The importance of getting a teaching certification!

Are you a teacher? How can you prove that? Just because you can speak English, do you think that makes you a teacher? Do you think that is enough to start teaching English?

You've studied to be a teacher? You went to university and that's how you became a teacher? That's great... is your degree worth outside your country? Can you teach English legally outside your country?

Maybe the answer to all these questions is YES, maybe some are YES and some others are NO. Even worse, maybe the answer to all these questions is NO.

How do we become a teacher these days? What does it take to call ourselves teachers of English? Perhaps, schools in our countries do not require much to hire teachers or maybe we just need to "know somebody" and that's how we get hired.

The truth is that there are many places nowadays that offer TEFL courses and that's how there are many teachers everyday. You can even take those courses online and get your certification sent to you by a PDF document. The question is, who is certifying those certificates? What kind of back-up do these schools have? What kind of support are students getting on their way to become teachers?

There are many questions in need for many answers and sometimes we cannot get all the answers we need because these schools just don't have these answers. That's when you wonder if you should really spend your money on certain places (schools) and time on certain courses (TEFL) and if they are really worth all the trouble we are getting ourselves into.

If you want to travel the world and teach Englisg, there are certain things you need to get before thinking about leaving your country. For example, what kind of certifications are recorgnized worldwide and how you can get them.

There are two basic certifications you need to get if you want to start travelling and teaching English. The first on is called CELTA (Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) offered by the University of Canbridge. This is the most widely recognized certification for English teachers and the one that can really open the doors to travelling the world. 

Why? 

Quite simple, most of the schools overseas ask for it and not just because it's a Cambridge certification but also because it offers 120 hours and you have to complete 8 teaching practices and write 4 assignments which make the course quite complete. The same way, you will interact with real students so even if you do not have teaching experience you will be thrown do the deep-end and work with learners on your preparation to your own classrooms.

The second certification you can get in Trinity CertTESOL. Offered by the University of Trinity,

the Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL) is a certificate designed for those with little or no experience of teaching English, and for those with experience who require an internationally recognised initial teacher education qualification. It equips candidates with the basic skills and knowledge needed to take up their first post as an ESOL teacher. It gives an introduction to the theory and practice of English teaching and an insight into the challenges facing the learner and the role of the teacher. The CertTESOL is rated at Level 5 on Ofqual’s Regulated Qualifications Framework, a comparable level to the second year of an undergraduate degree, and comprises a minimum of 130 hours, with an expected minimum of 70 hours further study required (Total Qualification Time: 200 hours).

These 2 are the most important initial teaching qualifications you can get and that are recognised worldwide.

You can also take the TKT (Teacher Knowledge Test). TKT is a series of modular teaching qualifications which test your knowledge in specific areas of English language teaching. It will help you to build your confidence, and is a cost-effective way to get an internationally recognised qualification. Whether you are a new teacher or have years of experience, TKT is ideal for people who need to prove their teaching knowledge with a globally recognised certificate. You can take as many modules as you want, over any time period. You receive a Cambridge English certificate for each module you complete.

And if you are an experienced teacher and want to develop further into teaching and possibly teacher training, then DELTA is something you should look ate carefully.

DELTA is an advanced blend of theory and practice that provides professional development for teachers with at least one year’s experience. It gives you skills and techniques that will help you throughout your career.

Who is DELTA for?

• English language teachers who have been teaching for at least one year
• English language teachers who want to progress into more senior roles such as head of English and teacher training
• Experienced teachers who want to extend their expertise in a specialist area
• First-language English speakers and non-first language speakers who have a CEFR Level of high C1 or above.

DELTA is suitable for teaching any age group, from young learners to adults.