
Varsity Tutors can place you in supplemental TEFL certification training courses to help you further your career in education. TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language. It's a professional certification used by educators to verify their proficiency in teaching English as a foreign language. Holding a TEFL certification can open a lot of professional doors for aspiring English teachers, and is typically one of the qualifications required when applying to many international English academies.
If you're looking to earn your TEFL certificate, you'll first need to complete a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course from one of the accredited groups offering a TEFL certificate program. These courses usually have a practical component that assesses your ability to teach, design curricula, and manage a classroom. If you'd like some help sharpening your teaching skills, we'll place you in a TEFL certification course that supplements your teaching lessons. Let's take a look at a small sampling of the many benefits you can experience from enrolling in one of our supplemental TEFL programs.
Is There Anything I Need to Know Before Taking a TEFL Certificate Course?
Unlike other foreign English teaching certifications, TEFL isn't overseen by any one group. As such, there are a number of different companies offering TEFL certification. For this reason, it's important that you receive your TEFL through a credible organization that's recognized around the world. You can do this by enrolling in programs that adhere to the internationally recognized standards for TEFL certificates. These standards stipulate one should participate in 100 hours of coursework over the course of their Teaching English as a Foreign Language training, in addition to accumulating between 6-20 hours of teaching non-native English speakers.
While earning your TEFL certification can be time-consuming, it's not a difficult process. You don't need to be a certified teacher, nor do you need teaching experience or a college degree to qualify. The only prerequisites you need to satisfy are being able to speak English fluently, possessing a high school diploma or GED, and having a basic understanding of teaching skills.
What Are Some of the Benefits That Come With Possessing a TEFL Certificate?
If you're interested in teaching English overseas, you may be required to get a TEFL certification before you can be hired. A number of countries require English teachers to possess a certificate in TEFL or another similar program as part of visa requirements. In some cases, you may even need a TEFL certificate and a teaching certification. Of course, whether you're required to have a TEFL or any other credentials depends on the country you're working in, as well as the institution where you'd like to teach.
Regardless of whether you're required to have a TEFL certificate or not, it isn't a bad idea to get one anyway. That way, you won't be negatively impacted if a country changes its policy to make TEFL mandatory for English teachers in the future. Also, as a professional certification, TEFL is useful for advancing your career in teaching English to non-native speakers. Holding a TEFL certification can increase your chances of getting hired at a language school, give you more leverage when negotiating higher pay, and validate your skills when working privately with language students in a one-on-one setting.
What Are Some Advantages That Come With Enrolling in a TEFL Certification Class?
Most TEFL programs evaluate participants based on their classroom performance rather than having a comprehensive assessment test. You may think that there's no real reason to enroll in a TEFL certification class since there's no final exam to study for, but that doesn't mean our TEFL certification training program can't help you in other ways.
For starters, participating in our TEFL certification course can give you the chance to sharpen your professional skills in an interactive and collaborative environment. The course is designed to supplement your in-class TEFL program by reviewing the various concepts covered in your lessons. You can expand on various concepts related to English, like teaching grammar and pronunciation, as well as other pedagogical subjects like classroom management, lesson planning, and evaluating student performance.
The goal of our TEFL certification class is to help you gain the skills necessary to be an effective teacher. Our classes can help facilitate this by giving you the opportunity to work with an experienced instructor who's familiar with the process of becoming TEFL certified. These supplemental lessons will enable you to ask questions, share resources, and solve problems with the help of your instructor and your classmates.
Can I Fit a TEFL Certification Training Course Into My Busy Schedule?
You might be wondering if it's even possible to squeeze a TEFL certification course into your current schedule without making some drastic changes. If you're like most people, you're probably busy enough as it is. We understand that you've got other responsibilities, which is why we designed our TEFL certification courses to be as flexible as possible so you can participate in a program that accommodates you.
