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Via Lingua

Via Lingua

4.89 Rating
80 reviews
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Why choose Via Lingua?

Via Lingua is a worldwide educational organization, with schools and offices in numerous locations. At Via Lingua, our main goals are to assist our students in developing their English language teaching (TEFL) skills in a professional, stimulating, and supportive environment. We aim to provide our students with teaching job opportunities throughout their TEFL career, thanks to their comprehensive training at Via Lingua. In addition, we hope to raise the standard of English language training and instruction around the world. Our personalized mentoring and job guidance program offers each student the opportunity to explore the world of teaching and traveling via language. Our mission at Via Lingua is to train and coach global professionals who are thoughtful, creative and effective practitioners of teaching English as a Foreign Language. Student-centered learning reflects historical and contemporary knowledge, theory, cross-cultural awareness, and ongoing best practices in the field.

Website
www.vialingua.org
Founded
2000
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We weren’t let go without presents 🎁
End of Week 1: Exploring the city together to complete our first group projects. So much fun!!
Teaching group lessons
Lera
Final day
tefl course istanbul.
tefl course istanbul

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Reviews

Kearney
60
Male
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Earn Your TEFL Certificate with Via Lingua in Istanbul, Turkey

November 3, 2025 Class was the best!

Jan 3, 2026

The class work was impressive and the teachers were exceptional. It really opened my eyes to what it means to be a teacher and how challenging teaching English can be. I highly recommend this school!

I hadn't been in a classroom in 20 years nor studied grammar in 50. They covered a lot about where English fits compared to other languages. I'm a note taker. I took about 50 pages of notes per week. Im glad I brought notepads with me. It's not that they don't exist in Istanbul, but I wouldn't have known where to find them.

Your classmates are important. Work together whenever possible. The grammar teacher was extremely knowledgeable and impressed us all.

The intensive class is tough but possible. Don't go sightseeing during the first weekend. You still need to find your footing. Plan your extra sightseeing time for the week before or the week after the class.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have more money with me (or access to it). There's nothing more stressful than having to count your pennies when you should be out having the time of your life.
Pros
  • Great location
  • Great program
  • Great teachers
Cons
  • I was tired often. Get there a week early to allow for jetlag.
  • It was well structured so no complaints.
Nada
24
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Earn Your TEFL Certificate with Via Lingua in Istanbul, Turkey

A Valuable Experience

Nov 28, 2025

Everything was amazing! Thank you Istanbul Kent English for being so accommodating this last month. I learned so much from all the great instructors and had a lot of opportunity to teach. I met so many amazing people and it was such an amazing eye opening experience. I learned so much about not only how to be an effective teacher, but also about Turkish culture. They also helped me outside of the course- from finding accommodation to travel advice. I would highly recommend this course to anyone!!!!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to plan ahead on all the coursework. It is very intensive but very manageable as long as you don’t procrastinate and read all the readings!
Pros
  • Amazing instructors
  • Valuable learning experience
  • A fun time
Liubov
35
Female
Canada
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Earn Your TEFL Certificate with Via Lingua in Istanbul, Turkey

Intense and Effective Course

Sep 26, 2025

Yaaay I just got my TEFL certificate from Via Lingua Istanbul! Proud of this achievement especially as it was such a challenging course. With so much practice teaching English during the course (with real students! Thank you for the trust) I feel fully equipped to enter this profession.

Although I’m a linguist by education, I learnt a lot of new information in this area during the course. Lessons on class management were also eye-opening - I wish my school teachers had known the same strategies and techniques as Kent English taught me, my school years would have been much more productive :)

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising for me during the course was to find out and confirm that IT IS POSSIBLE to teach a language from scratch to a student whose L1 is not familiar to the teacher. Teaching vocabulary without translation into L1 is REAL! It’s all like magic, and it truly works.
We weren’t let go without presents 🎁
Jenna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Earn Your TEFL Certificate with Via Lingua in Istanbul, Turkey

Highly recommended TEFL/TESOL program with amazing trainers.

