Program Reviews

Everything you know about democracy, first-world country and common sense needs to go out the window while in China. Be open to the 180 degree change of life that you will experience from the time you step off the plane. I say these things because I was blown away at how I was not prepared for China. Despite all that I read, I was still in shock. Teaching in China is another experience: their expectations for English are high. Be prepared to train on your own because they do not offer it. Thank goodness for the coursework with International TEFL Academy. You, as a native speaker, will be thrown into a classroom and will be told to teach. It's trial by fire. The good thing about these situations were that I learned that I spoke too fast. I also learned that the students did not speak English very well. Instead of me teaching them, WE taught each other.

Ah ITA, you guys are good. I had already heard/read great things about their TEFL programs before signing up, so I didn't have to be seriously convinced. However, my initial contact call reaffirmed everything I'd heard and boosted my confidence in the program more-so. I initially was focused on the one-month intensive in-country TEFL program, but after speaking to a person in the office about what I was hoping to achieve with the certificate, I was told to go for the (less expensive) online program.

I really enjoyed the pace of the class, and the fact that the instructor took the time to respond to all of our comments. The weekly group-chat assignment also made it feel like more of a "real" class. Bonus: the instructor was also very familiar with Taiwan, so offered some great advice personally before I even set foot in the country. Coupled with the informational video chats held pretty frequently and live-streamed, I felt quite prepared jumping into the job-application process.

When I did begin to look for jobs, Christie with the Student Affairs team reached out right away and was nothing short of a huge help. She answered all of my questions honestly and promptly, and led me in a straight direction towards job success. After sending her a very late-night email with a contract from a prospective (now current) employer that was time-sensitive, she responded sooner than I could have hoped. Her confidence in the contract/employer and perspective as a "third party" gave me the confidence to take the leap and accept the offer - which I'm extremely glad I did today.

There are many programs like ITA. However, the professionalism and personality behind the organization was a win-win in my eyes. Like anything worth doing, I had to work hard and stay very organized/focused. But my journey from the first call with ITA to where I am now, months into my dream of teaching abroad, would have been MUCH more difficult and convoluted had I not taken the steps towards success with them.

I can definitely call Istanbul the city that never sleeps. Since the first days of my new life in Istanbul, I was amazed by how wonderful this place was. Walking around in day and night, crossing between the two continents on the vapur! all provided moments of peace. Even though the city experienced political and security concerns, it was always easy to find safe spots and happiness. I lived there from 2013 to 2016 and met the friendliest, most welcoming people ever.
The course was one month and was my first interaction with Turkish students. It helped me understand the difficulties I would face eventually in my actual classes and the trainers provided useful management skills and tips.

I completed International TEFL Academy's online TEFL class in 2014. I had never taught before and I was extremely nervous about the class and the practicum. I was traveling through Argentina and Uruguay at the time so I was also concerned about the flexibility.
My admissions advisor assured me that the class would be 8 - 12 hours per week and taking the class in Argentina and Uruguay would be great for my practicum experience.
She was right. It was a great experience because I did my 20 hours of practicum in Argentina and Uruguay so I was able to get my feet wet in a Latin American classroom before my big move to Ecuador.
I had weekly communication with Havvah in the Student Affairs Department. She assisted me with all my questions concerning the class and preparation for Ecuador.
I would highly recommend International TEFL Academy to everyone. Their class and assistance is extraordinary.

I got certified with International TEFL Academy's online class in 2014 while I was traveling in Argentina and Uruguay. It was an excellent class to take while traveling because all you need is an internet connection and if you are abroad there are excellent practicum locations.

I worked with Havvah in the Student Affairs Department. She assisted me with my resume and cover letter to hit the ground running once I arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador. She was extremely helpful in letting me know what to expect from the hiring process in Ecuador.

Within 2 weeks I secured a position at a local language school teaching several classes per week to kindergarten, 2nd, and 7th grade students. The children I taught were great! They were always excited to come to class and it seemed their parents had instilled in them a great appreciation for education and the value of English.

It's extremely affordable to live in Ecuador. The bus to work everyday was 50 cents. Stopping for lunch at a local vendor may cost you $2 for chicken and corn hot off the grill and bakeries line the streets of Cuenca. One of the best things about my teaching experience in Ecuador was the weather. Almost everyday it was 60 - 70 degrees with sunshine.

I'm so appreciative to have found International TEFL Academy. They facilitated one of the best experiences of my life. From their pre-enrollment advice, to their excellent assistance with helping me navigate the Ecuadorian teaching market. I'm extremely thankful that I chose them as my school.

