TEFL Courses

Make 2012 the year to take a TEFL course and improve your English and by extension your job, relationship, social and travel opportunities. TEFL stands for teach English as a Foreign Language so the courses, like TESL or TESOL, are targeted to aspiring teachers of learners whose first language is something other than English. TEFL courses cater for a broad diversity level and will teach the TEFL course student to teach English to the beginner or the person who is already proficient. TESL courses are frequently a pre-requisite for teaching English in a foreign country and they are extremely popular.

Options for TEFL courses are usually provided online, in person or through correspondence. Part of the TEFL training will involve information about working overseas and most TEFL providers will also offer job guidance or even placement. So in terms of flexibility and options TEFL courses are outstanding. To help you consider which of the learning options would suit you best we talk here a little about the differences between the three learning options

TEFL Courses Online

Lectures will usually be by online video tutorial which present an audio visual look at the materials being presented in weekly or daily increments. Content will generally be posted online or by DVD or both, enabling students to study in their own time and at their own pace. This is keeping in line with the hugely advantageous concept of being able to study course materials and complete online course work when convenient.

The only obvious down side of online learning is the lack of personal support and interaction with other students, although some online courses will experience high interaction on question boards and wikis. In addition to providing full courses and services online, many TEFL courses also have organizations within the school that offer interaction opportunities for online students. It is interesting to note that TEFL courses were one of the first of the educational branches to take up online learning.

TEFL Courses by Correspondence

Studying for a TEFL course by distance learning also suits students who prefer to study in a flexible manner at times and places of their own choosing. This may be because of variable domestic or other work commitments that make regular class attendance inconvenient or impossible. This may be because you live far from a recognized classroom-based course provider. Correspondence or distance learning often suits active learners who know what they want and who wish to work at their own pace. As a distance learner you can vary the pace of your TESOL course to suit your available study times, your background, your aptitude, your previous knowledge and your prior experience.

Classroom Based TEFL Courses

TEFL course in-class study is generally suited to the student able to make a full-time learning commitment. There are indisputable advantages to studying in a classroom which should not be overlooked. TEFL courses taken in class often support quicker fulfillment of course requirements. That means you finish the TEFL course faster and that means a job and a pay check sooner too. While that is probably the greatest advantage there is also the definite benefit of interaction with other TEFL course students and teaching staff. Instead of listening to instruction the student is able to engage in hands-on activities while receiving expert guidance and advice through question and answer opportunities.

Whichever way you take it, 2012 is the year for change. What more exciting change in path than a TEFL course and the chance to teach English as a foreign language while travelling to some of the most exotic locations in the world.