Frequently Asked Questions

You have lots of questions? We have lots of answers! If you would like further information, please contact us.

TESOL - The Industry

An informative introduction to the industry, the opportunities worldwide, and how YOU can join the exciting world of teaching and travelling. >>GO

TESOL - The Courses

A TESOL Certificate is your ticket to countless overseas destinations! Here you'll find our TESOL Courses requirements, timelines, cost, registration and other details to help you get started. >>GO

A unique and highly practical part of our courses is the job-search support. Get more information about how to find work and what to expect once you land your first -or next!- overseas teaching job. >>GO

Computers and Technical Issues

Here we answer your questions about computers and support >>GO

Other services

Teach International does not only offer a range of excellent TESOL Courses, but also many other services. Read more about them here. >>GO

TESOL - The Industry

What do TESOL teachers do?
What do all these terms mean?
What is the Communicative Approach to teaching English?
Why is there such a need for English?
Why Teach International?

1. What do TESOL teachers do?

TESOL teachers teach English to speakers of other languages in almost all countries where English is not the first language. Teaching Opportunities Include:

private language schools
private or public primary schools, high schools, colleges & universities
in-company or “business” classes
private tutoring

In our courses we go into detail about the different opportunities, the advantages and disadvantages of working in different types of work settings, and how to find the right type of position for you.

2. What do all these terms mean?

ESL - English as a Second Language
ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages
(these days English is not a second language for many people – it’s a third or fourth!)
TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language
TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESOL - Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages

TESOL, TESL and TEFL are often used interchangeably, depending

3. What is the Communicative Approach to teaching English?

Teach International supports and practices the Communicative Approach to language teaching. This approach employs a focus on Conversational English. What does this mean? More student talk-time! No translation – only English in the classroom! No long lists of dry memorisation of vocabulary or beginner English speakers struggling with difficult grammar concepts. Let us teach you how to make English learning and teaching enjoyable and effective!

4. Why is there such a need for English?

Business - English is the leading language of commerce, politics and technology in the new millennium. Business people all over the world are under pressure to learn to communicate in English.
Internet – Both casual and professional pursuits through the Internet are strengthening desires to learn English.
Travel – Global Travel no longer needs to be accompanied by so many communication barriers.
Media – English clearly dominates global film, television and radio. Native speakers of English are best prepared to teach ESL students the humour, slang, colloquialisms, and all the other connections between language and culture.
Academics – Many ESL students are motivated by a desire to exceed academically either at home or in English-speaking countries.
More details on the demand here.
Fluency in English opens doors professionally and personally!

5. Why Teach International?

Teach International offers innovative, practical programs and we want to see you succeed! We are constantly reworking our courses and programs and base our changes on feedback from our students. We provide a range of training options to suit all needs – whether you want a year off to travel and earn or you want a new rewarding and fulfilling career, we have the right course for you!

Here are many excellent reasons to choose Teach International.
Here are many more!

TOP of TESOL - The Industry
TOP of FAQ

TESOL - The Courses

Are there any prerequisites for the course?
Will I obtain a certificate upon successful completion of my course?
When will I receive the certificate?
Can I do a course completely online?
Can I start the online components first?
What do I need to do to get started on my online components?
Can I do the online components overseas?
What are the time deadlines for completing the courses?
Are the 12 hours of reading assessed? How?
What's the difference between your courses and a diploma?
Do I need to do a Certificate IV in TESOL to teach overseas?
What's the benefit of doing a Certificate IV in TESOL?
Who organises the practice teaching?
Do I need to purchase any extra resources?
Can I fail the course?
Can I get academic credit for previous teaching experience or other courses?
Do you guarantee I will find work in Australia?
Can I enrol in your TESOL courses if I am in New Zealand?
How much are the courses?
How do I register/pay?

1. Are there any prerequisites for the courses?

Our Courses are open to anyone who:

is a native English speaker or fluent in English with a minimal accent (non-native speakers will be required to submit evidence of English language proficiency)
is 18 years old or completed high school
has an open mind for travel, new languages and different cultures

2. Will I obtain a certificate upon successful completion of my course?

Yes. You will receive your TESOL Certificate when you complete all the components of your TESOL course. At the end of the in-class course, however, you will receive a Certificate of Achievement for successful completion of that component only.

