Program Reviews

A year ago, I would have never imagined myself living in Hanoi, Vietnam. In fact, much like most Caribbean people, I believed my travel expeditions were limited to a particular region. I am proud to say that registering with the International TEFL Academy (ITA) to study in Vietnam was the best decision that I have ever made.

From the very beginning, prior to my registration, ITA provided the necessary information that helped me to make a life-changing decision. My advisor was extremely attentive and answered all my questions. After registration, I was connected to the go-to person in Vietnam who assisted me greatly before my big move. The representative informed me about what to bring to Vietnam and what to expect.

The 4-week intensive TESOL course in Hanoi was brilliant. Our trainer was a well-seasoned English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher who was inspiring, patient and professional. The course modules were extremely appropriate; I arrived in Vietnam with no teaching experience and after the course I felt more prepared than ever to excel in a classroom setting.

Vietnam is also an amazing and developed country. The people of Vietnam are exceptionally friendly and the culture is fascinating. There is so much to see and do that you will never have a dull moment. As an ESL teacher, you are looking at a reasonably high salary with a very low cost of living. The potential to save while living in Vietnam is very high. Also, native teachers are always in demand.

I am extremely happy with my decision to move to Vietnam and would recommend this destination to anyone.

I do not even know where to begin! When I got to Thailand, I did not think I would have met amazing people, and build such great friendships that have lasted from 2013 when I did my course in Chiang Mai!
Learning how to teach Eng was not as easy as I thought, but, it was one of the best things I could have done for myself, as I love to travel! The results of learning this skill set has brought me so much joy as I get to give the gift of education, another language to another human being. There is no other joy that could have filled my heart!
TEFL allowed me to go to the place I loved the most, BRAZIL! :D I am forever grateful!

Thank you to TEFL for allowing me to spread joy in my own way to the children and adults seeking to learn! :D

THANK YOU!

Deepa

I obtained my TEFL certification at Via Lingua in Florence, Italy. It was one of the best things I’ve done for myself in two years. I knew I wanted to teach English, and I chose Via Lingua because it offers the opportunity to practice-teach real Italian students (and because I love Italy).

I was one of three students taking the course, so we got to know each other and the teachers very well. The course itself was challenging, but the teachers were always eager to answer our questions and help us look towards our futures as teachers. Because the three of us students became so close, we often studied together over gelato and always helped each other understand tricky course material. We had fun doing our group projects—some of them barely felt like homework.

Via Lingua provided me with everything I needed to start my career as an English teacher. I believe the quality of the teachers and the institution is among the highest the International TEFL Academy has to offer (not to mention the incredible location—central Florence, just 5 minutes from the Duomo). I would recommend the course to anyone interested in becoming TEFL certified (and in fact, I already have to several friends).

ITA's TEFL program in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico is great! The partner school, ITTO, that runs the TEFL Certification course really gives you all of the tools you need to go above and beyond in the TEFL world. The course is intense, don't get me wrong, but it is so worth the long days and somewhat sleepless nights. You really have to work hard- it's 4 weeks of early mornings and late nights, occasional weekend work, homework, lesson plans, student work, a little bit of tears (stress), and tons of laughter. My favorite part of the program was going over to the English language school around the corner for the teaching practicum everyday. Having the privilege of working with students throughout the certification process is something that I am so grateful for. Your fellow TEFL classmates become your family for that month- you eat most meals together, lesson plan together, bounce ideas off each other, and help each other through everything the 4 weeks throw at you. At the end of the 4-week intensive course, you get out there and the job search begins. You not only have ITTO's help, but you also have full access to guidance from ITA- that's double the opportunity to land a job. I highly recommend the program to anyone who is interested!

In a sentence, ITA allowed me to make my dreams come true. From the Admission Advisors to the TEFL courses to the Job search assistance to the communities it created, ITA went above my expectations. The course work is not easy, but neither is teaching! ITA understood that while taking the class, I was working full time and made reasonable requirements for the work to be due. The most beneficial part, in my opinion, was learning how to present yourself to international employers. It’s easy to forget that each country has different expectations when applying for jobs and ITA prepared you for that. It really helped to give me a push in the right direction to living our my dreams. I will forever be grateful to ITA!

The TEFL course in Guadalajara was an excellent choice for me. The city is amazing and full of opportunities to teach English. The course was challenging enough to adequately prepare me for teaching but also left plenty of free time and energy to explore the city and its surroundings. I really enjoyed the small class size and the staff were very accommodating and attentive. Our teaching practice at the partner school was great for feeling more comfortable in front of a classroom. After completing this course I felt prepared to teach and have stayed in Guadalajara teaching since.

My experience getting certified in Guadalajara greatly exceeded my expectations. It is a city oozing with charm, friendly people, rich Mexican culture, and still the benefits of a larger city. The staff at this location made us feel like a family throughout the whole month of the course. I never felt like i wasn't recieving the support or attention that i needed to succeed. It was the perfect balance of a friendly yet proffesional environment. We got to teach lesson plans that we made in class to actual students at the language school right across the street.
I felt extremely prepared to start teaching with real life practice, feedback, guidance, knowledge of methods, focused grammar training, a portfolio of my lesson plans and a CV for teaching that was created with proffesional guidance. Anyone looking for a super affordable country to get your TEFL certification that also offers a lively, cultural city experience should consider Guadalajara, México.

I LOVED my Guadalajara, Mexico TEFL course. The course was challenging enough that it prompted me to learn a lot, study, and work hard. It did not feel gratuitously difficult, or like busy work though. My instructor was very sweet, helpful, and really cared about and supported her students. I enjoyed the small class sizes, and the regular practice class with feedback. This program really shaped and refined my teaching skills, confidence, and classroom management. I am very happy with the results of the program, and would recommend it to anyone!

When I was preparing myself to teach abroad, I had some obstacles I had to get through. I still had a full time job and personal responsibilities to attend to. I needed a program that would work around my busy schedule but I also wanted a quality program with great support as I started the process of living and teaching abroad. International TEFL Academy (ITA) was definitely that program for me. I looked into many programs, talked to many advisors and concluded that ITA checked all the boxes I was looking for when considering the right program. The staff was great during the processes of choosing a country and answering questions. The program had great materials to use when developing your teaching skills. The instructor did a great job communicating to me personally and the entire group. Lastly, the additional resources they provide were exactly what I needed to find a job in the country I wanted to go to. I have already referred the program to some of my friends.

ITA's TEFL program was critical in helping me move abroad and secure a job teaching English in Spain. Overall it was a smooth process and they provided me with all the necessary tools to get set up and still continue to play a critical role with the large network of alumni. They helped me with getting my student visa from the beginning of the process until the end. They provided an excellent onsite 4 week training course in Madrid to learn "how" to actually teach English and they are still available in case I need anything. Plus I love the idea that I can now teach English practically anywhere in the world!