Program Reviews

This was a great place to take my TEFL course. I would recommend it overall but particularly to people that are planning to use the PPP method to teach in a traditional classroom. The instructors are enthusiastic and obviously care about the students. The grammar review was stellar and we thoroughly dove into all areas of PPP. The only thing lacking in my opinion was introducing other methods of teaching. Even just a brief review of their schools of thought and the different approaches would have been a great addition to the course. The practicum was well organized and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to teach in different types of classrooms and interact with different ages to get a feel for what level I may like to teach. Overall I would recommend this course and you can’t go wrong with the location in Chiang Mai!

Where to take our TEFL course was a decision my wife and I mulled over for quite some time. After taking a career break and traveling in Southeast Asia for nine months we moved on to Europe. While touring around Europe in a camper van we decided to take the plunge and sign up for a TEFL program and in doing so change the course of our lives. But the options of where to take the course seemed limitless. We fell in love with Chiang Mai while passing through the previous spring and decided it was the place! The amazing culture and hospitality of Thailand would be great fit for us and it would allow us to explore the area more. Chiang Mai is an incredible city with a lot to offer yet it's very easy to navigate. SEE TEFL had excellent reviews and came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. John
and his team are extremely professional and were always around to give advice and help. While we didn't stay in Thailand to teach I would highly recommend taking your course with SEE TEFL especially if your goal is to teach somewhere in the country. As an added bonus we made friends that will last a lifetime.

In my experience ITA provided me with an invaluable experience of learning and support in the convenience of an online course, without being overly expensive. I found the course challenging and comprehensive, and I feel that it has prepared me to step into a classroom and be an effective teacher. The curriculum was much more difficult than I had anticipated from an online course, but they offered easy to navigate support for any issues that I had, which weren't many. I would recommend ITA to anyone looking to become an ESL/EFL teacher.

I completed the online course for the International TEFL Academy (I.T.A.) while living in Chicago and working 40+ hours each week for the Chicago Tribune newspaper. Although I worked full time and my work hours differentiated each week for the duration of the course, I was able to successfully complete the class with top marks. Regardless of a person's schedule, I.T.A. makes it possible for everyone to take their courses, and the teachers, advisers, and staff at the school are extremely helpful with questions on every topic from country suggestions and classroom-related inquiries, to payment plans for the courses and stories of their own experiences while teaching English abroad (or even TEFL teaching within the United States)!

My experience as an I.T.A. student was unique because I have taught English abroad with Peace Corps Georgia and as an independent English teacher in China, but I had no certification throughout my previous teaching experiences. The TEFL course at I.T.A. covered everything from the importance of cultural understanding and different teaching techniques, to the spectrum of learning styles and lesson suggestions on how to adhere to those learning styles while teaching. I wish I had been TEFL certified in my past-teaching experiences because I would have had a better understanding of the different ways to teach according to age group and how to change my teaching style for each lesson so the topics I taught would better resonate with students of different learning styles. It's also important to understand that classrooms abroad and cultural norms in education differentiate from place to place, and I wish I would have had a better understanding of that during my first two teaching experiences. Thanks to my experience at I.T.A.'s TEFL course, my future students will benefit from everything I have learned from the course, my broadened understanding of a classroom community and an even better appreciation for cultural understanding.

I want future participants of I.T.A.'s TEFL course to know that the course covers an array of topics and the work load may seem intense at times, but the knowledge gained from the course is absolutely worth it. As a TEFL teacher with previous experience in two countries, I am honestly able to say that the experience I had in the 11-week I.T.A. TEFL course better-prepared me for TEFL teaching more so than anything in my past. My past-teaching experiences were beneficial learning experiences, but the knowledge I have gained from I.T.A.'s TEFL course have not only left me better-prepared for my role as a teacher, but my future students will benefit as well. The entire experience of being part of the community in my next classroom with be even greater for my students and for me as an educator because I am an even better version of myself as a TEFL teacher than before.

The I.T.A. alumni community is another terrific attribute of taking the TEFL course. The I.T.A. alumni community is very active on all forms of social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs) and alumni are constantly reaching out to help other I.T.A. alumni when they are traveling, searching for jobs, answering questions, or if they need a place to stay while they get their affairs in order in their new country of residence. Taking that initial leap to go abroad as a TEFL teacher may be scary or intimating at times, but the I.T.A. alumni community provides a solid foundation and such a circle of support for all I.T.A. students and other alumni at every stage of their TEFL experience.

All in all, taking the TEFL course at I.T.A. is an extremely worthwhile investment. From the readings and classroom work, to the student-teaching practicum, I.T.A. students are well-equipped with a wealth of knowledge and understanding in order to become the best TEFL teachers possible; and they are also blessed with a strong community of I.T.A. alumni scattered all over the globe to assist as a foundation of support during one of the biggest adventures that life has to offer.

I was pleased with my ITA experience pretty much from the get-go. I was shopping around a comparing other programs when I first spoke to my advisor over the phone. He spoke patiently with my girlfriend and I for quite awhile, answering questions both broad and oddly-specific as best he could. At the end of the call, he discussed next steps if we wanted to sign up and told us where to reach him. No sales pitch, no pressure. From there we completed the course after work and on weekends. It's definitely legitimate work and the certification is not simply handed to you, meaning that you genuinely learn along the way. The course covers everything from teaching philosophies, to how to run a class, to cultural norms, and so much more, so if you've never taught (like myself) don't worry. I found the course to be effective, thorough, and well worth the money. Especially with the huge alumni group and resources made available. Very shortly after completing our course, my girlfriend and I both got hired to teach english online to students in China and will be heading over seas in a few weeks to work in a school. I highly recommend this course. For the quality and the opportunities it will afford you.

