology, digital badges (sometimes called open badges) provide employers with an in-depth look “under the hood” of the TEFL/TESOL program you completed, providing far more detail than your certificate alone, such as the learning objectives you mastered, the rigor of your course, and the specific skills you acquired.

Where can I share my digital badges from Bridge?

You can share digital badges in a number of places to easily market yourself as a teacher, including on your social media profiles for LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Many professionals also choose to add their digital badges to their email signature and TEFL/TESOL resume.

What is the difference between a digital badge and my TEFL/TESOL certificate?

Your Bridge TEFL certification is what actually qualifies you to teach English as a foreign language or to work in a specialized field, such as teaching young learners or teaching business English. Your Bridge certificate indicates the name of the program you took, the total number of hours you completed, and a list of the course components.

Your digital badge, on the other hand, fills in the gaps in information, offering far more detail than your certification alone. With just a click of the unique URL for your badge, potential employers are taken to a landing page where they can learn the details of the program you completed, such as:

• The criteria that were required to complete the credential
• Evidence of specific tasks and projects you completed within the program
• Skills and competencies behind the achievement
• The learning objectives you met to earn the badge
• Information about Bridge’s standards and accreditation

Why are digital badges for TEFL/TESOL important?

Digital badges are used to help you stand out when applying to teaching positions worldwide or online. (Get tips on using your digital badges to get TEFL/TESOL jobs.) Over the years, digital badges have gained recognition among employers and have become an integral part of your overall online representation. If you want employers to fully understand your credentials, adding digital badges to your professional online portfolio is a great way to do so!

• Digital badges demonstrate your commitment to continued ESL professional development and learning.
• Every time you earn a badge for a Bridge TEFL/TESOL course, you can display it in a variety of places online to make your individual accomplishments visible.
• Employers can easily click on each badge to get the details on the program you completed, what you accomplished within that program, and how it has prepared you for the job.

What digital badges does Bridge offer?

Bridge has partnered with Credly, a leading company in digital badging, to create digital badges on their Acclaim platform for the following TEFL/TESOL certification and professional development courses.

Foundational TEFL/TESOL courses

• 40-Hour Basic TEFL/TESOL Certificate
• 60-Hour Educator TEFL/TESOL Certificate

International TEFL/TESOL courses

• 100-Hour Professional TEFL/TESOL Certificate
• 120-Hour Master TEFL/TESOL Certificate
• 150-Hour IDELTOnline™ TEFL/TESOL Diploma

Specialized TEFL/TESOL courses

• 60-Hour Foundations in Teaching English Online
• 60-Hour Advanced Methods in Teaching English Online
• 60-Hour Teaching English to Young Learners
• 60-Hour Teaching English to Teenagers
• 40-Hour Teaching Business English
• 40-Hour Teaching English Grammar
• 40-Hour Designing Custom Courses
• 20-Hour Guided Teaching Practicum

TEFL/TESOL Micro-credential courses – General

• 20-Hour Teaching English as a Global Language
• 20-Hour Error Correction in the EFL Classroom
• 20-Hour Teaching English Using Podcasts 
• 20-Hour Teaching English Using Video  
• 20-Hour Materials Development for the EFL Classroom
• 20-Hour Teaching IELTS Exam Prep

TEFL/TESOL Micro-credential courses in Teaching English Online

• 10-Hour Games and Activities for the Online Classroom (Very Young Learners)
• 10-Hour Games and Activities for the Online Classroom (Young Learners)
• 10-Hour Games and Activities for the Online Classroom (Teenagers)
• 10-Hour Games and Activities for the Online Classroom (Adults)
• 10-Hour Teaching English Online to Groups
• 10-Hour Health, Safety, and Mental Attitudes while Teaching English Online

Learn about the benefits of Micro-credentials.

How do I access my digital badges from Bridge?

After successfully completing a certification with Bridge, you’ll receive an email to claim your corresponding digital badge. (If you took a course with Bridge previously, contact our admissions department at tefladmissions@bridge.edu to request your badge.)

• You’ll need to first create an Acclaim account.
• Within your Acclaim account, you’ll see an option to accept your badge.
• Once you’ve accepted it, you’re free to share it wherever you like!

Do digital badges for TEFL/TESOL expire?

Just like your Bridge certifications, your digital badges don’t expire. As long as you have them displayed, employers can click on them to find up-to-date information about your certifications or other accomplishments.

Learn more about the specific achievements and competencies in teaching English that your digital badges can showcase to employers.