You have decided to teach English abroad, but now you're confused about picking the certification course that is right for you. TEFL, TESOL or CELTA, what do they mean? Which one is better? In this article, TopTutorJob is here to unravel the mysteries.

What do TEFL, TESOL and CELTA stand for?

TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and CELTA stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.

What are the differences between TEFL, TESOL and CELTA?

Difference Between TEFL and TESOL

Generally speaking, TEFL refers to teaching English to non-native English speakers in countries where English is not the first language. TESOL, covers all forms of teaching English to non-native English speakers, including to non-native English speakers in countries where English is the first language.

However, despite this being a very distinct set of letters, there is really no difference between TEFL and TESOL. In the U.S. and Australia, TESOL is commonly used. In countries like the UK and Ireland, you are more likely to hear the term TEFL.

TEFL and TESOL Courses

TEFL qualifications are the most commonly held qualifications by teachers teaching English abroad, due to the relatively low cost, ease and speed of getting qualified. A TEFL certification course provides you with a solid introduction to TEFL, and gives you the skills and techniques to begin working straightaway. If you successfully complete the course, you will end up with a TEFL certificate.

There is a huge variety of TEFL courses out there, ranging from short intensive weekend courses to courses including as much as 300 hours of study. A typical 120-hour-course is the minimum requirement for overseas employment. The following accredited TEFL programs are some of the most popular options out there for English teachers in training: International TEFL Academy, International TEFL and TESOL training, i-to-i TEFL, Premier TEFL, myTEFL, Oxford TEFL, etc.

A TESOL certification course is similar to a TEFL certification course. The vast majority of the content is the same. You get qualified in the same way (online or in the classroom), with similar flexibility.

It's always worth checking if the specific school or country you are going to work has any particular requirements before you sign up for a course.

CELTA Course

CELTA is the name of a specific TEFL qualification. CELTA courses are run across the world, and are tightly regulated in terms of both content and quality that offer more hands-on teaching experience than many other TEFL certification courses. Having CELTA on your CV definitely moves you up the TEFL job application ranks.

CELTA courses are run by authorized centers based on specifications produced by Cambridge Assessment English. There are more than 350 authorized centers in more than 80 countries, running over 1,500 courses a year (Find a center on Cambridge English). CELTA courses are an incredibly intensive, lasting four to five weeks, full-time, and costs can run to the thousands. In addition, you need to be at least 20 years old and have formal education qualifications to enroll in a CELTA course.

CELTA courses can be ideal for those who want to make a lifelong career of teaching English abroad, otherwise you may not need to make the time and financial commitment a CELTA course.