TEFL is an acronym that stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It refers to teaching English in a country where English is not a primary language (rather, it is a foreign language). An example of TEFL would be a teacher from the U.S. teaching English in China.

The terms TEFL and TESOL are generally used interchangeably when it comes to certification in teaching English and qualifying for jobs. In fact, when you’re shopping around for TEFL courses, you may see them described as “TEFL / TESOL courses" or when you're looking for jobs, you might see an ad for a position that requires “TEFL / TESOL certification.”

Yet technically, there are slight differences between these two terms. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It refers to teaching English in a country where English is not a primary language (rather, it is a foreign language). An example of TEFL would be a teacher from the U.S. teaching English in China. TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. It's a more general term that includes teaching English as a foreign language (as in the China example) as well as teaching English as a second language (TESL), meaning in a country where the primary language is English. An example of TESL would be a teacher at an English language institute in the U.S. who teaches students from around the world. The important thing to keep in mind is that the terms are widely used interchangeably, so either a TEFL or TESOL certificate will meet certification requirements for jobs teaching English.

Read more: What is TESOL?

There are many opportunities to teach English, both with schools in countries around the globe as well as with organizations online. In order to teach English as a foreign language, employers generally require that teachers are TEFL-certified with a training of at least 120 hours. In order to meet this requirement, we recommend taking one of Bridge’s Professional TEFL / TESOL Certificates. These courses are at least 120 hours, 100% online, and provide training in teaching English to speakers of other languages, including core methodology, teaching strategies, and lesson planning.

Getting a job teaching English isn't that different from getting any other type of job. And teaching English is part of the international education industry, so there are ample opportunities for teachers of all backgrounds and experience levels!

For most TEFL jobs, employers generally require that teachers are TEFL-certified with a training of at least 120 hours. In order to meet this requirement, we recommend taking one of Bridge’s Professional TEFL / TESOL Certificates. These courses are at least 120 hours, 100% online, and provide training in teaching English to speakers of other languages, including core methodology, teaching strategies, and lesson planning.

Anyone who speaks English and has a desire to help others learn it can be a TEFL / TESOL teacher. Here are a few common profiles of TEFL / TESOL teachers.

• • Recent high school graduates - A year or two out in the world before going to university or starting work is a useful “gap” experience. This practice is very popular in Europe and is gaining popularity elsewhere, as well.
• • University graduates - A stint working in another country before starting a career at home provides memories for a lifetime, boosts your resume with international experience, and may even change the direction of your career.
• • Mid-career changers - Those who are tired of their 9-to-5 desk job find an adventure teaching English abroad is just the break they need. Plus, many TEFL employers worldwide are happy to hire teachers who have a bit more life and work experience.
• • Post-career retirees - Living abroad and contributing to a community as a teacher can be the perfect next chapter for those who have finished their first career and are ready for something new in retirement. Read an interview with Wes, who taught English in South America after retirement.
• • Non-native speakers of English - Because they’ve learned English themselves, non-native English speakers have a deeper insight into the nature of learning a foreign language and use this advantage as English teachers in their home country or abroad. Learn more about the advantages of non-native English teachers in the TEFL classroom.
• • Digital nomads - Teaching English online offers the ultimate option for teachers looking for flexibility and location independence. Teach from anywhere with a stable Internet connection, make your own hours, and see the world! Meet Rachel, a digital nomad currently in Mexico.

A TEFL / TESOL certificate is the primary qualification needed to teach English as a foreign language. Taking a TEFL / TESOL course and earning your certification opens doors to jobs teaching English worldwide and online. Bridge offers a variety of both online TEFL certification as well as onsite/blended TEFL certification.

Yes, a TEFL certificate is worth it if you plan to teach English. In an increasingly competitive job market, most employers worldwide and online select only TEFL / TESOL- qualified teachers. (The exception to this can be if you hold a university degree specifically in education, although many teachers still get certified.) Employers know that a certificate indicates that you’ve been trained with the specific skills you’ll need to teach English language learners, and it also shows professional integrity and reliability. TEFL / TESOL credentials helps you stand out in the hiring process as a prepared, highly marketable candidate.