When you first register for a certification training course, you'll have the option of choosing a two- or four-week section. This gives more control over when and how you study, which is great if you're short on time and unable to commit to intensive lessons. Some opt for the four-week option when they're juggling multiple tasks at once, like work, school, family responsibilities, and other commitments. This gives you the ability to study at a slower pace, which can make the experience less overwhelming. If you're looking to finish the training course as soon as possible, on the other hand, the two-week program offers condensed lessons that cover more material in a single study session. Regardless of which option you choose, you'll still cover the same topics. Both courses offer the same class hours. The only difference is the length of the section.
You'll also be happy to know that we provide multiple TEFL certification training courses throughout the term. Each course meets at a different time or different day of the week, so choose the one that works best with your timetable. That way, you don't have to worry about organizing your schedule so you can attend lessons. Just make sure that the course you register for is the one that works best for you, because that's the time you'll be meeting throughout the duration of the program. Can't find a way to squeeze in lessons right now? No problem. New courses launch at the beginning of every month, so you've always got time to study when it's most convenient for you.
Most people spend a lot of time sitting in traffic throughout the week. We don't want to add to that, which is why our courses are offered in a virtual classroom. With our TEFL certification training course, you never have to worry about rushing across town to attend your study session. You can participate in the learning experience from anywhere. Some people prefer to study at home or in their favorite coffee shop, while others like to go to a library for their lessons. It's up to you where you want to study. All you need is reliable internet access and a computer or mobile device.
What Topics Are Covered During a TEFL Certification Training Program?
Because there's no standardized test you must take, each TEFL certification program is slightly different depending on who's offering the course. For this reason, our TEFL certification training course isn't structured to prepare students for one specific type of TEFL program. Instead, your instructor will cover all of the essential skills necessary to be an effective teacher. Let's take a closer look at some of the material you may encounter when working through your TEFL certificate program.
Good classroom management is a must for any educator, but it's especially important for instructors who are teaching English to non-native speakers. Regardless of whether you're teaching adults or kindergarten, primary, or secondary students, you'll probably encounter disruptive behavior from time to time. How you resolve these disruptions is important and plays a specific role in setting the tone of your subsequent lessons. If you're too relaxed, there's a chance that students won't follow instructions or participate in your classroom activities. But if you're too strict, you could intimidate or discourage students, dissuading them from engaging in your lessons. A TEFL certification training instructor can go over effective classroom management techniques that show you how to gain control over your classroom without escalating the situation. You can learn how to be mindful of cultural norms when interacting with students, or how to discern disruptive students from those who are simply confused. In fact, many of the students you encounter who initially seem disruptive because they refuse to speak English are actually shy, confused, or simply don't have the language skills to participate in your activities.
Another important topic covered in TEFL certification classes is lesson planning. This is one of the most important skills you need to have as an educator. If you can't plan engaging lessons, your students can become bored and disconnected. Our certification lessons are a great place to learn how to sharpen your lesson planning skills. Your instructor can give you ideas for coming up with new activities, tips on how to engage students from different age groups, and how you can turn real-world material like video clips and magazine articles into study material. Since you'll be studying alongside other professionals pursuing the same TEFL certification, you can share ideas and tips when it comes to planning lessons. Some of your peers may be certified teachers or they could already have experience teaching EFL and can share some of their own wisdom and experiences with you and the rest of the class.
