The TEFL Academy

Why choose The TEFL Academy?

The TEFL Academy specialises in TEFL courses and nothing else. All of our trainers are experienced EFL professionals. They have all qualified as TEFL teachers themselves, gained years of actual teaching experience and are now passing on their working knowledge to our TEFL course students.

We were the world’s first TEFL course provider to have received official recognition from government-regulated awarding bodies both in the US and the UK. The Level 3 and Level 5 versions of our TEFL course lead to accredited qualifications awarded by Qualifi (a UK-government-recognised awarding body), and are regulated by Ofqual (UK-government department). The Level 3 and Level 5 versions of our TEFL course are also DEAC (U.S. Department of Education recognised) approved as meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status. AQC is a quality assurance scheme that guarantees our courses have been peer-reviewed and meet strict standards and requirements.

Website

www.theteflacademy.com

Founded

2012

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Ready to begin my career as a qualified TEFL Academy student

Happy selfie after I received my certificate

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Reviews

I really enjoyed my level 5 online TEFL course. The TEFL academy provided all the information I needed, and also plenty of further reading resources to expand my studies. It was great to be able to complete the course at my own pace, and fit it around other things in my life. Although it was online there was still an opportunity to see other students contributions on forum pages which created more of a community feel. I liked how it gave details about many different scenarios of potential TEFL teaching. Thank you!

I thoroughly enjoyed my Level 5 Diploma Course through the TEFL Academy. The modules were engaging and packed with useful teaching strategies, and the videos were both entertaining and informative. For each assignment, I was given helpful feedback for enhancing my lessons, and the self-paced nature of the course made it easy to work at my own speed. I had no problem fitting the course into my schedule and it was fun to work on. I would highly recommend the course to anyone who is thinking about teaching abroad and experiencing a new culture.

I recently completed my 168-hour level 5 TEFL with The TEFL Academy and am extremely satisfied with the results of my studies. The course is well structured, the learning material is fun and engaging, and feedback on assignments is very helpful. The portal is easy to use, they provide you with plenty of extra resources and their customer service is excellent. I would recommend The TEFL Academy to anyone who wants to earn a TEFL for travel or to teach people around the world while experiencing their cultures. Teaching should be done because you enjoy helping others, and The TEFL Academy definitely instills this value.

I did my TEFL Level 5 diploma between mid-April and mid-June in 2025. Overall, I think the course gave a great introduction and overview into how to teach English as a foreign language, the four key skills, classroom management and other elements important to consider when starting to teach. There was a bit of interaction where you could read other participants' thoughts and ideas in a forum which I found useful, as well as videos with TEFL instructors which made the human connection more prominent.

At times certain parts of the course dragged on a bit and I wish you could find information in the course easier when looking back to review the material, but overall I think the content was very useful and informative for me to learn about TEFL. The assignments also allowed you to apply you knowledge into real tasks and the feedback provided was always structured and clear on what went well and what could be improved. I would definitely recommend this course to those who are complete beginners in TEFL and wish to learn more.

What would you improve about this program?

- An index where you could easier find specific content in the course e.g. if you're looking for where "flash cards" or "differentiated learning" were mentioned
- Divide up the grammar unit more because it was quite long and heavy to go through. This would also increase motivation.
- Give more age specific tips in terms of children/teens... sometimes I was missing how to teach something to a group of 6 year olds vs. a group of 11 year olds vs. a group of 17 year olds

Pros

Relevant and in-depth content
Interesting assignments that felt applicable to real life teaching
Great feedback that was both constructive, encouraging and timely

Cons

Wish there was more opportunities to interact with other learners
Less videos towards the end of the course - wishing there were more
More suggestions for activities to use in classes, especially for older age groups

I recently finished the Level 5 TEFL course with The TEFL Academy and I can say it exceeded my expectations. From beginning to end, the experience was smooth, engaging, and enriching.

I found the courses well-balanced. The self-paced format allowed me to fit the course around my schedule without ever feeling rushed, yet the content was detailed enough to truly prepare me for real-world teaching. The modules were thoughtfully designed, covering everything from grammar and lesson planning to classroom management and teaching strategies. I especially appreciated the practical focus: realistic scenarios, varied assignments, and short quizzes that kept the learning process dynamic and interactive.

The feedback on assignments was clear and constructive, helping me develop new skills step by step. The platform was easy to navigate, and whenever I had a question, support was responsive and helpful. I also found the downloadable resources incredibly useful and something I’ll definitely keep referring back to.

