So. You packed a bag, told your parents not to worry, and set off to teach in China with dreams of returning triumphantly clutching a passport full of stamps! Then the world decided to shut down for an undisclosed period and your long-anticipated summer break full of once-in-a-lifetime adventures needed to be postponed

Luckily, there are plenty of things to do within China (it’s kind of a big place). But if you weren’t planning on spending the whole summer just hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge and eating your weight in dumplings, then those eight weeks of vacation could also be a good opportunity to get some professional development in, punch up your resume, and learn a few new teaching skills. Not only will a new certification make you more employable after your time in China is over, but it will also help make you a better educator for your existing students.

The question becomes where to invest your time and hard-earned money. There are lots of options, but not all of them are worth the resources. So I thought I would do a little research into a few of the more popular options, and break down what is (or isn’t) valuable about them. As always, everything here is my opinion and should be treated as such. Today, I’m going to focus on TEFL/TESOL. There is a lot of confusion about this certification and a lot of scammers out there. Here’s what I found out.

The Basics:

TEFL/TESOL are basically interchangeable terms. The only minor difference is that TEFL will focus on teaching English in a non-English speaking country while TESOL is aimed at teaching students who do not speak English but are living in a country where English is the primary language.

Most employers will accept either certification, as long as you have a minimum of 120 hours of coursework. If you already have the 120-hour certificate then you can consider an additional certification in a specialized field like business English, early childhood/young learners, or online teaching skills.

Some programs do offer classes in brick and mortar schools but most certificates are awarded through online institutions.

Time Commitment: 

Online courses allow you to work at your own pace. The average time to complete the 120-hour course seems to be about eight weeks, give or take, but It’s really up to you how intensely you want to study.

Cost:

The 120-hour program should run between USD 200 and USD 500, with most of the specialized certifications running between USD 100 and USD 200. The website TEFL.org often runs discounts of up to 50%, so good timing could save you some cash. As always, be careful of classes that are cheaper than the average. Accreditation matters!

Why You Should: 

This is a great option for anyone who has a love of teaching and solid real-world experience, but who needs an official credential on their resume. I know plenty of great teachers who have a degree in something other than education. They love to teach the discipline they are trained in and have spent years honing their classroom skills in the crucible that is a real-life school, but they can’t apply for the most prestigious institutions or are locked out of some countries’ education systems completely because they got a degree in something other than education.

Why You Shouldn’t: 

If you already have an education degree and are a native English speaker, then getting a TEFL or a TESOL certificate won’t widen your opportunities much. You would be better off looking into either an advanced degree like a master’s program, or a certification in a specific skill like arts integration, STEAM, eco-education, or administration.

What Scams to Watch Out For: 

Check the Accrediting Body(s). Certification does not fall under an accrediting body, the issuing institution does. For anyone offering a certification that should be accepted worldwide, they should have multiple accreditors. They should also have at least one accreditation from a country where English is the predominant language (US/UK/Canada etc.…). And just because they say they are accredited doesn’t mean they are. Check the website of the other institution, or send an email requesting verification. In other words, if a person or organization claims BAC certification, go to the BAC website and see for yourself.

Third-Party Review: If you can’t find multiple third-party reviews, written in English, from a site like Glassdoor or Indeed, the company doesn’t have a long enough track record to be reputable.

Pay for Play: If an institution offers you a job on the condition that you get certified through a specific company, be cautious. Any employer acting in good faith should accept your credentials from any reputable organization, not just the one they own or take a kickback from. Think about it this way: if you went to an interview and they said, “We really can only hire you if you get a degree from the University of Underwater Basket Weaving,” but you already have a degree from Harvard, wouldn’t you think twice?

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