Teach International TESOL Certificate

3. When will I receive the certificate?

You will receive your Certificate once you have completed all mandatory components of your TESOL Course (students on an instalment plan will receive their certificate after the final payment has been received, provided they have completed all components).

4. Can I do my course completely online?

A large portion of our courses is available online for your convenience. However, all our students must attend the five day in-class component.

As English teachers ourselves, our philosophy of language learning is "to learn by doing". The same philosophy applies to learning how to teach. Our five days with you are very valuable, and the feedback forms we receive from our new graduates support that. We want to model teaching methods for you, and give you support and feedback, but most importantly, we want YOU to try it yourself, with our guidance and feedback.

5. Can I start the online components first?

Yes, our goal is to provide as much flexibility in course completion as we possibly can.

Australia, Canada and New Zealand:

Foundation in TESOL Course: If you are completing this course, you may complete the components in the order that best suits your schedule. However, if we were to recommend an order which we feel is the most productive, we would say: first, complete the Online Grammar component, second, complete the In-class component, and third, complete your two Online Electives. All the online components are fully printable and downloadable, so you can keep this material and review whenever you need to! They also contain great ideas to use in your classroom.

Australia only:

Certificate III in TESOL: The same as above applies, and the Auxiliary Online Unit should ideally be done after those components, and the Practice Teaching should be completed at the end (unless there are exceptional circumstances).

Certificate IV in TESOL: The same guidelines as the Foundation in TESOL Course apply (so, ideally, Online Grammar, In-class, six electives) and after those components, you can move on to complete the additional Certificate IV units. The Teaching Observation and Teaching Practice should be completed at the end (unless there are exceptional circumstances).

6. What do I need to do to get started on my online components?

Generally, you have to pay a portion of the total fee, which gives you access to the Student Centre Online. Once you do, your username, password and instructions will be emailed to the email address you provided us, so it is important to check it regularly. We also send email reminders on the date of your in-class course. Have a look at our Registration page for details on how much you need to pay for each of the three levels.

7. Can I do the online components overseas?

Absolutely! You may do the online components from wherever you like. We will send your certificate to the address you provided upon registration, unless you advise us of a different mailing address, in which case that's where we send it!

What's more, if you are doing a Certificate III or IV in TESOL, you can complete your Practice Teaching and Observation units while you are working overseas!

8. What are the time deadlines for completing the courses?

Once you have registered with your AU$200 non-refundable deposit (CA$100 in Canada), you have up to 12 months to complete the in-class component of your chosen course (deposit is forfeited after 12 months).

Foundation in TESOL: Your deadline for completing the online courses is 100 days from graduation of the in-class course (eg: if you started the online components in September, took the December in-class course, you would have until the following March to complete the online components). Extensions to completion of online courses may be granted at the discretion of the Academic Director. However, the Teach International Job Guarantee will be forfeited if students do not complete the online work within the standard 100 days.

Certificate III in TESOL: You have up to one year to complete all components.

Certificate IV in TESOL: You have up to one year to complete all components.

Upgrading from Foundation in TESOL: If you have already completed the Foundation in TESOL Course, you have up to one year to complete the remaining components of your Certificate III or IV in TESOL.

9. Are the 12 hours of reading assessed? How?

All our TESOL Courses include a TESOL Manual (yours to keep!) which you receive on the first day of the in-class component. We use it during the course, and when you finish the in-class component, it is your responsibility to read the rest of the manual. The Teach International TESOL Manual will also be an invaluable resource for your teaching career.

In the Certificates III and IV in TESOL, these reading are assessed by qualified trainers through a questionnaire available online.

10. What's the difference between your courses and a diploma?

In the Australian educational system, an accredited Certificate IV is equivalent to year 12, and a Diploma is equivalent to first year of University. But in the private arena, companies can call their courses 'certificate' or 'diploma' or use other terms, even if they are not accredited. A Certificate IV in TESOL (such as the one we offer) is the minimum requirement by NEAS (the accrediting body for ESL schools in Australia).