An effective EFL teacher should be able to help students improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. If you're working for a school or language academy, you'll probably have a textbook to teach from. While this can serve as the general outline of your classes, providing you with the topics to cover when teaching grammar and language skills, it's not enough to simply teach from the textbook. People learn differently, so there's no guarantee that everyone in your classes will understand or enjoy the explanations, examples, and activities in your textbook. This is why many teachers introduce supplemental material and plan additional activities outside of the curriculum. But if you're new to teaching, you may not know how to adapt supplemental material to your existing lessons. That's where our training courses can help. Your instructor can provide you with places to find supplemental material, as well as show you how you can introduce that material in a way that doesn't disrupt the flow of your lessons. They can also teach you how to incorporate a number of different teaching styles into your lessons, so you can appeal to different types of learning styles.
If you ask EFL teachers which topic is the most complex to teach, a lot of them will say grammar. Native English speakers tend to learn grammar differently than EFL students. More often than not, we don't go as in-depth when learning grammar rules. We seem to inherently know when something sounds grammatically correct. If you're not a certified English teacher or you didn't major in English at college, there's a good chance that you don't know all of the major grammar rules either. So, how do you teach them to a student who doesn't understand the difference between past simple and present perfect tenses? It's actually not as difficult as it sounds, provided you know how to give meaningful examples and diagrams when needed. You can learn how to do all of this in a TEFL certification training course. Your instructor can go over some of the most challenging aspects of teaching grammar to basic, intermediate, and advanced students. They can show you how to anticipate problems when teaching grammar, as well as how you can help your students overcome those challenges without confusing them. Best of all, your instructor can recommend grammar books to refer to when you're stumped by an EFL student who wants to know why a certain rule exists.
The goal of our certification program is to help you succeed in your TEFL course. In order for that to happen, you need to have more than English proficiency and basic teaching skills. You also need to know how to build rapport with students, how to demystify and explain difficult concepts, and how to manage your time effectively. All of these concepts will be covered in our program that focuses on giving you the tools needed to excel at teaching English.
What's the Benefit of Studying in a Collaborative Learning Environment?
Many people who register for the TEFL certification training program are doing so because they're seeking a level of engagement that isn't offered through self-study. To meet those demands, we've designed the course to be as interactive as possible by encouraging students to collaborate with each other and the instructor whenever possible. Being able to work productively with others is an important skill to have, especially as an educator. There's probably going to come a time when you're required to attend teaching workshops where you're required to participate in group activities. Our lessons can prepare you for that type of collaboration by giving you the opportunity to solve problems with your peers.
What's more, collaborative learning opens you up to fresh ideas and different perspectives. You can learn how other English teachers have approached topics like teaching pronunciation, explaining grammar, or grading assignments. You can share some of the challenges you've faced as a teacher and learn how others may have solved those problems differently. Many people who've completed this course admit that collaborative learning is one of the most effective ways to understand new concepts. It can give you the chance to dig deeper into topics covered in class by looking at how you can apply what you've learned in a professional setting.
Best of all, since lessons are conducted online, you've got the opportunity to collaborate with peers from different walks of life. Our Live Learning Platform uses smart tools like video chat and virtual whiteboards to maximize engagement, creating an online classroom environment that makes you feel like you're in the middle of every lesson.
How Do I Get Started?
If you're interested in sharpening your teaching skills through an interactive TEFL training program, we can help. All you have to do is contact Varsity Tutors and speak with an educational consultant about enrolling in a TEFL certification training course. We can answer any questions you have about the program, and when you want to move forward, we'll place you in the next available course that aligns with your schedule. It's that simple! Don't place your future on hold. Let Varsity Tutors help you reach for your goals as you pursue a career in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.

