Just ordered a TEFL course, or thinking of doing so, but worried about passing? The dreams of travelling abroad get a cold shower when you think about the work required to get the all-important TEFL certificate.
There’s nothing to fear. TEFL qualifications aren’t too hard to get, as long as you do them the right way. And guess what? I’m about to tell you exactly how!
Each TEFL course provider has different module structures, assignments and tests, so this guide will help you in a general sense, rather than giving specific details on the course you’re doing. From my experience, courses are generally similar, so nothing should come as a big surprise.
If you’re looking for a great course provider, I recommend International TEFL and TESOL Training. Click the link for 15% off all courses (I receive compensation, so you’re supporting me, too). Not convinced? Read why I’d choose ITTT over other TEFL course providers.
So let’s get to it – the 10-step guide to passing your TEFL course with flying colours!
- Learn the requirements of your course
- Set a schedule and be consistent
- Take quality notes
- Get the grammar down
- Use your tutor (if you have one) and community support
- Save all the given resources
- Write assignments concisely and edit carefully
- Make sure Observed Teaching Practice is student-centred and effective
- Relax
- Start now
1. Learn the requirements of your course
Before you start the course (and ideally before you buy it), look at the course structure. How many modules are there? When will there be quizzes? How many written assignments are you expected to do, and is there a final exam?
This is vital information, because it sets your expectations and allows you to create a good study schedule.
Most courses have a series of modules, each with multiple-choice quizzes at the end. They often finish with a written assignment and, depending on the course, some real-life Observed Teaching Practice (OTP). Some have multiple assignments, and a few have one big exam at the end.
To find out about TEFL course assessment, read my article Is There an Exam for TEFL Courses? What you need to pass.
2. Set a schedule and be consistent
Now you know the structure of your course, you can plan a schedule to suit your life.
If you’re doing an in-person class, you’ll already have sessions arranged, but set aside an hour or so each day to consolidate your learning.
Online courses allow you ultimate flexibility. But that doesn’t mean you should do it all last minute. Instead, dedicate a fixed amount of time each day to work on the course.
I recommend the same hour every day, for example, starting at 9 a.m., because this develops an automatic routine, so your brain and body get in the zone.
Figure out how soon you want to finish the course and calculate the number of hours you need to study per day.
Let’s say you’re doing a 120-hour course with 20 modules (each approximately 6 hours). You want to finish in two months and only work weekdays. That gives you around 40 working days, so you need to finish a module every two days – approximately 3 hours of study a day.
You may not have this much time, so spread your time over 6 months and work 1 hour a day.
The key is to be consistent. Avoid long stretches of not studying because you’ll have to play catch up with some hard, tedious days down the line. Or you may never get it done.
3. Take quality notes
When you go through the course, there’ll be text to read and videos to watch. You should take notes on both.
But don’t just write down everything you read or hear. Pick out key, specific information. Not only does this streamline your notes, but it saves a lot of time. Don’t be afraid to write shorthand. As long as you understand what your notes mean, that’s enough. For example, you read this:
To accurately and holistically assess your students’ English, take into account all four key skills – reading, writing, listening and speaking – as well as grammar. Avoid focusing on just one aspect.
My notes for this would be: Best assessment = all 4 skills + grammar
I like to make my notes on Microsoft OneNote, while Evernote is another popular option.
4. Get the grammar down
One of the worst parts of taking a TEFL course is going through the grammar modules. You may think you’re good at grammar, and you probably are. But do you know how to use the past perfect? Can you say the difference between a modal and a semi-modal?
You won’t have to know this information for the majority of lessons in your TEFL career, especially with lower-level learners. But if you want to be a quality English teacher, it’s important to know your stuff.
Unfortunately, I feel most TEFL course providers pad their products with lots of grammar modules. And they’re often front-loaded. You have to wade through all the heavy grammar before you get to anything about teaching.
Stick with it. Use other resources to help you understand – YouTube has plenty of explanations, as does Perfect English Grammar.