11. Do I need to do a Certificate IV in TESOL to teach overseas?

No! For most positions overseas, you do not need a Certificate IV in TESOL. Our Foundation in TESOL and Certificate III graduates have been finding amazing positions overseas for years!

If you are planning on teaching in a place where there is a lot of competition for jobs and the salaries are very high, such as the Middle East, then you might consider completing a Certificate IV in TESOL, as it will make you more marketable.

12. What's the benefit of doing a Certificate IV in TESOL?

There are many; the main benefit is that our Certificate IV in TESOL qualifies you to teach in the Australian ESL market (provided you meet other requirements as set out by NEAS). You might take our Foundation in TESOL, teach overseas for a year or more, and then decide you LOVE teaching? so you can upgrade your course from Foundation to Certificate IV very easily through Teach International.

If you are looking at teaching ESL as a career change, a Certificate IV will provide you with more background knowledge on theoretical aspects of language teaching as well as the practical teaching components.

Finally, a Certificate IV in TESOL will make you very competitive in tough markets, such as the Middle East and Australia.

13. Who organises the practice teaching?

The practice teaching component in the Certificate III and IV courses can be organised by us in your home city, or if you prefer, you can organise it yourself. Many graduates complete this component whilst on the job overseas. If you organise it yourself, or do it overseas, then you must ensure that the requirements for the school and the supervisor are met. These are found in the Practice Teaching Handbook to which you have access as a student.

If you already have teaching experience, you may apply for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) for the practice teaching components.

14. Do I need to purchase any extra resources?

Included in your fee are all online materials and your TESOL Manual which you receive on the first day of your in-class component.

As an ESL teacher you will need to purchase a good grammar reference book for the job, and we recommend "Grammar for English Language Teachers" by Martin Parrott. This text will also aid you in completing the grammar unit in the Certificate IV, but if you already own a good grammar book, then you can use the one you have. (You don't need any extra resources for the Online Grammar Course that forms part of the Foundation in TESOL)

15. Can I fail the course?

Only if you give up! If you are a native speaker of English (or highly fluent in English), if you like being around other people, and if you are motivated to complete the course, you will not fail! We not only want to teach you, we want to see you succeed, and our whole team is here to see you do well. You must complete examinations at the end of each online component. If you do not achieve the required pass mark for that course, you may resubmit the examinations several times until you attain a passing grade (at no extra cost).

In addition, our Certificate courses (III and IV) are assessed on competency (i.e. they are not pass/fail) which means you can always 'try again'.

16. Can I get academic credit for previous teaching experience or other courses?

Not for the Foundation in TESOL Course. We have streamlined this course to best meet the needs of people of all backgrounds. It is a short, convenient course, and we believe each component will be beneficial to you.

Sometimes those who have taught for many years are the ones who need this course the most, because the style of teaching language is so different to styles of teaching other subjects. There may be habits you need to unlearn!

We have had thousands of graduates from all walks of life, and we consistently get feedback saying they are glad they took all the components of the course. We're sure you will be too!

However, if you are starting a Certificate III or IV, or upgrading from the Foundation, you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for all or some units. Many graduates apply for RPL for their teaching overseas, for example. Before you do this, read the RPL requirements carefully. (Download RPL Handbook and Application Handbook)

17. Do you guarantee I will find work in Australia?

The TESOL industry in Australia depends on different factors to the overseas markets. Student numbers influence how many teachers are employed by schools, so teaching jobs are usually on a casual or part-time basis. There are few full-time jobs and there is a lot of competition for them. Factors like fluctuating exchange rates, perceptions about safety, changing visa regulations and political ideologies affect the student numbers. Therefore it cannot be guaranteed that graduates will find work in Australia at any one point in time. Certainly, if you have a degree, a TESOL Certificate IV qualification and 800 teaching hours, you will get work at some point if you keep at it, but it may only be casual for some time at least.

