International TEFL Academy Reviews

The course was challenging and time-consuming but the material taught has been very useful. I felt comfortable creating lesson plans and standing in front of a classroom upon completion of the course.

I strongly recommend the International TEFL Academy for TEFL training. I had an amazing experience - the course is demanding and challenging which ensures that you are well prepared to begin teaching as soon as you complete the program.

The trainers in Barcelona are absolute experts in their delivery of the material, but more importantly, in just four weeks they are able to mold you into the teacher you hoped you would be.

The course was small and the trainers were able to provide a personalized approach and take the time to meet one on one with the students and address all types of concerns - both professional and personal ones.

Practice teaching was a great experience as there are small group classes that you get to teacher while one of the trainers, either Stephen or Kerry, observes and steps in if necessary. Leading up to the class, you are taken through every step of the planning to make the lesson as successful as possible. You are then provided with immediate feedback following the class and it is always constructive and useful, giving you a goal for the next time you teach.

I taught in the U.S. for more than ten years and came into the TEFL course thinking I could just breeze through it - that wasn't the case. I say that so potential students are aware that you have to work really hard, but if you're willing to do so and want to learn from the best, then International TEFL Academy is the choice for you.

Just over a year ago, I decided to teach English in Spain. Madrid, to be exact. Since that decision was made, life has been a whirlwind filled with exciting possibilities. I was sitting at my computer at work when I made the decision. I couldn't help but feel that there must be more out there for me, and that it was time for a change; a push outside of my comfort zone. It was then that I found the International TEFL Academy through a quick Google search, and submitted a contact form. Within an hour, I received a call from one of the Academy's Admission Advisers to talk about the TEFL certification programs that they offer. At this moment, my transition to English teacher and the most rewarding opportunity of my life began. Every one of the company's Adviser's have taught English abroad before, so they have first-hand experience to answer questions, eliminate doubt and fears, and to walk you through the process of enrolling in the course, all the way to resume assistance, and a plethora resources to actually finding a job in the country of your choice. I opted for the online course (there are also programs in a classroom setting), and it was PERFECT for me since I was currently working. I could complete the assignments and participate in class discussions at a time that was right for me, and the instructor was great; extremely responsive, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. Upon completing the course, the Job Search Guidance team provided some excellent feedback on my resume to make me more marketable abroad, and they were readily available to answer any fears or questions that I had in the months and days prior to boarding a plane to the most amazing experience of my life. I am still in Spain, and still turn to the resources and information gained from the TEFL course, and on top of that, I have been able to make friends with others in my shoes through the Academy's Spain Facebook page! I highly recommend teaching English abroad to anyone considering it, and highly recommend working with the International TEFL Academy!

On January first 2014 I made the decision to get my TEFL course and started doing research. As you all know the internet can be quite overwhelming. Then I ran into the website of International TEFL Academy and found their website really helpful and answered all my initial questions. I decided to request a free digital brochure and leave my details. Within an hour I received a phone call from a helpful man and he took away all doubts I had and answered all my questions adequately. I did some further research but in the back of my head I had already decided that I wanted to do my TEFL course with them.

The course outline is easy to follow and our instructor gave us regular updates and feedback. There are instruction videos to help you find your way around and the staff is always available and responds super fast. Every week we had a deadline for a module and had to upload this into moodle. We also had to respond to a question from our instructor and respond to a comment of one of our classmates.

The coursework wasn't particularly difficult but it was a lot of reading and writing. It took me about 1 to 2 hours per day during the whole course. The practicum part of the course consists of 20 hours either observing, tutoring or teaching. I choose tutoring a girl from Armenia who wanted to improve her English and prepare herself for university.

Now several months later I find myself in Hanoi, Vietnam and found a job, all thanks to International TEFL Academy!

I decided to do the in-person TEFL/TESOL certification course with International TEFL Academy back in May. I had just finished my Master's degree and realized that I want to travel and see the world, that my degree in music and philosophy made that more than possible, and that I wanted to do the best that I could do when I was abroad teaching.

After weeks of research I e-mailed my TEFL advisor, Ian Davis, and began the process of applying to the program.

The timing couldn't have been better, I have never been more prepared mentally for a course of this nature: it was intense. To keep on track of everything I had to be extremely well organized and committed to the course! I had to keep reminding myself that if I really nailed this course, got the knowledge they were throwing at me planted into my skull, I could leave the country to teach somewhere and simultaneously enjoy the culture! Sure, you can get an easier TEFL certification elsewhere. And sure, you don't need to have any certification in some countries. But, by going through ITA's in person course I have gained the skills to teach, the comfort in front of a classroom, and the resources to feel prepared to teach abroad. This preparation means that, when I'm running around in Asia, South America, Europe, or wherever it is that I wind up, I will be able to go out and see the culture! I'll be able to meet up with new friends on weeknights and weekends, because I now have the skills to create effective lesson plans. I now have the skills to lead a classroom. I can now manage my time well enough to plan ahead for the week and be comfortable knowing that things will go well.

