Via Lingua

I retired from full-time teaching in a private elementary school last year and decided to follow my dream of studying TEFL in Istanbul.

This excellent course prepares one for a meaningful, rewarding career in teaching English. Yes, it's every bit as intensive as advertised but absolutely worth it! The instructors are all top-notch and it's clear that they care about their students' success. They were always available to answer questions, give a little pep talk, or just listen to our musings. Their feedback on practice teaching lessons was supportive, with specific examples of where improvements were needed and encouragement to offer more of what most engaging to my students.

The largely interactive lessons helped us acquire in-depth knowledge of TEFL methodologies, grammar, language skills, lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment. The productive atmosphere of the classes and the goodwill of the instructors set me on course to begin teaching English with confidence and enthusiasm. The course books, abundant handouts, and links to helpful websites will be valuable resources for years to come.

One bit of advice: begin on the long-term assignments (portfolio, group project, and individual project) as soon as possible. This will free you up to spend the time needed to plan lessons and prepare for the final exam at a measured pace.

In addition to the interesting classes, the school’s lively surroundings made my time at Via Lingua Istanbul a memorable experience. I made new friends, immersed myself in Turkish culture and language, and cleared more than a few hurdles in navigating the challenges of everyday life in a new (but beloved) setting.

I knew what I was getting myself into before the course and it was everything I expected. The staff are great and help you in all ways to become the teacher you want to be. You won't get to explore much however since you'll be studying and preparing for classes most the time. During my course, Istanbul was hit with one of its worst snowstorms in 20 years and I had lots of laughs on my shitty luck. It is an experience you will hold dear in your life for sure. And if you have any problems Ismail is there to help you!

My experience of the TEFL course in Istanbul was an incredible experience. While all the experienced passionate trainers quenched my academic thirst, they also succeeded at reaching for us on a personal level and guided our training with specialized tips and hints that are tailored to our personalities and style in teaching. They have also established the fundamentals of modern methods of teaching English as a foreign language, all while making us feel comfortable and at ease in the school. By the end of the course, I was feeling as a well prepared teacher ready to take on a class with confidence. They have also gave a well rounded guidance for entering the market of English teaching in Turkey (especially in Istanbul). Overall the experience was very pleasant and I would recommend it for anyone wishing to get a teaching job in Istanbul or even for teachers in the making who would like to obtain the TEFL certificate in Istanbul for the experience of the city and teach later in another country.

It was a great course! I now have the expertise required to teach TEFL. The staff is amazing and the teachers are great! I think that anyone with enough drive can do this. The course was very rigorous and we learned a lot in terms of grammar and teaching practices. I made lifelong friends and my teachers are now my mentors. Teaching English is not as easy as it looks, therefore it's important to receive the proper training... There are myriads of TEFL courses to choose from online but they may not all be legitimate. I truly believe that I chose correctly. I even found a job straight out of the course! I cannot recommend it enough.

The course in Istanbul was great, I loved my time there and would 100% recommend it as a destination for completing the TEFL course.

The centre had all the facilities required and the employees were very friendly and approachable- I never needed anything, the centre provided all the material. Additionally, the centre is well located in the heart of the vibrant Kadikoy.

The course tutors were fantastic and there experience was evident from the start- I learnt a great deal from them all. I was able to work on my grammar, pace and confidence all which were goals of mine prior to completing the course. I am therefore, grateful for the time I spent in Istanbul.