18. Can I enrol in your TESOL courses if I am in New Zealand?

We currently offer our courses in Auckland only. However, we are offering all kiwis the chance to undertake the in-class component in Australia. You can choose between Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne. We also offer a tempting 'travel rebate'. Please click HERE for more information on this offer.

In addition, if you have completed, or are going to complete, the In-class component and you then find yourself in NZ or anywhere in the world, you are welcome to upgrade to our Certificates III and IV in TESOL courses. And, provided you fulfil the other requirements set out by NEAS, if you complete a Certificate IV in TESOL, you are eligible to work in the ESL industry in Australia as well as any non-English speaking country.

19. How much are the courses?

Australia:

The full cost of the Foundation in TESOL Course is AU$1695.

The full cost of the Certificate III in TESOL Course AU$1995.

The full cost of the Certificate IV in TESOL Course is AU$2495.

Canada:

The full cost of the Foundation in TESOL Course is CA$1195.

New Zealand:

Courses are held in Auckland only:

The full cost of the Foundation in TESOL Course is NZD$1695.

The full cost of the Certificate III in TESOL Course NZD$1995.

The full cost of the Certificate IV in TESOL Course is NZD$2495.

New Zealand residents who cannot make it to Auckland may also come to Australia to complete their in-class component (5 days). Prices are in Australian dollars. The full cost of the Foundation in TESOL Course is AU$1295 (includes AU$400 'travel rebate'). Please read the terms and conditions carefully.

20. How do I register/pay?

You can register in one of three ways:

online via our secure payments (Australia only)
by calling the office
by filling out a registration form at one of our information sessions (Australia and Canada)

You can pay in one of several ways:

cash (come to our office or pay at an information session)
credit card (Visa or Mastercard) through the phone or at an information session
International Money Transfer (IMT) from New Zealand
bank cheque – available from your bank (Australia), or certified cheque (Canada)
Internet banking - click HERE for details (Australia only)
Directly into Teach International's account - click HERE for details (Australia only)

Please visit the registrations page for full details on payment options for all courses, including instalment plans.

TOP of TESOL - The Courses
TOP of FAQ

TESOL - The Job

1. Where are the jobs?
2. How do I know which country is best for me?
3. How do you help me find a job?
4. But I don’t speak their language!
5. What are the work conditions?
6. Do I require a degree to teach English overseas?
7. Do I need teaching experience to get a job?
8. Am I too old? Am I too young?
9. What if I don’t like the job?
10. How long are the job contracts?
11. What is your job guarantee?

1. Where are the jobs?

The ESL industry is strong and the last decade has seen phenomenal growth in the market worldwide. In areas like Western Europe, Hong Kong and the Middle East, English is widely spoken, and yet the ESL market continues to grow. Places like Japan, Korea and Taiwan boast a stable infrastructure in the ESL market, and no sign of slowing down. The most exciting areas of the industry, however, lie in locations such as China, South-East Asia, Latin America and Central/Eastern Europe. It is here that the need is the greatest and the market is the most vibrant. See question 3 below for more information.

Click here to visit our Job Centre - just a sample of the thousands of jobs you're eligible for with our TESOL certificate!

2. How do I know which country is best for me?

Let us help you! We have extensive experience in travel and teaching, and can help you make a good choice based on your background, your interests and your skills.

Our trainers are very interested in making you aware of all the opportunities, and would like to open your eyes and mind to places you may never have thought of living or working!

3. How do you help me find a job?

We tell you where the opportunities are, what the salaries and cost of living are in different parts of the world, and give you personal advice on which places may best suit you. We help you build an international resume, and give you advice and tips on that till it meets our standards. We give you a list of very valuable questions to ask before you sign a contract (so you end up with no surprises on your arrival overseas). And we tell you where you can look online to find thousands of current job postings. Furthermore, we provide you with any assistance and support you may need after you finish your course? for life!

We do not place you in a job, just guide you. It is best for you to find the job that’s best suited for you. We are very confident that you will find a job after we set you up with the skills you need. So confident, in fact, that we are happy to offer you our money-back job guarantee.