Obviously things won't be easy when I go abroad. But this in-depth, difficult, and enlightening course has definitely put me in a better place professionally and personally for when I go abroad!

Bottom Line:

Start to finish, ITA provided me with the necessary support- from personal guidance to developing skills needed to teach in an ESL setting, to qualify me for and land a job teaching abroad.

Choosing ITA and Getting Certified:

Objective:

I returned to University for my last semester in January 2014 determined to graduate, earn a TEFL certification and depart the USA in August 2014-I can honestly say that the ITA helped with every crucial step along the way to making my dream a reality.

Choosing a Course:

My main objective was to seek out all TEFL certification programs that were accredited and would be valid in applying to jobs in the regions I aimed to teach. After doing online research and asking various institutes questions regarding cost, course components and training location opportunities, I confidently chose an online course with ITA.

I was assigned an admission advisor who was key in helping me make my certification program decision. He was SO helpful in talking on the phone with me several times to review the process of earning a TEFL certification with ITA, the timeline of the process and talking honestly about the job placement process in regions I was initially interested in teaching. After learning about the alumni resources made available to students that are geared towards job placement and general support in the transition abroad, I decided an online course with ITA was the best fit for me as it allowed me to concurrently finish my undergraduate degree and work towards my desired summer departure by having a solid 3 months to apply for jobs post-certification and pre-departure.

Actual Course Experience:

This course was actually my first experience with distance learning. I was a bit ambivalent to choose an online certification route, but considering my timeline, it seemed to be the most logical path. I was wildly impressed by the technological infrastructure of the ITA online learning forum that provided all essential resources (ie: contact with professor and peers; extra course materials; links to videos and additional resources to complete assignments) to create an experience conducive to effective learning.

The Institute also provided students with the opportunity to participate in “live” virtual discussions regarding different aspects of the job search process in various regions. This was a really helpful extension of the actual certification course, as I was able to get a sense of how to approach my next step in moving abroad- landing a job, while getting certified.

There were a plethora of support videos demonstrating how to navigate the online forum and complete and upload assignments. Weekly lectures with the option to participate and chat live with our professor were made available on the course page to refer back to while completing weekly tasks. I felt like there was regular interaction with our professor and other peers that simulated a “real” classroom experience as opposed to a mediated and distant learning experience. My professor was always responsive to questions regarding assignment related questions or those focused on a specific teaching tactic in a lesson.

After completing the online portion of the course, which encompassed a variety of tasks and assignments necessary to gaining a good teaching skill-set, my skills were put to the test in the practicum portion of the course. I felt that this was a unique and valuable aspect of the certification process as it provided the opportunity to put concepts learned online into action in a real world setting similar to what I’d experience abroad.

Getting Here (Santiago, Chile!)

Words cannot describe how thrilled I was to complete my course and head out of the USA on schedule with my desired departure date. I landed my teaching job prior to arriving in Santiago by applying to schools and institutes suggested by the ITA in a job search manual. Most of all, I was so relieved to find that all the skills I learned in my course were really practical and actually prepared me to be a successful teacher!

This experience has been exponentially personally and professionally fulfilling, even just on the sheer basis that I was able to successfully set a goal and then obtain the proper certification to qualify me for and land an actual job. In all honesty, I wanted to move abroad post-University graduation to avoid the “real world”. In reality, however, I have gained more real world knowledge about being successfully personally and professionally independent while gaining experience in the education industry, than I would have by staying in the States. I am SO happy with where I am in the world in both my personal life and career, I feel as though I owe much of that to ITA-thanks for everything, I give you my highest recommendation!

I didn't realize how valuable the TEFL certification from the Chicago TEFL Academy was until I got overseas and presented it to my boss! She was ecstatic, and said to me immediately, "this definitely increases your professionalism at our school." The program didn't pay for itself until that moment overseas; up until then, I had the same concerns everyone else has: Will I get a job? Where will it be? Can I trust this academy in finding something right for me? I am completely confident with the online program and the academy, and I strongly recommend it to any person considering teaching overseas as it will open the door to you for many opportunities worldwide.

The program itself is challenging because it requires a lot of commitment and time management in completing the readings, tasks, and coursework. I found myself logging on to the course website nearly every day, whether it was to complete an assignment, check for a grade or for feedback from my professor, or just to start an online chat with other students enrolled in the same program. The course itself is very structured, which is great, because from the beginning, I knew exactly when things were to be completed and how much time I would have to complete them. All I had to do was pace myself pretty regularly to ensure that everything was completed on time and I was well prepared for the assignments due each week. Time management can be difficult for some, but with this program, things are laid out for students to see.