I choose ITA because I saw it everyday walking to and from work, so it was very convenient to get to. Also, several friends of mine choose their program and recommended it for my future ESL plans. From day 1, I felt comfortable and knew I made the right decision. The staff was very welcoming and spoke from their own experience for teaching abroad. In addition, I choose the Online program because it fit my schedule the best. The on-boarding program was clear and answered all my questions thoroughly. My adviser was readily available and answered all my questions quickly. I never felt lost during and after the I completed the program. I recommend ITA for any whose interested in Teaching Abroad and want a credible program.

I am so glad I chose ITA to prepare me for teaching abroad. I made the decision somewhat on a whim and all my conversations with the staff at ITA before, during, and after my course were more than helpful. I had assistance right from the beginning in planning for my move abroad, from practical information like how much I should save for start up costs to the less tangible support that comes from conversations about their own travel and teaching experiences.

The course itself was amazing! My teachers were both incredibly knowledgeable and experienced. They were able to answer all of my questions and I graduated with full confidence in my ability to teach English.

However my favorite part of ITA is the benefit of having alumni living all over the world, available to answer your questions and give you advice. I've loved helping people who are thinking about moving to Taiwan and I've been reaching out to alums in the countries I want to travel to next. It makes it so much easier to keep leaping when you're able to find out everything you need to know about where you're going to land.

I attended the TEFL course in Chicago and it was a great experience. I learned a lot and felt prepared for my first teaching job in the Republic of Georgia. The instructors were amazing and always helpful. The curriculum was great and the practicum was a definite advantage to taking this course as opposed to taking it online. I have since taught English in South Korea, Myanmar, and Micronesia and I still use the Job Search Guidance Manual when thinking about my next destination.

For many, myself included, deciding which company to receive your TEFL certification from can seem completely overwhelming. Where do you even begin?

What it came down to for me was my initial first impression of their website. How user-friendly it is, how professional it looks and the wealth of information provided before even engaging with a representative. ITA provided all of this! One I made the first step to being contacted, an admissions advisor (Felicia) contacted me within 24 hours.

Felicia, Havvah (my student affairs advisor), and all professors and staff I worked with (in my course, as well as the webinars I watched and listened to) have all lived and worked abroad teaching English. They are all very well suited to answer any questions you may have on the experience.

If you haven’t already picked a destination, they can help you solidify one based on your needs and goals. If you already know your location you’ll automatically be assigned a team familiar with your country. Your advisors will work with you throughout your course, and even after, to ensure you have all that is necessary to apply for jobs, get the job and what the heck to do when you actually land the job!

Once you've started your course, you can join the general alumni discussion group on Facebook, as well as country-specific groups. I would be lost without these groups. It's so helpful to be able to connect with other alumni before and during your adventure to ask random questions about packing, things to do and advice. Many alumni also post honest reviews about the schools they are at or have previously worked with and will post when their school is hiring!

I’ve had so many people ask me if the course is worth it, to that, I say yes!!! Do you speak English? Yes. But do you know how to teach a non-native speaker English? Hell no! This course teaches various techniques. Learning to teach young learners, adult learners as well as everything in between encompassing teaching and living abroad.

I am currently teaching at a preschool in Shanghai, China. Holding a TEFL certificate has added so much value in my contract negotiation process. Many schools are cracking down on teachers holding a TEFL certificate (not just having a Bachelors degree and holding a passport from a native English country). I received my TEFL certification from the International TEFL Academy in June 2016. I couldn’t be happier with the entire process. If you are in or near Chicago, they offer on-site classes. If you are anywhere else in the world, go for the online course. I highly recommend ITA!

I enrolled in a course through Int'l TEFL Academy (ITA) over a year ago, and, to this day, I'm so glad that I did. By nature, I'm a very skeptical person. I research the heck out of organizations and businesses to ensure my hard-earned money is going to a place that will serve a valuable purpose. In this case, ITA's purpose has been invaluable.
I've had the opportunity to grow and develop using ITA's course and my M.Ed. as highly viable components of my educative foundation, and I plan on utilizing what I discovered and learned for the rest of my life.
While life's circumstances kept me from going abroad, I still had the opportunity to use my TEFL certificate in my home city: currently, I'm a curriculum developer and head instructor for a non-profit refugee women's organization near my home. To say I'm happy doing what I do is the understatement of the century. For the first time, I LOVE what I do. My hope is that life's ducks will align neatly in a row and I'll get to head out to Vietnam to teach in the next few months. I couldn't do this without ITA, seriously.
Another thing that encourages me to recommend ITA (in addition to my course experience) is the fact that I still receive support. I wasn't cut off the second I finished my certificate--I melted into their global community.
ITA, you cost me a pretty penny, but the value the experience has in my life trumps the temporary financial hit I took. You're worth every cent. Thank you!