Program Reviews

I've been wanting to teach in South Korea for about 4 years now, and I finally plucked up the courage to get a TEFL certification. Although the price is steep, IT IS SO WORTH IT. ITA is responsive, comprehensive, engaging, challenging, and rewarding! I did the online course because I was in my last year of Bachelors and, although the workload was appropriately large, I never felt overwhelmed, and spent 10 weeks learning. I would recommend this program, no question.

After doing Americorps for a year and researching which was the best TEFL School. I decided to do my TEFL with ITA. I did the in person class and it was pretty challenging and intense. I was pretty tired but after that one month. I felt ready to start my teaching experience abroad. I went to South Korea and taught elementary and middle school students for 2 years. ITA was helpful from the beginning until the end. They are honest and provide you with a lot of information. I highly recommend investing in your TEFL with ITA, if you don't have a BA in Education. By doing so, you will gain confidence and feel ready to go abroad.

The title of this review is a little bit misleading. Well, to be honest, a lot a bit misleading. The only reason one shouldn't come to Japan to teach english is if he or she is not open to new experiences and new cultures (which if that's the case he or she probably shouldn't be traveling at all). Japan is a beautiful and rich culture in so many ways, and whether you live and teach in the countryside or the city the experiences you WILL have are abundant.

My TEFL certification, which I received through the International TEFL Academy, has allowed me to be competitive in the job market as well as confident in the classroom while here in Japan. And honestly, the classroom is just one more interesting and often exciting way to learn about Japanese people, culture, and history while making connections you will never forget. (The students, staff, and fellow teachers are also really wonderful about keeping you up to date on local events and festivals which you can't miss out on)!

I worked for two years as an eikaiwa teacher, teaching students anywhere from the age of just 1 year into 90-something years. The conversations I had and the relationships I formed were unlike most of the relationships I made in any job previously. Also, because of the TEFL certification and the experience I gained through my courses and practicum, I walked into my first lesson (and many following lessons) far more confident and prepared than the teachers who came without a certification.

Following my experience working eikaiwa, I have recently started working as a Junior High School ALT. While the classroom experience, class sizes, and working hours are different from the eikaiwa lifestyle, I have already fallen in love with this position. Once again, I'm surrounded by incredibly open and welcoming co-workers and students-- only this time your students make you feel like a rock star (literally). Due to my previous experience in eikaiwa, as well as the aforementioned TEFL experience, the day to day classroom lifestyle has been incredibly smooth and easy for me. My teachers have mentioned how my teaching style is different from other ALTs, but they also think it's really fun and engaging. The methods I use are ones I wouldn't have learned without my TEFL and practicum experience.

Outside of work, life is always an adventure for me. There is always some sort of event or festival happening. There are so many gorgeous sites to see and rich cultural/historical experiences to engage in. Since moving here, I have also been able to travel to several other countries. I have traveled from Japan to Korea, Hokkaido (which, yes, is part of Japan but it's still very different), Australia, and Taiwan. I have plans to go to Korea again, Hawaii, and Thailand this year alone. I'm also able to do all of these things despite still having to pay off loans and student debt from America.

When I originally decided to get my certification, I didn't know where I wanted to go or how long I would want to do any of this. However, I can honestly say that getting that certification and making the decision to come to Japan has been not only life-changing, but it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. If you're considering traveling and you want an enjoyable way to work while you do it then you can't go wrong, and Japan is (in my opinion) one of the best places you can go to start your own adventure. I am so grateful to ITA, my practicum teachers, and the classmates I had during my TEFL course for helping encourage and prepare me for the experiences of a life time. I am looking forward to even more!

My overall experience with International TEFL Academy was fantastic. The teachers and advisors were, and still are, very helpful and are quick to respond to any questions or issues that may arise. The course itself was vastly informative, and really covered everything one would need to know to confidently teach a class of ESL learners. I would greatly recommend this program to anyone who is interested in teaching abroad!

ITA is so worth it because they offer assistance that other companies do not. Yes, you can get certified elsewhere but the advice, information and assistance they offer is invaluable. Additionally, the course is very comprehensive and helps a lot if you’re a first-time teacher. I could not imagine going to teach abroad without having taking the course by ITA. I would recommend ITA to everyone that wants to teach abroad - they really make it easy.