However, your credential is more than a piece of paper! The training you’ll get in your course in areas such as lesson planning, classroom management, and teaching grammar will give allow you to enter your first classroom with confidence. You can even earn specialized TEFL / TESOL certificates or specific jobs, such as teaching English online, teaching Business English or teaching English to young learners or teens, to further prepare yourself and qualify for even more jobs.

Most employers will require at least 120 hours of TEFL / TESOL certification as a minimum. In order to meet this requirement, we recommend taking a Bridge Professional TEFL / TESOL Certificate. These courses provide initial training for new English language teachers (such as teaching strategies and lesson planning), are 100% online, and meet requirements for thousands of teaching positions at languages institutes and schools worldwide course features.

Yes! There are different course recommendations for people who are completely new to teaching versus those who are already a certified or experienced English teachers but have never taught English online.

If you're brand new to teaching English as a foreign language, you'll need to start out with a strong foundation in English language teaching methodology, lesson planning, and grammar before learning essential skills for the virtual classroom. Therefore, the best course for you is the Comprehensive Certification Bundle, which includes initial TEFL / TESOL certification via a Professional Certificate (the IDELTOnline™ is a great choice), followed by Specialized Certification in Teaching English Online, which helps you master the terms, technology, and teaching tools used in the virtual classroom and gives you an introduction to the theory, methods, and instructional strategies specific to the online setting.

If you're already a TEFL / TESOL certified/experienced English teacher and would like to transition to online teaching, you can go straight to the Specialized Certification in Teaching English Online. This suite of courses will build on what you already know and prepare you specifically for the virtual classroom and help you stand out for the best online teaching jobs.

Because TEFL / TESOL courses are not universally standardized, the content and quality may vary greatly from one organization to the next. Therefore, it’s very important to check that the organization providing your course has external recognition by a recognized body (such as ACCET, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education). This will let you know that the TEFL / TESOL program meets certain academic and professional industry standards. It also indicates to schools that your certificate is high-quality, verified, and internationally accepted.

Bridge is accredited by ACCET, the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (U.S. Department of Education recognized agency) as well as UK-based Aqueduto, Association for Quality Education & Online Training.

Find out more about TEFL course accreditation here

If you are new to teaching and/or don’t have previous TEFL certification, we recommend taking a Bridge Professional TEFL / TESOL Certificate if to get started teaching English. These courses provide initial training for new English language teachers (such as teaching strategies and lesson planning), are 100% online, and meet requirements for thousands of teaching positions at languages institutes and schools worldwide. You can choose from two levels of accredited Professional TEFL / TESOL Certification:

• • Our most advanced course is the graduate-level, 150-Hour Bridge International Diploma in English Language Teaching (IDELTOnline™). In this interactive training, you’ll join an international group of classmates led by a master’s level instructor, and take part in collaborative activities, discussion boards, and optional live sessions. Choose this university-affiliated course to exceed certification requirements and stand out as the most competitive candidate for English teaching jobs.
• • The 120-Hour Bridge Master Certificate is a self-paced, tutor-led course that meets certification requirements to teach English. Not your average 120-hour certification, this course is recommended for undergraduate-level university credits by the American Council on Education, and like all Bridge courses, it’s offered on our state-of-the-art online learning platform with dynamic course features.

Read more about choosing the best TEFL certification here.

All Bridge online TEFL / TESOL courses (with the exception of the IDELTOnline™) are self-paced, meaning you can start anytime and work at your own pace within the time frame given (which is 3 months for most courses, though most students finish sooner). Content varies by course, but you’ll complete tasks like practices exercises, written assignments, discussion board posts, and quizzes as you work through your course modules. Bridge courses also include a personal tutor who grades your written assignments and provides feedback to help you develop as a teacher.

The 12-week, graduate-level International Diploma in English Language Teaching (IDELTOnline™) is also a flexible course, but it has set start dates every month and weekly due dates for assignments. Another difference with the format of this course is that rather than working independently, you’ll be part of an international group of classmates led by a master’s level instructor, and together you’ll take part in collaborative activities and even attend optional live sessions.