In addition, we have a fantastic Job Centre online, where employers from around the world advertise positions at their schools (this is NOT, however, the only place for our graduates to look for jobs! There are thousands out there, and we teach you how to find them!). We offer free and ongoing job search support to help you even after you have finished the course. You can view schools that have been recommended by other TI grads, use job forums, be in touch with a huge network of grads and much more!

4. But I don’t speak their language!

As an effective ESL teacher you will speak only English in the classroom. You are not a translator. Your students want to be immersed in the language, so even with beginner students of English you will be communicating in English. It is most beneficial for your students and for you to never use their first language in the classroom.

5. What are the work conditions?

Contracts from 4 months - 2 years
Accommodation and international travel expenses always covered in China and Korea, and often subsidised or sometimes covered in other countries.
Health insurance often paid.
Monthly salary ranges from volunteer to $5000 per month depending on country.
Severance pay equivalent to one month's salary common at end of contract.
Extras like internet access, language lessons or cultural lessons often negotiable in contracts.
Often extremely low cost of living and low taxes.

6. Do I require a degree to teach English overseas?

No, many positions do not require a university degree but do require a TESOL certificate. The only countries where you cannot legally teach without a university degree (any Bachelor's degree) are South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan if you are over 30. In other countries, employers may or may not ask for a degree, but this is the employer's choice; it does not mean you MUST have one to work in that country. In fact, many employers will advertise what is called a 'wish list' asking for lots of qualifications, but usually settling for less.

7. Do I need teaching experience to get a job?

No! Most new ESL teachers are doing this for the first time! However, if you look back at your life experience, you probably have taught! Do you have experience in any of these capacities?

coaching
babysitting
training others in your workplace
camp counselling
parenting
tutoring
informally teaching English to friends or relatives
hosting non-English speakers in your home
student leadership
community involvement
office management

These are just a few of the experiences where you develop skills directly related to teaching and will not only help make you more "marketable" as you look for a job, but more importantly, prepare you for the classroom!

8. Am I too old? Am I too young?

Our students age in range from 18-70 years. We regularly have students who are retired and looking for some new exciting challenges. If you have the energy to teach and travel, as well as the desire, then you are not too old! Some countries (ie. Japan and Korea) are somewhat ageist, and it is more difficult to find positions as you get older. But there are seniors teaching English all around the world. Now is always a great time to go!

You must have completed high school (or equivalent) and be at least 18 years old to take our course. Work experience which can be recognised as suitable prior learning to the course may be considered in place of a high school certificate. To get sponsored for a work visa overseas, international visa guidelines generally require you to be anywhere from a minimum of 18-21 years old. Check the international embassy websites for visa guidelines.

9. What if I don’t like the job?

We really help you do your research, and give you the right questions to ask so that wherever you end up there are no surprises and you love your job! Many ESOL teachers renew their contracts and teach in the same school for 2 or 3 years, or for many more!

There are, of course, many opportunities for you once you get overseas, so you might find a sweeter deal after being there for awhile. Of course we recommend that all teachers honour the contracts they have signed. If you decide you want to move on to another school down the road, in another city or even across the world, you usually have only to give your “notice” of one or two weeks. Again, this is something to check in your contract.

We will set you up for success!

10. How long are the job contracts?

Most schools are looking for teachers to commit to a one-year contract. Many teachers actually extend their contracts and stay for two or three years (or even longer!) at the same school. If you are looking for a short-term contract, places that are not as competitive would be better to look.
For example: China, South-East Asia and Latin America.

11. What is your job guarantee?

See our job guarantee here.

TOP of TESOL - The Job
TOP of FAQ

Computers and Technical Issues

1. I'm not so good at using the computer.
2. Do I need to have a computer and if so, what type?
3. Do I need any special software?
4. Do I need to have an Internet connection at home?
5. What technical support do you offer?
6. Do you give me my own username and password?
7. What if I don't have an email address?
8. How long do you give me access to the Student Centre online?
9. Sounds great! What can I find in the Student Centre online?