I'm so grateful I decided to get TEFL certified and here's why. Basically, like many, I was looking to change my career, move to a foreign country, travel and learn Spanish. Let's face it, deciding to quit your comfortable job and sell your things to "take a leap of faith" to live and work in a new country in a new career is scary. I knew that if I wasn't going to do this I wanted to be as prepared as possible and to make the transition as seamless as possible. I wanted to really enjoy this experience and limit any amount of difficulties at the get go. So I chose to get TEFL certified onsite in the 4 week TEFL program in Madrid which included a 1 year student visa. While it's a bit pricey, in my experience, it's totally worth it. Immediately when you sign up you are added to the ITA database and are connected internationally to teachers all over the world including those here in Spain. The alumni network alone has proven to be very useful in the transition period and overall support. The TEFL program itself is intensive and can be a bit overwhelming at times but it really gives you a full submersion on the "how" to teach English. They also assisted with helping me create a new resume and put me in contact with several language academies to interview with. I was hired immediately after the program. This was great because I didn't have to stress about looking for a job. I'm also grateful I chose the student visa option. Not only does it include a year of Spanish classes (which I was very interested in) but it also allows you to live, work and even travel here in Spain comfortably. Again, I was looking to make the process as smooth as possible. Thankfully with my ITA TEFL certification I was able to do that. I'm still here today living and working Madrid 2 years later and have no plans to return as of yet. Thank you ITA for changing my life and giving me the opportunity of a lifetime!

When I graduated from college, I was looking for opportunities to travel, live abroad extensively and to make a global impact. This is when I first considered a career in TEFL. Upon doing my research, I discovered International TEFL Academy (ITA).

At first, I was a bit unsure. This company seemed to good to be true at first. It was only when I got an ITA representative on the phone that I realized I had come to the right place to be TEFL certified. From the start, International TEFL Academy was so supportive and willing to answer any questions I had. When asking about the online course schedule, I found that they were flexible and willing to work with my busy class schedule.

As my class was online, I found myself poring over the ITA website to learn more. I was inspired by the words of other alumni on their website. There was nothing better than to read about others with the same dream as mine who had gone on to make a difference in the world and to take a daring leap into new adventures and cultures. I remember thinking to myself, "This will be me." There was simply no question at this point: I had come to the right place. ITA was the perfect place to find a network of like-minded individuals to support me on my new journey and lifelong career support.

After taking the ITA online class in 2014, I arrived in France in the Rhone-Alps to teach English. I had countless teaching strategies under my belt and was ready to put them into practice. After I began teaching, I joined the ITA alumni France group to pose specific questions about life and teaching ESL in France. It felt good to have support and a network to connect with to share my trials and tribulations.

The rest is history.

After teaching in France, I moved to South Korea and taught for 2 years (2015-2017). I am now living in Suzhou, China and wouldn't change my life for the world! ITA has opened windows of opportunity in my life. I have been able to explore the world, while sharing my love of language. In every stage of my career as a TEFL instructor, International TEFL Academy has been there to support me and to help me grow.

In a way, ITA changed my life and has changed my perception of the world. The more I travel and learn, the more open-minded and understanding I have become. I have learned to give more, to listen more and to never lose my sense of curiosity.

As an ESL instructor, I create windows of opportunity for my students. I create a bridge between cultures and empower students to confidently express themselves. My favorite memories are those moments of impact, when I am able to see how learning English truly makes an impact on the lives of my students. There are simply no words to express the joy of a student finding their voice in English or finding a student's joy of learning rekindled in the classroom.

My tip to those considering ESL is to take the leap! If you have a passion for teaching and traveling, ESL may be perfect for you. Above all, I highly advise anyone looking to teach ESL to enroll in a class with ITA and to take full advantage of the resources and alumni network within ITA. I promise you will not be disappointed!

I definitely am glad I decided to get my TEFL through ITA. The course itself taught me so much. I am now a teacher for an incredible company in Santiago, Chile, thanks to the alumni community and connections through International TEFL Academy. I teach both business professionals and children and can definitely say that the online course gave me many amazing and applicable ideas that I now use every day in the classroom. I have also now had the opportunity to be an alumni video ambassador for ITA which has challenged me in a new way to hone in on my hobby for video making and allowed me to help future TEFL graduates understand what it is like to teach and live abroad in Santiago, Chile!

My wife and I did this program together about a year ago. We were both working full time and chose to take the online course. The flexibility of taking the course online was great. We were able to devote enough time to it on the weekends and in the evenings. Overall my interactions with ITA were great. I definitely remember my phone call with ITA asking all the questions I could think of before I actually enrolled. They were great at explaining the scope of the commitment. Throughout the course they were very helpful and the instruction was great. When it came time to apply for jobs, we definitely relied on ITA to be a sounding board and they got us ready and prepared for any interviews. Now almost 9 months into our first contact, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.

My name is Kelsi Brooks, I am an Atlanta, Georgia native. The Via Lingua Firenze language school is an environment where English teachers can feel supported during their journey. Located in Florence, Italy, I was able to accomplish my goal of professional development and reaching a growing population of students: English Language Learners.

In the heart of Florence, I was free to explore the riches of art history, delight in the sabor of Italian cuisine, and bask in the summer heat with my new colleagues.

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