Jan 12, 2025

The experience I had with Via Lingua Istanbul was amazing. It was my first time travelling to Turkey, and I really appreciated how caring the director and staff were throughout the whole course. They constantly checked in and made us feel right at home, and it hardly felt like I was in a foreign country. The trainers were highly experienced and qualified, and they challenged us enough to make us feel ready to be efficient ESL teachers. Overall, I really recommend this course for anyone who isn't certified yet!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My two pieces of advice are: #1: Study grammar in advance before starting the course, as the level of grammar is quite challenging and intense (in a good way). #2: Extend your trip an extra week or two after completing the course for sightseeing and touristic activities. There's hardly any time during the course to travel and see the must-see historics of beautiful Turkey due to the projects and homework. Therefore, I highly recommend staying a little longer afterwards.
Pros
  • The course location was in the heart of the beautiful Kadikoy.
  • Extremely qualified trainers.
  • Well balanced and Internationally recognized course.
Pallas
48
Female
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Via Lingua TEFL Certification in Crete, Greece

Excellent TEFL Program

Jan 3, 2025

I cannot say enough about how wonderful my experience was completing the TEFL course in Crete! Maria was an amazing, patient, thorough and talented teacher. She made the demanding schedule fun and was always friendly and supportive, especially during the practical teaching sessions (which can be nerve racking!) Her ability to present the material clearly and provide resources and encouragement was essential to my success in excelling as a TEFL student and now as a teacher of English as a second language! I encourage anyone considering a TEFL certificate to come to Crete and learn from Maria and her wonderful staff (Alex is also amazing!) and to experience the beautiful city of Chania.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I would advise future participants to book an extra week after the course to be able to explore Chania and more of the island of Crete. The program is quite intensive so there is little time to be a tourist and the city of Chania is one of the most beautiful places in Greece.
Pros
  • Clear, detailed instruction
  • Value for money
  • Friendly, supportive atmosphere
Cons
  • Intensive workload
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Programs

Displaying 1 - 5 of 5

Staff Interviews

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

Steve Patten

Program
Get TEFL Certified in Florence, Italy
Job Title
Head Trainer
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What is your favorite travel memory?

Getting lost in Tokyo! I boarded the wrong train and ended up at a rural station where no one spoke English. Luckily, I was rescued by a Japanese family who, although they spoke little English, befriended me and took me for a meal.

We became great friends and are still in contact today. I plan to visit them in 2020 when I attend the next Summer Olympics.

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

Absolutely. Being a member of the Via Lingua family is a wonderfully creative, supportive and challenging experience.

Working collaboratively with colleagues continually provides me with new ideas and approaches. The positive and critical feedback from both fellow instructors and trainee teachers has never ceased to stimulate me to improve and grow.

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

Many students remain in contact with Via Lingua via our alumni association so we frequently hear of their progress in the field of TEFL.

The best story is of the trainee teacher who, after teaching for several years post qualification, continued her studies with one of our partner universities. Receiving study credits in recognition of her Via Lingua qualification, she not only went on to complete her MA TESOL, but also to secure a teaching and research post at a leading US university.

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

I would choose the Via Lingua CTEFL program.

This is such a great way to both access the world of language teaching and immerse oneself in a new culture. The course provides a perfect balance between theory and practice.

Skills and knowledge introduced in the training sessions are applied in the classroom, where trainee teachers work with authentic second language learners. In addition, living and studying in a culture different from one's own is both a challenging and rewarding experience, one which lasts a lifetime.

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

Via Lingua is unique in the field of TEFL training programs because it offers a holistic approach that provides opportunities for trainee teachers to:

  • study and work alongside experienced TEFL teachers;
  • apply theoretical knowledge when working with multiple levels of authentic second language learners (a minimum of 10 hours practical experience);
  • engage in guided research projects and activities;
  • immerse themselves in the culture of the host country and learn a foreign language;
  • further develop existing skills and talents;
  • develop skills and qualities associated with life-long learning.

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

I believe that there are three key factors involved here, all of which are fundamental to the way Via Lingua has designed its business model: invest in the professional development of employees (the training staff), invest in identifying the needs of clients (the trainee teachers), and invest in research and development (language acquisition, training programs, and training materials).

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