Online courses are vastly becoming more popular with the growth of the internet and busy lifestyles. Online courses provide an opportunity for people with families, full time jobs, other commitments or limited finances to further their knowledge and education at their own pace and environment, with minimal cost. But is this the best way to achieve your goal of becoming a teacher?

Having completed lengthy research on this topic before opting to study for an online qualification, it was apparent that both online and onsite courses have their pro’s and cons and that it is largely down to personal preference and differing situations that determine which type of course is best suited to each individual. In an ideal world we would all have the flexibility and finances to allow us to take on any course whenever and wherever we wanted, however this is not an ideal world and that is a luxury that most of us unfortunately do not have.

Onsite courses undoubtedly prepare you for what lies ahead in the world of teaching, more so than online courses. Some give opportunity to teach actual English students, and most have observed practice sessions, which is an international requirement and a perk you do not get with an online course. It is worth noting however, that some online providers do offer teaching practice opportunities at an extra cost. Onsite courses have a good balance between theory and practical work, allowing first hand training from experienced teachers. Despite the perks associated with onsite courses, they are the most expensive way of attaining a teaching English certificate. Onsite courses can be completed in anything from 2 days to a year, if studying part time and can range from just below £200 to £1000. More often than not you will be required to travel to the course and pay additional accommodation fees.

Online courses are the most cost effective way of becoming a teacher of a foreign language. Online courses easily fit around busy schedules, allowing the flexibility to study at your own pace, which you don’t get with an onsite course. They have a more theoretical approach than onsite courses and are completed via the internet with help and guidance from an online tutor. However bear in mind that if you need assistance it has to be done via email and can take up to 24 hours for a response and they may not work weekends. There is no opportunity to practice teaching with online courses; however some provide you with an opportunity to watch a tape/DVD of a teacher during a lesson, which gives a taster of what’s to come.

After researching various sites offering TEFL courses, it seems there is not much difference between the content of onsite and online courses, other than onsite gives opportunity for teaching practice. A study conducted by Yang and Wong titled: Teaching On-line Versus On-site: A Study of Instructional Delivery Modes in Foreign Language Education found that there was not much difference between the weight of online and onsite courses, however, students studying using online methods could learn at varying rates and explore material to whatever depth they desired. Online courses can take from 20 - 100 hours to complete and range from £100 - £200 in price. It is important that you are relatively competent using a computer and possess a knowledge of emailing, creating Word documents and attaching files to send to your tutor. You also need the internet to access the worksheets and units and a printer is useful if you wish to work somewhere other than at the computer.

When choosing a course, online or onsite, it is important you are aware how well recognised the qualification is. Online TEFL certificates are often not worldly recognised and may restrict job opportunities upon completion. CELTA, Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults, is highly regarded throughout the world and is accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). Such a certificate will stand an individual a better chance of gaining a teaching post than would a certificate from an online course.

Remember before signing up for an online course that there is no teacher or classroom environment to encourage or motivate you to complete the work – self motivation is key and without it you will fall behind quickly. There is no denying, it is a difficult course and if you are working full time, have a family, or work long hours, motivating yourself to pick up a pen and study after a hard day is the last thing anybody wants to do. But if you are determined and motivated enough to achieve your goal, achieving an online TEFL qualification is rewarding and attainable. Whether online or onsite, is down to individual preference.

References

Stephanie Roberts and Jonathan Jameson