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The TEFL Academy

4.87 Rating
1173 reviews
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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
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Reviews

Default avatar
Siphesihle
23
Female
South Africa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Level 5 TEFL Certificate | 168-Hour Accredited Course

Great Time

Jun 22, 2025

I honestly had a blast in this program. I learnt so much on not only the complexities of teaching English and explaining it, but the complexities of the planning behind it. I have gained so much more love and appreciation for teachers and what they do. It surely has to be because of the love they have for teaching and mentoring.
On the program, I think it such a great one. I regret not doing the combined course, but the support online was so awesome. I appreciated the tutors and support from the team.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Do it quicker thank the 3 months. I realised how much I procrastinated on it when I could have honestly finished it way earlier. It is incredibly doable if you put the time and effort in.
Pros
  • Support Team
  • Learning new skills
  • Gaining another certificate
Cons
  • Online = not much practice on your side
Default avatar
Kate
26
Female
United Kingdom
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Level 5 TEFL Certificate | 168-Hour Accredited Course

Easy to follow, well laid out course

Jun 21, 2025

I'm very happy that I chose to complete my Level 5 TEFL diploma with the TEFL Academy. The course was simple to follow and engaging throughout. I liked how the sections were broken up and the tests at the end of each unit were helpful for tracking progress and understanding. I found the content of the course very interesting, and having not studied for nearly 10 years it felt to be good to challenge myself again. I would definitely recommend using The TEFL Academy if you are thinking of completing your TEFL.

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Johannes
33
Male
South Africa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Level 5 TEFL Certificate | 168-Hour Accredited Course

The (re)start of something great!

Jun 21, 2025

At the tender age of 32 I finally decided to leave my career as a Registered Nurse along with all the stress.
Alas, I left the hospital and changed cities, but now what?
I always only heard about people doing a TEFL course but never really gave it any real thought. Then it hit me.
Like a beacon of hope in a dark storm I came across The TEFL Academy and knew this is what I needed to restart my journey through life.
From great progress monitoring, great structure and from scratch training, the fee I had to pay which seemed like a lot at the beginning, now seems like the best value for money I ever received.
Being a nurse all my life I never could have thought it possible for me to ever go into a new career as an EFL teacher. But now I feel confident and ready to jump into a world of new a great possibilities!

To be honest, I owe The TEFL Academy my sanity and my rejuvenated sense of adventure!

Default avatar
Ciara
20
Female
South Africa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Level 5 TEFL Certificate | 168-Hour Accredited Course

A rewarding and flexible TEFL journey.

Jun 20, 2025

I recently completed the Level 5 TEFL course with The TEFL Academy, and I truly enjoyed every moment of it. The course was well-structured, flexible, and easy to follow perfect for someone like me with a busy schedule. The content was both challenging and interesting.

I've always dreamed of having a teaching qualification, and this course made that dream come true. Growing up, I had incredible English teachers who made learning fun and meaningful. The TEFL Academy gave me the tools and confidence I needed to start my teaching journey, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone thinking about doing the same.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
If I could do it all over again, I would definitely plan my study schedule more realistically. At first, I tried to push myself to study 3 to 4 hours a day while working a full-time 8–5 job. That pace didn’t last long, and I started to feel burnt out. In hindsight, I would have created a more balanced study plan and timetable from the beginning to manage my time and energy better.
Pros
  • Flexible Schedule: The course is self-paced, which made it easy to fit around my full-time job and personal life.
  • The material was well-structured, informative, and kept me interested throughout.
  • The feedback I received on assignments was detailed and encouraging, helping me improve and gain confidence.
Cons
  • Since it's online and self-paced, you really need to stay disciplined and manage your time well.
  • The coursework can feel intense if you don’t pace yourself properly from the start.
  • Although the course is comprehensive, I sometimes missed having real-time discussions or live interaction.
Default avatar
Nadine
53
Female
South Africa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Combined Level 5 TEFL Course in South Africa

My Journey with an Empowering Language

Jun 20, 2025

From the moment I registered for the course with TTA, the communication has been excellent. I received all the relevant course materials, updates, and newsletters that reassured me I had made the right choice in selecting this organization. In addition, TTA also provided social media content that was relevant, engaging, and informative, which I looked forward to during my studies, and still do now. I have recognized the importance of using the English language correctly. I am now more aware of how I apply different tenses in conversation.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Do not become overwhelmed during the course. The program is well structured, and everything is explained as you navigate from one lesson to another. Sufficient resources are provided for further reading. In addition, ample videos and examples are provided, not to mention a knowledge test after each study unit, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Pros
  • Renowned TEFL institute
  • IT and student support if and when needed
  • Well-structured student dashboard and vacancy updates
Cons
  • Phonetics were a challenge
  • Plenty of reading material
ESL Teacher on the move
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Programs

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Alumni Interviews

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

Quentellus Ladale Toliver

Program
Online Level 5 TEFL Certificate | 168-Hour Accredited Course

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.

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.

Staff Interviews

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

Jess Morris

Program
Online Level 5 TEFL Certificate | 168-Hour Accredited Course
Job Title
Student Services
Hi! My name is Jess and I am a part of the Student Services Team here in The TEFL Academy! We deal with everything, from enrolling to certificates and are here to help existing, potential and alumni students with whatever questions they may have.
Jess Morris

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!

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.