I also want to evaluate my course instructor and the staff at the TEFL academy because their support and willingness to help was far better than any college professor I had. I am one to ask many questions, and I did this a lot through the program. Call me an over achiever, but I made sure that if I was confused about something, I sent my instructor an email for clarification. That's what they're there for, right? Once I initiated contact with her the second week, we never seemed to end the conversation. We just kept emailing back and forth about readings and assignments as the questions kept popping up. Also, the staff at the academy is rich with knowledge and experience, and I made sure to take advantage of the opportunity to ask even more questions. I would call about job openings in various countries, ask detailed information about schools in certain countries, and just continually ask for support and guidance about the decision of moving overseas. I am a firm believer that if someone is there to help, ask for help! With this program, you will have an instructor and staff who care about your success and commit to helping you find the perfect job overseas.

Overall, I am very thankful for the TEFL academy! I was able to complete my certification and find a job overseas in four months. Of course, my experience was expedited as I wanted to start working immediately, but it can happen for you! I would strongly recommend giving them a call to see what they can do for you.

As a veteran teacher with a university background in Secondary English Education and 6 years experience, I must say that this program is absolutely worthwhile. Not only is Leon (the host city) a beautiful and excellently placed tourist gem, but the classes are designed to give you the skills you need to find a job and excel in your profession.

The classes run Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm, with two hours of teaching practicum in the evenings each week. The homework can be rather demanding, but if you're able to manage your time well, you will be able to fit beach excursions and volcano boarding into your weekend schedule.

The directors of the school are two of the most dedicated and passionate people I've ever met. From an administrative standpoint, the directors went far above the standard of assistance. They made themselves available during class hours, every afternoon, and every weekend so that we could ask questions about the course load, finding work in Nicaragua/Central America, and logistics for adapting and living in a new country. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and their knowledge about the teaching profession was reassuring.

The main instructor for the course was probably the best teacher trainer I've ever had the pleasure of working with. I'm grateful that I had an educational background beforehand, but it was not necessary to doing well in the course. Between the course book given and the instructor's knowledge and experience, even students who were completely new to education and teaching were able to keep up with the material. As someone with lots of experience, I found the course empowering and invigorating- every day we learned and discussed new methodologies and practices for advancing our students' language abilities. Aside from the certification I received, I am so grateful I took the course because I learned a lot and re-ignited my passion for teaching.

I would absolutely recommend this course to anyone interested in teaching abroad. The course content is absolutely meaningful and applicable to real teaching situations. The instructors and mentors are knowledgeable in their field and passionate about sharing that knowledge with new teachers. The administration's sole interest is giving practical advice to newly arrived students and hopeful future educators. If you're looking to teach abroad, this is the way to go.

I completed the TEFL course at the International TEFL Academy in Nicaragua in October 2014. It was definitely one of the most challenging things I have done in my life thus far. If it wasn't for the kindness and support I received from the staff there, the experience wouldn't of been as enjoyable as it was. Heather Smith was one of the best teachers I have ever had, she helped me every step of the way until I was confident in what I was producing. Her husband Jon Smith does a wonderful job of working behind the scenes to ensure that everybody and everything is where it should be. The guest speakers we had the pleasure of meeting and the activities the team implemented were very beneficial to my experience. The staff and the program exceeded my expectations on a daily basis and still continue to do. I would recommend taking the TEFL certification course at the ITA in Nicaragua to anyone who is looking to learn, travel and maybe even discover things about yourself that you might not know.

Understatement: TEFL changed my life. Becoming TEFL-certified not only opened the door to travel and live abroad, but also allowed me to be a stand-out candidate to countless employers. Upon arriving to Santiago, Chile, I had three interviews lined up. A week later I had three job offers on the table and I accredit much of that to the International TEFL Academy, where I took my 4-week in-class certification.

The International TEFL Academy prepared me by teaching the fundamentals of the English language and then showing me how to apply them in a classroom setting. Easily the most valuable experience came from the practicum in which we had the opportunity to teach ESL students at varied levels. You can read about something a million times over, but the true solidification of the knowledge comes from experience itself. TEFL provided the ground-work information as well as the perfect environment to put it to use; not to mention they gave constructive feedback after each class.

Our instructors were incredibly qualified and truly had our best interest and success at heart. The advisors were constantly eager to help us narrow down our destination and start our networking with possible schools and employers.

For anyone even remotely considering becoming certified and taking the plunge to move abroad, I cannot urge you enough. Teaching is rewarding, living in another country is culturally eye-opening, and traveling to new destinations in your spare time is just an incredible bonus. International TEFL Academy is a great and accredited institute to begin this new adventure.