What is the difference between TEFL, TESOL and CELTA?
The field of English language teaching often uses acronyms like TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA, which can be puzzling. TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are often used interchangeably and refer to the industry as a whole or the qualifications required to teach English. CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults), however, is a specific type of TEFL/TESOL certification awarded by Cambridge English, focusing on adult learners. While TEFL and TESOL courses can vary in content and accreditation, CELTA is standardized, with a specific curriculum and set of assessments.
Table of Contents
Which type of course should I choose?
What if a course doesn't meet this criteria?
Does the quality of a training course vary by location?
What does TEFL mean?
TEFL stands for 'Teaching English as a Foreign Language.' It is a general term encompassing various certification programs that prepare individuals to teach English in non-English speaking countries. TEFL certification programs are offered by numerous providers and can differ in duration, cost, and quality. They are designed to equip aspiring English teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively teach English to learners where English is not the primary language.
What does TESOL mean?
TESOL is an acronym for 'Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.' It is akin to TEFL and is frequently used to describe the training and certification required for teaching English, typically abroad. While TESOL is the preferred term in North America and TEFL is more commonly used in the UK, both terms are often interchangeable within the industry. Regardless of the term used, both TESOL and TEFL certifications are recognized by international employers and are indicative of a teacher's qualifications to instruct non-native English speakers.
What does CELTA mean?
CELTA stands for 'Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults,' a specific brand of TEFL certification provided by the Cambridge English Language Assessment, affiliated with the University of Cambridge in the U.K. Recognized globally, CELTA is an intensive, 4-week training program available in more than 300 schools across 70 countries. It is tailored primarily towards those intending to educate adult learners, offering a focused curriculum that is distinct from general TEFL certifications, which often cover teaching English to all age groups.
Which type of course should I choose?
The first thing to remember is that it really doesn't matter which acronym you have on the certificate you end up with as TEFL, TESOL, and CELTA are all perfectly acceptable when looking for teaching jobs. What really matters is that your chosen course meets the accepted international standard for English language teaching. These standards require:
- A minimum course length of 120 hours (4-week in-class course or equivalent)
- A minimum of six hours of observed teaching practice (OTP) with genuine ESL students
- The course should be conducted by instructors who possess a high level of relevant qualifications and extensive teaching experience
- The curriculum should be externally accredited and monitored by an independent body
What if a course doesn't meet this criteria?
If you look online you will find a wide array of short-format/low priced TESOL course options that fail to meet the above criteria. While these might be acceptable to some employers, by choosing one you will seriously restrict your worldwide employment options. In contrast, any course that does meet the criteria, regardless of its acronym, should provide all the teaching skills, necessary knowledge, and overall confidence required to get your teaching career started.
Does the quality of a training course vary by location?
As these courses are available in countless different schools and training centres around the world, it is inevitable that there are some variations in overall quality. It is often said that the CELTA course is superior to any other TEFL course out there, however, this is not the case as the course is operated by hundreds of different training centers, some of which do a better job than others. In recent years, many TEFL and TESOL certificate courses have caught and even now exceed the standards set by the University of Cambridge for its CELTA certification. The simple truth is that the quality and effectiveness of any teacher training course is not down to the individual acronym on the final certificate it awards, but it is the overall standard of the individual training center that is most important.
