Foreword
For myself, I know at the time when I was ready to come to Thailand that I couldn’t afford the cost of an in-house TEFL course. When people ask me about TEFL’s I tell them if you think you need one then get one. Having a TEFL certificate under your belt will make you a much more attractive candidate in the eyes of your employer, but do you need a TEFL to get a job? I’d say no, if you don’t mind getting paid a bit less. I know plenty of people who don’t have one and are doing just fine. In the end, it’s all about experience and being able to show that you have it.
Read: Top 5 Online TEFL Courses
So, do you need a college degree to be successful? OK, you get my point.
It Ain’t like it use to be…
The competition 3 years ago(when I first got here) is not the same as it is today. If you want to come to Thailand(or anywhere abroad) and teach ESL, but lack the necessary funds for an in-house TEFL program then you should at least be considering an online-tefl course.
MyTefl.com is as good as it gets when it comes to online TEFL programs. Their cheapest course(40-hours) starts at ($139) with the most expensive course(120-hours) costing ($299). What you can appreciate most about their program is the price. They’re simple, cost effective and deliver essential skills & resources that prepare you for the classroom. You will also have life-time access to a job database.
They offer seasonal promotions of 20%-30% off their courses. You save money, but still get the qualification you need to teach in Thailand.
Is Online Enough?
Now a days most agencies require that you have at least a 120-hour TEFL certificate at the minimum. Some companies go a bit further and require an in-house TEFL certificate. This is because in-house TEFL’s provide real-time practice teaching and at the end of the day feeling comfortable and confident in front of the class is important.
Benefits of an Online-TEFL?
You can save almost a 1/3rd of the price if you join at the right time and you’ll learn some crucial skills before walking into the classroom. It will also show your employer that you are committed to presenting yourself as legit as possible. So what’s the best online TEFL program in my opinion?
Try MyTEFL
Remember that this is an investment you’re making in your personal and professional development. Once you have a TEFL it’s for life and you can take it with you, wherever you go.
I Personally recommend MyTefl.com as they’ll give you an exclusive 35% discount if you enter the promotion code:FARANGDA at checkout. If you decide to go through them directly you may be able to get a discount in the 20%-30% range like previously mentioned.
This Will Only Benefit You In The Long Run
If you’ve read my other articles then you’ll know that I started with an online TEFL before I decided to make the move to an in-house. If professional development is your main concern I’d advise you to go with an in-house TEFL course. If saving money is the MO then go with the online course.
Save up to 35% Off TEFL Courses when you enter promo code: FARANGDA
Doing an in-house (on-site) TEFL makes sense if you plan on teaching ESL for many years to come. If that’s the case, then it’s a no brainier to sign-up with an in-house TEFL course. If your plan is to just enjoy a year or two abroad then nobody can fault your logic in wanting to find a cheaper TEFL alternative. All in all it’s really up to you to decide what best suits your situation.
You may feel you don’t need a TEFL at all and you might not with that mindset, but you’ll have to try much harder to get employers to call you back. If you’re trying to get hired from back home with no prior experience then an online TEFL would exponentially increase your chances of finding work.
So why get the training? Do you like being good at anything? Do you really think you can teach yourself? You pay the money to learn the right stuff so you don’t have to accidentally learn the wrong stuff. I also would advise you take a look at BestOnlineTEFL’s and see their choices for the top-5 courses for 2016-2017.
As always if you have any questions, please contact me by e-mail.
See MyTEFL's 120-Hour Course or Read: Top 5 Online TEFL Courses