I recommend International TEFL Academy for anyone who wants to teach overseas. The In-Person practicum is required for many countries including South Korea, and International TEFL Academy provides great resources and support even from a distance. The tools I gained helped me immensely in teaching abroad in South Korea. Although the course was online, I still felt connected to the instructor and the other students who were taking my class with me.

I packed my bags and moved abroad to Italy and have looked back since. I searched for a month about all the different courses and online companies as well as in person venues. I always came back to ITA. Shortly, before making the jump I discussed my desire to teach abroad with a close friend. Little did I know the information she was withholding! After hearing about her online experience with ITA I instantly had to contact an adviser to speak about my viability with the program. After speaking with Amanda my path was aligned. I signed up for the course starting on February 12th, 2018. (I know not that long ago, right?) Well, at first getting back to school was difficult. I had to redefine my study habits and sleep schedule. I worked full time while completing the program. I worked really hard and you have to work really hard. The course isn't easy. It test your creativity, flexibility, and perseverance through weekly reading, blog post, and assignments. My Instructor Kenneth always gave honest and critical feedback which is what I needed. I appreciated his forwardness and correction through the online platform. The fellow classmates I have met along the way have strengthened my network of friends worldwide! Everyone assumes that completeing the course online isn't tailored to each student but I highly disagree! My assignments all cam from me and what I found to fit best under the criteria given. This trained me to be agile in the classroom. At the end they offered a FREE additional 2 week course in Business Professionals and Young Learners! I took advantage of this option and I gained so much newfound knowledge that I didn't even think about. Like remember those rhythms we learned as a child... those actual are great in teaching English as a Foreign Language. Since completing this course I have received multiple job offers overseas in Asia and Europe. I am now teaching online with VipKid and it is so much fun. The kids are great and the schedule is flexible with my other full time job. I will be accepting a position teaching abroad within the next week. Shhhh..... I haven't told anyone yet!!!

I will begin by saying that I absolutely recommend the ITA to any person looking to get ESL certified. I took the online certification, so my review is about that option in particular. It was perfect for someone like me who was already working full time and couldn't take weeks off to go do an on-site class. There was enough material to keep me engaged throughout the several month period, but not so much that I couldn't handle the workload. My assigned teacher was there only really to assist if we had questions or problems- I don't remember her doing any real teaching. In that way it was sort of a self study thing, so you do have to be motivated on your own. The coursework was designed in such a way that we had to read the material carefully though, and I thought that the content was of great quality.

Unlike most online courses, the ITA requires students to complete practicum hours which, while potentially difficult to find without assistance, make you more marketable upon completion and enhance the learning experience.

There is tons information avaialable for students as well. Job search info, country-specific information, alumni testamonials, and more. The most valuable part of the whole program and experience for me has been gaining access to the alumni network. I have met ITA alums in several countries and been in friendly contact with many more. Most are very happy to answer any questions you might have, and their photos, blogs, and videos are invaluable insights to the places they are.

ITA was one of the more expensive options, but for what I've gotten, I think it's worth the price. I think this course is the ideal choice for teachers-to-be who are eager and motivated!

The staff working for TEFL Academy are very helpful, upbeat and responsive. I think this was a major benefit of the course. They provided prompt and helpful material as I was looking for a job and reviewed and gave feedback on my resume and cover letter. They even provided me with a contact that led to my current position. The course itself was fine. I found the reading and quizzes to be very easy and the lesson plan making a little more challenging. The instructor always provided good feedback. I also think the practicum element of the course is beneficial. There are also many live lectures offered for specific esl topics or specific country job searches.

I found out about the International TEFL academy from a friend who received his certificate and subsequently traveled and taught English in Thailand for a number of years. He related his experience to me about taking the course and how the organization made the transition in his words "exponentially simpler". He discussed with me that he may have been easily discouraged on traveling due to the complexity of the steps to take such as job search, if it weren't for the resources that ITA offers. With the desire to travel and an even bigger passion to teach burning in my heart, I took a chance and decided to sign up for the 170 hour online course. Now, I should mention that I have taken online courses before and I was, let's say, less than successful. However, with the online course that the ITA offers, I found the content to be not only useful and meaningful but also interesting, so much that I would even read ahead of the syllabus! The instructor was fair and also made sure to not only point out strengths but also areas for improvement in all returned assignments. I also like the discussion forum aspect of the course, it gave me an opportunity to share ideas about teaching with people from all over the world! Aside from the course, the resources, as mentioned earlier, is what sets ITA apart from the other TEFL/CELTA organizations. Life long assistance from the ITA's student affairs department is my favorite because I really do feel like the organization cares about it's students, rather than simply awarding the student a certificate and that it, you are on your own. Another great thing about the organization is that it utilizes social media, facebook in specific, to connect students with others that are alumni that are living or have lived in different countries. This kind of networking can not only be useful but also crucial for prospective students and students alike to make the right decision for themselves and make connections. Overall, I would recommend the ITA to anyone seeking to teach abroad. The courses offered provide relevant and practical information for anyone wanting to teaching in a foreign country so much that it can prepare anyone to be the ideal ambassador for their home country while abroad. 5/5 STARS!