5. Use your tutor (if you have one) and community support
A lot of TEFL courses give you access to an expert tutor. Use them. Ask them questions, bug them about problems you have, and squeeze as much help as you can out of them. You’re paying for it, after all.
And whether or not you have a tutor, you can find help from TEFL communities. This might be your classmates from the in-person course. Or, your online course provider may already have a forum in which you can interact with fellow students.
Beyond that, search for Facebook groups for the specific course you’re doing, or for TEFL trainees in general. People can point you in the right direction for help when you need it.
6. Save the given resources
TEFL courses give you access to lots of great teaching resources. Most of the time, however, you only get them for a limited time (6 months, or a year).
But you can have them forever. Just download them onto your computer and keep them in a file, then you don’t have to worry about finding them again.
7. Write assignments concisely and edit carefully
The written assignment is a feature of almost all TEFL courses. It can be daunting, especially compared to the multiple choice quizzes at the end of each module.
You actually have to produce something now. Does it have to be expert-level insight and research? No. Does it have to be written clearly and thoughtfully? Yes.
Writing concisely and getting your thoughts across efficiently is a skill. Learn it. You can find plenty of guidance online. Here’s one article I especially like at Your Dictionary.
Edit your writing several times. You should focus on three things in order:
- Focus on the flow and structure of the assignment. Does every paragraph have a clear and distinct point? Do you transition naturally from one idea to the next?
- Sentence level editing. Could you change the wording of a sentence so it’s easier to read? Are there stronger verbs you could use?
- Proofread for grammar and spelling mistakes. You’re going to be an English teacher, so it doesn’t look good if your writing is riddled with errors.
Programs like Grammarly and ProWritingAid are wonderful tools for sentence-level editing and proofreading.
8. Make sure Observed Teaching Practice is student-centred and effective
The best TEFL courses include Observed Teaching Practice (OTP) in which you teach real students under the watchful eye of an experienced teacher. It’s so valuable in improving your craft.
But it can be a bit scary. It may well be your first time teaching, and your mind will be full of things that could go wrong. That’s normal.
My advice is twofold. First, keep it simple. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel with complex lesson plans and flashy activities. Tried and tested is fine.
Second, make sure the student is the focus of the class. Not you. Ultimately, teaching is not about the teacher’s performance, but how well the students learn. Get your class involved, engaged and active. Don’t stand at the front and lecture them.
Follow a simple lesson plan, and let the students do the work while you act as a guide. This is quality teaching. It may seem like you’re not doing much, but a good teacher doesn’t have to be the centre of attention.
And play a game at the end. Everyone loves games.
Looking for some great games to play in your observed teaching practice? Check out my lists of 9 games for beginner, intermediate and advanced students!
9. Relax
TEFL course providers want you to pass. If they can guarantee you success, it makes them more competitive in an unregulated market. As a result, most companies allow you to retake the course for free, and set the passing grade relatively low.
As long as you put in the work, there’s no reason you shouldn’t pass. In fact, the vast majority of people who don’t succeed give up early and never complete the course.
So don’t stress. You’ll get it done, sooner or later.
If you’re worried TEFL might be too hard, read my article Is TEFL Teaching Hard? A guide to whether TEFL is right for you to get a broad perspective on the challenges of being a TEFL teacher. Spoiler: getting the certificate is easy!
10. Start now
This may seem like easyt, but for many people, it’s the hardest part of the process. It’s the big jump. Once you get rolling, things progress well, but just beginning can prove a barrier.
Have faith in yourself. Thousands and thousands of trainees just like you have passed the TEFL course without a problem. You can do the same.
And the sooner you start, the sooner you can travel around the world and enjoy all the benefits of being a TEFL teacher!
Still looking for a great course provider? I recommend International TEFL and TESOL Training. Click the link for 15% off all courses (I receive compensation, so you’re supporting me, too). Not convinced? Read why I’d choose ITTT over other TEFL course providers.