Joy: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I graduated from Boston University with two degrees, one in biology (specializing in ecology and conservation biology) and the other in Hispanic language and literatures. Shortly after graduating, I accepted an international teaching job in Guayaquil, Ecuador, where I teach English as a second language to students of all ages and lead the natural sciences...
Education & Certification
- Boston University - Bachelor in Arts, Conservation Biology
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- AP Human Geography
- ACT Reading
- Trigonometry
- +163 subjects

Scott: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I am a professional educator with about two decades of experience, both in the U.S. and overseas. My main areas of expertise are history and the English as a Foreign Language. Online tutoring is exciting because I believe the future of education is online.
Education & Certification
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville - Bachelor of Science, History
- University of North Dakota - Doctor of Philosophy, History
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- High School Level American History
- High School Writing
- +45 subjects

Carolynn: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
Hello! I have a Bachelor's Degree in Technical Communications and a certification to teach English as a foreign language from the University of Central Florida. I can tutor students in Spanish, ESL, Essay Writing, and reading. I am passionate about all subjects! I specially love languages the most and love to teach both English and...
Education & Certification
- University of Central Florida - Bachelor in Arts, Technical and Scientific Communication
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- Conversational Spanish for Adults
- Writing
- Spanish
- +14 subjects

Daniel: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
Retired certified teacher, university professor, taught all elem subjects and mid/high school Literature, Spanish, Art, Computers, Social and Natural Sciences, SAT Prep, University French and English Law, Econ, etc. Curriculum design for UNM, Berkeley, State Dept. 90th percentile GRE, FSE, NMTEs, Praxis. Bilingual consultant for business (Pfizer, J&J) and government (DSS, CDC). Level 6 copy...
Education & Certification
- State University of New York at New Paltz - Bachelor in Arts, History
- University of New Mexico-Main Campus - Bachelor in Arts, Education
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- PRAXIS
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- LMSW - Licensed Master Social Worker
- +470 subjects

Soumya: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
Hello, I am Soumya, a Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science graduate with my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Information Technology from JNTU, India and Master's Degree in Computer Science from Marquette University, USA. I have over 15 years of professional software development...
Education & Certification
- Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University - Bachelor of Technology, Computer Science
- Marquette University - Master of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- Middle School Reading Comprehension
- Pre-Algebra
- GRE Quantitative
- +67 subjects

Sebastian : St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
Hi everyone! I am Sebastian. I'm a professional software engineer who has also been working as a software engineer for over 7 years now. I've taught people from all over America of all ages. I love teaching and seeing how my students progress has been so amazing to me. As an engineer, I also have...
Education & Certification
- Saint Tomas University - Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- Computer Science
- UK A Level Electronics
- College Business
- +51 subjects

Mercedes: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
Hello! My name is Mercedes and I am a 7th year teacher who absolutely loves what she does! Having a younger sibling with multiple disabilities, I always knew that I wanted to go into special education to "do better" for our students. I strive to be the best teacher I can be, so that my...
Education & Certification
- University of Utah - Bachelor of Science, Special Education
- The University of Tennessee - Master of Science, Educational Administration
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- PRAXIS
- CSET - California Subject Examinations for Teachers
- +98 subjects

Kelly: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
Hello! In my years as a teacher, I have worked with students of all ages and abilities. Pre-school, Kindergarten and homeschooled students are favorite groups of mine as they have some unique learning situations, styles and needs. My Special Education training offers a unique perspective into how to teach so that students learn best. I...
Education & Certification
- Western Michigan University - Bachelor of Science, Education of Individuals in Elementary Special Education Programs
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- PRAXIS
- Substitute
- +35 subjects

Khimberly: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
Hi. My pronouns are they/them. I got my Spanish Bachelor's degree with a minor in Applied Linguistics at the University of Central Florida (UCF). I also received certificates in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and Spanish Translation and Interpretation. At UCF, I worked with international college-age students and facilitated cross-cultural conversations by discussing...
Education & Certification
- University of Central Florida - Bachelor of Science, Spanish
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- Professional Certifications
- English
- Reading
- +5 subjects

Sharon: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I'm passionate about providing excellent tutoring for students. As a former teacher, I have experience teaching at the elementary, middle and high school levels. I also have several years of experience teaching adult learners. I'm committed to being a patient and resourceful tutor. I've been a nurse for the past 3 years, and I...
Education & Certification
- Moody Bible Institute - Bachelor in Arts, Youth Ministry
- Cornerstone University - Master of Arts, English
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology - Certificate, Nursing (RN)
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- NCLEX
- CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant
- NCLEX-Practical Nurse
- +178 subjects

Reem: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I am a positive facilitator who strives to engage all types of students in the subject matter in a fun way. I have been teaching and tutoring for over 35 years, and my students tell me I am a natural teacher. Working with students as independent individuals, exploring their aspirations, supporting them, and reaching them...
Education & Certification
- Lebanese American University - Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Management
- Modern University for Business and Science - Masters in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- IELTS - International English Language Testing System
- Data Analysis
- Greek
- +79 subjects

