Program Reviews

Despite my experience volunteering with Interexchange at an exorbitant cost and being placed in a very difficult family situation, I chose to pursue teaching abroad and TEFL certification. After much online research and shopping around, I settled on a couple of options. I corresponded with a few, receiving generic responses or finding their process or costs practically impossible. Finally, after a skype session with Matthew Birgy from International TEFL Academy, my decision became cemented. Not only did he show up for the skype session, but he also answered my questions and alleviated my fears in regard to finding work and getting along. As a former teacher himself, he drew from his own experience and applied the relevant aspects to my own situation.

What a steal! I managed to get a great deal on the course as well! It was an easily navigable online course that I could access from anywhere - Italy, France, Switzerland, or wherever I may have traveled at the time. The teacher was nice and prompt in answering my questions. I found the material to be simple and I liked having the practice in lesson planning for a younger age group.

With the help of the excellent and reputable program and Matthew Birgy, I was offered several jobs up to a month before I even finished the course. I accepted my current job in Nakhon Si Thammarat. Once again I had a lot of help in getting things arranged. I did not go through a company (as advised), so I got to keep all of my paycheck and choose where I would teach.

I wouldn't recommend that anyone look anywhere else. It has been close to a year since I signed up for the program and I can still shoot Matt an email with my questions or ask advice concerning my next adventure. This was far more than just a TEFL certification. This was a major life choice. I am so glad that I chose so well. I love my school. I love Thailand. I know that I will love my next exploit as well! I am fully prepared and ready to go!

Be ready to work hard and know how to balance your time. Jobs do not come easily, after graduation the real work begins. I suggest studying up on English Grammar before beginning the program. You have to be very self motivated finding teaching jobs and tutoring. They do not help you get a job afterward. It is just in and out with a new group full of naive students filling their seats with $1800 in hand. It is all very rushed, you will spend ALL your time doing homework if you want this program to be successful. However, there is no way I would have had the knowledge to teach others English without this program.

Although a TEFL certificate is definitely not needed for teaching in Thailand the networking that I had access to because of this class was invaluable. Upon landing in the country I felt like I already had friends willing to meet up, travel together, and help me look for jobs. I've met some of my best friends through International TEFL Academy.

I completed the online course through ITA. I would have preferred to complete an in-person course, but financially was not able to make that decision. With that being said, I highly recommend doing the course in-person if you can because the connections you make and the opportunities to be challenged in an in-person course were something I greatly needed. One perk of choosing ITA, is the number of course hours you receive. Some TEFL programs set the bar low which will limit your opportunities, but not ITA!

International TEFL Academy provided me a great online TEFL course to get started on my teaching abroad journey. The material was cohesive and helpful while not too heavy of a workload. I have heard of some friends taking a "faster course" and they have been slammed with so much work. They are very helpful with all of their databases - making sure you know of different schools and different ways to find work in the destination of your choosing. I am currently volunteer teaching abroad in Valencia, Spain and hope to come back for a job in January. I have loved my experience so far and really think the program provided me the essentials to become a great teacher.

Registering with International TEFL Academy was one of the best decisions of my life. The staff were so supportive and always made you feel excited about the possibilities and doors that would open once I became certified. Working with ITEFL Academy to get certified creates limitless possibilities for you!

After years of trying several different careers and living in various countries, I realized what I love to do most is to travel. I did some extensive research and was excited to find that teaching English as a foreign language was one of the best jobs to facilitate traveling. I inquired with several organizations and in the end chose International TEFL Academy, ITA, for many reasons.

From the beginning, they were responsive and available. They were very prompt in responding to my questions and I was happy to speak to a real live person within a day of my requesting information. My advisor was personable, honest, and extremely helpful. She had taught abroad herself and kindly addressed all my concerns and gazillion questions. The live webinars were great for discussions and the Facebook groups were invaluable sources for getting in touch with alumni and other currently enrolled students. Also their website was very informative and the "Q & A" accounts by alums incredibly insightful.

I took the on-site course in Costa Rica. It was an intensive four-week program with a fairly heavy workload. We started the practicum the second week, and although it was intimidating at first, teaching local students of all ages and levels became one of my favorite things about the course. Our instructors were longtime residents of Costa Rica and offered valuable guidance in our job search as well as sound advice for what to expect when we started teaching out in the "real world".

There were certainly some challenging times--especially being in a foreign country and managing an intense course--but overall ITA did an incredible job preparing me for this life changing journey. I have no regrets choosing to get certified through ITA and I'm grateful for the infinite possibilities this credential opens up for me. If you want to travel, enjoy teaching, and are open to the amazing possibilities of life in foreign places, I would definitely recommend taking ITA's onsite course in Costa Rica.

-Why you chose International TEFL Academy?

I lived near Chicago, Illinois.

-Did your TEFL class prepare for your job as an English teacher abroad?

Yes, it was comprehensive review of phonics, grammar, and of course cultural tips.

-Where are you teaching and did you use ITA's job search guidance to get hired?

Hong Kong. The school didn't have a lot of resources about Hong Kong specifically, but it did in China.

-Have you used alumni networking on Facebook and what do you like about it?

Yes the networking site is useful and fun.

-What was teaching abroad actually like & do you recommend it?

I teach preschool/kindergarden and I love it. It depends on the job situation. Since much of education in HK is privatised, your work environment could vary. You won't regret it though!

I chose to teach in Barcelona, Spain because I knew the job outlook was pretty high. I was very nervous coming here without a job, but finding a job was not difficult at all. In fact, the very day of my flight to Barcelona, I was invited to two interviews once I landed. Prior to flying to Barcelona, I utilized the Barcelona TEFL Teachers Association Facebook page to network with people. I found many other people doing the same thing, and networked with a few to meet up. I also networked with future employers and contacted them with my CV. Turns out this is a great resource and landed me various teaching jobs. Though I originally wanted to teach in a school, I ended up teaching many private lessons. I actually loved teaching private lessons because I got to know my students on a more personal level and I was able to cater each lesson to them individually.

When I started my search to find a way to travel abroad, I soon found the best way to travel and earn money was to become an English as a foreign language teacher. Once I settled on this path, I quickly discovered that there were A LOT of schools out there to choose from. The experience was a bit overwhelming. What attracted me to ITA was that I was able to talk to an advisor right away and start fielding my many questions. If you are planning on moving abroad, you are naturally going to have a lot of questions and a lot of doubts, and I liked that my ITA advisor was there with answers, and never once pressured me into making a decision that I may not have been ready for yet. I even had the chance to visit their office in Chicago last summer and everyone I spoke to working there was incredibly kind and helpful. Even now, well after the end of my course, I know I can reach out and ask for job guidance and help from ITA. I feel this program really makes an effort to help students be successful, not just get them in the door!