You must acquire a TEFL teaching qualification with a teaching practice component – Schools in Thailand should expect this.

You must acquire a TEFL teaching qualification with a teaching practice component – Schools in Thailand should expect this.

When setting out to write this blog, my intention was not to humiliate or demean TEFL institutions or teachers in schools, but in these days of con men, rip-offs, and scammers, I think there should be far greater transparency concerning TEFL, TESL, TESOL or any other acronym used to describe what should be a ‘highly respected’ teaching qualification. A global overview is way overdue.

I believe that all teaching qualifications should have a practical teaching element as part of any teaching course. Who would jump into a car and drive away without first learning to drive?

Some years ago, in the days when online teaching was unknown, I embarked upon a four-year Bachelor of Education degree course at a UK university. There was a vital part to the course called teaching practice; something that I recognise as absolutely essential to any good teaching course. As my degree suggests I was training to become a classroom teacher.

In my first year there were four weeks of teaching practice: 5 days a week, 5 or 6 lessons per day for one month. This made a total of around one hundred and twenty hours of practical teaching, with children in the classroom setting, not counting the necessary preparation, planning and organisation.

The second year consisted of a further eight weeks of teaching practice ‘toil’, with around two hundred and forty hours of classroom teaching. The final year was a repeat of the first year, giving an overall total of four hundred and eighty hours of practical classroom teaching in the first three years.

As a direct result of this training, I felt confident about what awaited me in my first post. Without it, I could not imagine stepping foot in a school, given the incalculable dynamics of the classroom.

It may be true, in a few cases, that there are some more natural teachers who can stand and deliver lessons without any formal training, but such cases I suggest, are very rare. Theory and practice are very different and there’s a vast difference, I suggest, between being entertaining, and delivering lessons of quality.

My point here is that I don’t believe people should be allowed to call themselves teachers any more than they should be allowed to drive any vehicle without a license, without demonstrating an adequate level of competency,

This brings me to the question of online courses and teacher training. There are numerous examples out there of ‘accredited’ TEFL teacher training qualifications where certification is offered yet students have never stepped foot in a classroom or even taught a class.

I asked one company how much of their ‘accredited’ 168 hours course was teaching practicum with students. The answer was, they ‘didn’t need to have learners doing a practical in a classroom with students. The course amounted to 1) watching and listening to videos 2) multiple choice questions and 3) 3 assignments. This qualified them for an ‘accredited’ TEFL certificate and job listings. 

Many students have been enticed by the publicised, ‘get qualified for $15’, two weeks for $27 TEFL courses, or even ‘free’ TEFL courses, under the supposition that they are readily accepted in every country, when the truth is……they’re not.

Granted, it may be, that with the dearth of teachers, brought about by the recent pandemic, some areas may be lowering their requirements, and accepting certificates that previously would not be recognized.

I still believe that such courses should be avoided, in favour of those containing an actual teaching practice component……designed for humans with a pulse!

Official TEFL courses are those usually endorsed by a country’s Ministry of Education. The school can invariably provide the evidence that they are licensed and confirmation of their validity. Unfortunately, these now appear to be few and far between in favour of unscrupulous hawkers, happy to take money from unwitting consumers.

MY SUGGESTIONS

In order to find a worthwhile TEFL course, my advice is as follows –

  1. Choose a course with a teaching practice component.
  2. Find out the course content and compare with other courses.
  3. Make sure your instructor has the desired amount of experience and is qualified to teach.
  4. Ask if the qualification is accepted by all schools in the country in which you propose to teach.
  5. Ask to see a copy of the Ministry of Education licence which should have a discrete number attached.
  6. Check with the country’s Ministry of Education that issued the licence that the course has been authenticated. 

If a course has not been endorsed by a recognised body, I suggest its authenticity is highly questionable. As such, I will leave the individual to decide as to it’s worth.

Accredited and Licensed by the Ministry of Education, Thailand : SLS TEFL – Salisa Language School (SLS) Thailand (slsteflschool.com)