Jonnie: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
With over two years of tutoring experience, I specialize in preparing students for the NCLEX and teaching nursing subjects. My approach is rooted in real-world application, using visual aids and mnemonics to simplify complex topics. I believe in tailoring my teaching methods to meet individual learning needs, fostering a supportive environment where students can thrive....
Education & Certification
- Texas Christian University - Bachelor of Science, Nursing (RN)
- Liberty University - Master's/Graduate, Nursing Administration
- State Certified Teacher
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- NCLEX-Registed Nurse
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- NCLEX
- +18 subjects

Janese: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I'm an ESL teacher from the United States with a master's degree in TESOL and over 12 years of experience teaching children English. I have taught English online to children, pre-teens, and teenagers of all English ability levels. I focus on creating a comfortable online learning environment that boosts the speaking skills of each student....
Education & Certification
- Iowa State University - Master of Arts, English
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- English
- Elementary School English
- +7 subjects

Brian: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I can teach you to speak, read and write in Arabic and Spanish. Alternatively, you can choose to study Arabic or Spanish only. I am also a fun and energetic teacher of English Language Arts and social studies and Eurasian history.
Education & Certification
- University of Maryland-College Park - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- American Council on Exercise (ACE)
- TExES - Texas Examinations of Educator Standards
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- +132 subjects

Lissette: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
Hello! My name is Lissette Lawson, but I go as Teacher Liz. I'm from Brooklyn, NY. I wanted to learn Spanish and teach ESL, so I studied in Costa Rica and got a Bilingual Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. I have been teaching on and off for the past 20+ years. I...
Education & Certification
- Universidad Hispanoamericana - Bachelor in Arts, Bilingual Education
- Universidad Hispanoamericana - Master of Arts, Early Childhood Education
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- Study Skills
- Spanish 4
- +21 subjects

Sibylle: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I am a graduate of The University of Heidelberg. I received the equivalent to an M.A. in Translation (English, German, Spanish) with a focus on Medical Translation. I am also a registered nurse, hence my focus on medical translations. Since graduation, I have started my own translation business and have taught German at various co-ops....
Education & Certification
- University of Heidelberg - Bachelor in Arts, Language Interpretation and Translation
- University of Heidelberg Germany - Master of Arts, Language Interpretation and Translation
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- UK A Level German
- Introduction to Spanish (Grades K-1)
- +76 subjects

Rebecca: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I graduated Hofstra University in three and a half years, cum laude, with a B.A. in Drama and minor in creative writing. I spent two summers in Italy teaching children English, earning my TEFL certification. I now work in NYC private schools, long term substitute teaching. I am able to help with all things English...
Education & Certification
- Hofstra University - Bachelor in Arts, Creative Writing
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- High School English
- English
- English Grammar and Syntax
- +17 subjects

Kim: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
To live is to learn. I love facilitating the process by which my students gain the knowledge and confidence to successfully reach their goals. Through open communication, solid work, and a laughter, I provide a relaxing and inspiring learning environment. I have over 15-years of experience teaching reading, writing, speaking, and listening test taking skills....
Education & Certification
- Suffolk University - Bachelor in Arts, Paralegal Studies
- Western Governors University - Masters in Business Administration, Business Administration and Management
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- CAE - Certified Association Executive Exam
- Middle School Writing
- ACCUPLACER ESL - Listening
- +76 subjects

Lorrie : St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
I taught English in Japan. I really enjoy teaching teenagers and adults. I have a great deal of experience with teaching adults and teenagers over 16 where English is their second language. I also taught history and geography in Texas for 12 years. I have bachelors degree in history and social sciences from Illinois State...
Education & Certification
- Illinois State University - Bachelor in Arts, Social Sciences
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
- ACCUPLACER ESL - Reading Skills
- Geography
- +31 subjects
Carmela: St. Louis TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language instructor
...you excited to learn and strengthen your academic skills? You are in the right place! I am passionate about helping people discover their learning potential and like to cater my lessons to the individual student. I received my education from the University of Iowa where I obtained an English degree and a minor in Political...
Education & Certification
- University of Iowa - Bachelor in Arts, English
Subject Expertise
- TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
- Professional Certifications
- UK A Level English Language
- ACT English
- +27 subjects