Future participants will be glad to know that while the course is rigorous, it's also very manageable if you're motivated. I’d recommend taking your time with the assignments and really applying what you learn. Also, don’t hesitate to make use of the support team—they’re there to help, and they do it well.

Overall, this course not only gave me a recognized qualification, but it also gave me the confidence and tools to move forward as a teacher. I highly recommend it to anyone considering a career in TEFL.

What would you improve about this program?

I would make the quizzes a bit more challenging and more recurrent.

Pros

Practical and Engaging Content
Flexible, Self-Paced Learning
Recognized and Accredited Qualification

Cons

Occasional Technical or Formatting Issues

5.00 •1 review

Our level 5 TEFL courses (168 hours) can be studied in two ways. You...

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

Because of geological location; however, the reason I chose this particular program was in part due to it looking more official than the others. On my trip to a foreign country (South Korea), I was told by my friend that I was very knowledgeable about what I knew and wondered how I would do at teaching. With my current job, it made sense with the way the program was laid out.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The provider assisted with making me dig deeper into what I already knew about the subjects; on my own, it was up to me to decide mine on topics' materials for every assignment (the provider also assisted in the matter by providing templates). When it came to reviews, the assessor assisted in what I need to improve and what was good, if not great.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If I had to give advice to someone that wanted this program, it would be to take their time. Although it can be done as quickly as needed, I would recommend them to take their time. Rushing will make them impatient and the longer lessons seem daunting, making one miss the simple things one already knows.

Be prepared to not have reviews on some of the lessons, as it will seem as they are abundant in the beginning.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

An average day, as it is an online course, is, however, the students want it to be. However, I would recommend doing half a lesson in 2 to 3 days, then the other. Even so, that is still pushing it for those who are struggling; spending 1 hr a day may be enough, depending on how much one covers in that hour.

I myself tried to cover a lesson a day; in the beginning, it worked out fine, until you get to the longer lessons; then you have to take into account the assignments, which would take almost a week to perform properly.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

When going abroad, I was fearing that I would not be able to answer the questions that were being asked. But after a while, I felt more comfortable about that.

There are still times I feel I would not have the answer to some questions, but I am comfortable now that, if asked a question I don't know, I could easily answer it with the appropriate response.

Is there any type of information you would like to point out to others?

Yes. I would point out that it would be a good idea to find out what requirements one needs for the teaching job they want. It is important to note that there is paperwork that is needed as well when going abroad that needs to be taken into account. These two things are easily missed in the thought process.

Sonalia Ragavadu

2019 Alum

Jessica Murray

2018 Alum

Han Talbot

2019 Alum

Reka Tapster

2019 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

One of my favourite travel memories is when I was in Croatia with a friend and we decided to venture in Bosnia Herzegovina for a few days. We stayed in a crazy hostel, with even crazier owners! They brought us to a rave in a cave which was so much fun. The next day we got to explore Mostar and we also traveled to Sarajevo and did a walking tour. It was so interesting!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Getting to work for The TEFL Academy has given me opportunity to grow in many different ways. I speak to a range of different people from different places daily which is really interesting and sometimes we do have little chats about where in the world we are! I've also significantly improved my geography, which is handy!

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

My favourite stories are from teachers who teach young learners. The students get so attached to their teachers and they always have gifts from them that the children have made! I love to see the photos also; we often share these on our social media (with consent). It's a good way to show current and future students the opportunities out there when they get their qualifications.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to go on our Vietnam internship! I've always wanted to travel to Vietnam because it does look absolutely beautiful, but the internship sounds like a very rewarding one also. Getting to travel the world by also helping those to further their future prospects is an amazing opportunity.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I think our company is unique in many different ways. Our organization is special because we really do believe in the power of education. We all, in some way or another, have traveled to many different places across the world, and the majority of us have taught also. This gives us a real insight into the actual world of TEFL and the teachers.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Being successful means a lot of different things for different people. I think a successful company really values what they are intending to do, and I believe The TEFL Academy does it in every way. My hope for our organization is that it grows and expands to cover all across the world! Providing a course that helps individuals to further themselves but also to educate others is something that is very special.

Website

Founded

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Community Awards

Alumni Interviews

Quentellus Ladale Toliver

Why did you choose this program?

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Is there any type of information you would like to point out to others?

Staff Interviews

Jess Morris

What is your favorite travel memory?

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?