1. I'm not so good at using the computer.

Basic computer skills are a necessity for completing the course and for doing your job search on the Internet. We have many students who are not highly skilled in computer or Internet use, and are able to complete the online components.

If you are not confident in your computer skills, we recommend checking out your local community centre or library for free short instructional computer courses. There are also some great computer tutorials which you can do online, and we can recommend those to you. We also offer some basic tutorials through our Student Centre.

2. Do I need to have a computer and if so, what type?

No. It certainly makes studying more comfortable if you have your own computer; however, people who don't have one use a friend's or go to an Internet cafe to download and, if possible, print out the online components. Then you can study all the material from the paper copy and complete activities and then go back to the Internet cafe to complete online exams and/or submit answers to activities and tasks. So, you don't need to spend every hour that each component takes in front of the computer (in fact, most people prefer to read from paper), but you do need a few hours in order to access the material and to submit your work.

If you have your own computer, it certainly does not have to be the best computer in the world! If your computer can connect to the Internet, then it is good enough for everything else you will need to do.

3. Do I need any special software?

Not really. All you will need is Adobe reader, which is free software (most computers have it installed already) and you can download it from our Student Centre online. You will also need to have a word processing program such as Microsoft Word (or other) for some of the online components.

4. Do I need to have an Internet connection at home?

No. Obviously, it will make your life easier to have access at home, not only to complete the course, but also for your research and job search and application process afterwards. But if you don't have it, you can download all the materials at an Internet cafe or a friend's and save them on a disk (or print them)

5. What technical support do you offer?

We offer technical support on the issues that may arise with our Student Centre online. That is, if students have problems accessing the online components, forums, etc. we look into the problem and fix it where applicable. Support is offered via the phone through our head offices, and via email through a specialised online help email address.

We also offer Tutorials in the Student Centre online for those who may need extra help using computers or the Internet.

However, we cannot offer support with issues that concern the users' end, that is, if you have problems with your computer, or your Internet connection, etc.

6. Do you give me my own username and password?

Yes! Every Teach International student and graduate receives their personal username and password to access the Student Centre online.

7. What if I don't have an email address?

These days, you can get a number of free email services, such as www.yahoo.com or www.hotmail.com

8. How long do you give me access to the Student Centre online?

There are deadlines for completing your online components; however, every Teach International graduate has access to the Student Centre online for life! Your username and password never expire.

9. Sounds great! What can I find in the Student Centre online?

Lots of great information!

Tutorials - if you need any help with computers or the Internet
TESOL Country Guides - updated info on your destination of choice: weather, visas, embassies, work, salaries, accommodation, the ESL market and lots of links to get you there!
Teaching resources - you can download many of the activities we do during the in-class component, as well as some extra resources for your classroom
Travel - lots of important information about travelling overseas safely
Links - we have a HUGE collection of links related to the TESOL industry, including employment, resources, and much, much more!

TOP of Computers and Technical Issues
TOP of FAQ

Other Services

I need a good teacher for my language school; do you offer a recruiting service?
Can I advertise teaching positions through Teach International?
Teach International sounds great! Can my business collaborate with TI?
Can your graduates volunteer-teach at my school in Australia or New Zealand?

1. I need a good teacher for my language school; do you offer a recruiting service?

Yes! If you have hired Teach International graduates in your language school, or you are in charge of recruiting for your school, we have an excellent referral service. For more information, visit our Job Support section.

2. Can I advertise teaching positions through Teach International?

Yes! We have our own Job Centre where employers around the world are invited to advertise vacancies in their schools. For more information, visit our Job Centre.

3. Teach International sounds great! Can my business collaborate with TI?

Absolutely! We have many business associations (see our Affiliations page) with whom we collaborate. Please ring our office for more information.

4. Can your graduates volunteer-teach at my school in Australia or New Zealand?

Of course! Our Certificate III and IV in TESOL include a practice teaching component. If your school in Australia or New Zealand would like to hire trainee teachers from Teach International, please contact our office and ask to be put in touch with the corresponding person in your area.

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TOP of FAQ

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