Read more about how TEFL courses work here.

Bridge’s online courses require you to be above 18 years of age, have a high school diploma (or equivalent) and at least an intermediate level of English (B1 CEFR level).

How long it takes to complete your TEFL / TESOL course and earn your certification depends on variables such as whether your course is self-paced, the number of hours you choose, and the amount of time you have available to dedicate to the course each week.

In a self-paced online TEFL course (which most are) you can log in and work through the course independently, at your convenience. The more hours you choose, the longer it will take to complete your course. For example, a Bridge Basic TEFL / TESOL Certificate course of just 40 hours can be completed in a week or two, whereas the more comprehensive 120-hour Master TEFL / TESOL Certificate Course usually takes students at least four weeks to complete in full. Students in Bridge’s self-paced online programs, such as these, are given up to three months to access their course, and many students finish their training well before the deadline.

On the other hand, some online TEFL / TESOL courses are not self-paced, but rather have a set start and end date. In these courses, such as the 12-week Bridge IDELTOnline™, trainees work though the course week-by-week as a cohort, led by an instructor.

120 hours is the standard number of TEFL certification hours that will generally qualify you to teach abroad and online. While teaching English abroad requirements can vary by country and some online companies ask for more hours, 120 is what you should aim for as a minimum when browsing different courses.

The Bridge 120-Hour Master Certificate fulfills this requirement. Not your average 120-hour certification, this course is recommended for undergraduate-level university credits by the American Council on Education, and like all Bridge courses, it’s offered on our state-of-the-art online learning platform with dynamic course features.

Keep in mind that English language professionals can qualify for more competitive jobs and stand out with 150+ hours of certification, such as the Bridge IDELTOnline™ course. While it’s a bigger initial financial and time investment, taking a course that’s 150+ hours can pay off in the long run. In the IDELTOnline™, an interactive, graduate-level training, you’ll join an international group of classmates led by a master’s level instructor, and take part in collaborative activities, discussion boards, and optional live sessions.

You might also want to add Specialized Certificates and Micro-Credentials to enhance your niche. Whenever you complete another Bridge course, the total number of hours on your certificate will increase!

Learn more here: How Many Hours of TEFL / TESOL Certification Do I Need?

Tuition for online TEFL / TESOL courses depends on a few factors, such as the number of hours you choose, the course quality, level of tutor involvement, and whether the course is self-study or instructor-led. However, generally speaking, you can expect to pay about $100-200 for very basic self-study online certification, and closer to $300-500 for similar certification of 100 hours or more, which will qualify you for most TEFL / TESOL jobs.

Instructor-led TEFL / TESOL courses, such as the university-affiliated Bridge IDELTOnline™, will cost more– usually between around $1,000 to $1,500.

Learn more: How Much Does TEFL Certification Cost?

If you’re committed, a TEFL course shouldn’t be hard to pass on your first go. This is especially true if you pick a course that has personalized guided attention from a tutor or instructor (as Bridge’s online courses do!).

No, your Bridge certificate will not expire! However, some employers may be wary of certificates that are not recent. If you’re concerned your certification is past its prime or you haven’t taught in a while, consider taking one of our specialized TEFL / TESOL certification courses, such as Teaching English to Young Learners and Teens or Teaching English Online. Getting specialized certification can help you develop a teaching niche and qualify for specific types of jobs.

Read more about Bridge TEFL certificates here.

Bridge TEFL / TESOL certification courses cover a variety of subjects and themes all dedicated to providing you with practical teacher training supported by core methodology. To learn which topics are covered in the course you’re interested in, please review the curriculum, module topics, and learning objectives highlighted on the specific page for that course. (Click here to see the full list of Bridge online courses.)

Yes, you can teach English even if it isn’t your first language! Many Bridge graduates are multilingual teachers with a native tongue other than English.

Read more: Where Can I Teach English as a Non-Native Speaker?

There's no exam required to become an online English teacher, so after you complete your Bridge TEFL / TESOL certification course, you can apply for jobs right away.