Teach Away

Program Reviews

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Shilpa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Well-Structured Course

I started the course in 2013, but needed extra time to finish this course. I took the 100 hour course, and the university were flexible enough to award me 2 extensions.

The course was extremely well structured, and the units were well presented and detailed. The reflection journals were especially helpful as they covered all aspects of the unit we studied. Sometimes I felt the assessment was too easy, but it was definitely for the most part, challenging.

What would you improve about this program?
I would ideally like that for the 100 hour courses, there be an option (for an extra fee) to be able to continue and choose a specialization. This option, which is available only to the 120 & 150 hour courses is included after you complete your basic certificate. If this was extended and given as an extra payable option, it would prove very useful.
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Carisa
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Quick Responses but No Help with Job Placement

The overall experience of completing the 150-hour TEFL course was good. Each time I e-mailed a member of the TEFL team, I received a response within 24 hours. The content was extremely helpful and useful for teaching ELL students. However, upon completion of the course there was no assistance with job placement.

What would you improve about this program?
Some of the attached videos would not play depending on the computer I was using. Once I was informed about how to bypass the videos, everything else flowed smoothly.
I would definitely have liked some assistance with job placement. Simply telling me that I should apply anywhere I was interested in working was not at all helpful.
Response from Teach Away

Hi Carisa, Congratulations on completing our TEFL Online program! We are delighted to hear you enjoyed the course, and received responses to your questions and technical inquires in a timely manner. Our course if offered in combination with Teach Away, and all graduates are encouraged to set-up a teacher profile on the Teach Away website to browse and apply for jobs that fit their qualifications and experience. Although placement through Teach Away is not guaranteed for graduates of TEFL Online, if you have questions regarding Teach Away job placement as a TEFL graduate we would be happy to receive them at teflonline@teachaway.com or by telephone at 1-855-833-5665

Default avatar
Philip
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Enjoyable

I found the course to be enjoyable and very informative.

I found the degree of difficulty to be appropriate and any concerns / questions I had were promptly dealt with by the course co-ordinator.

I am very happy I undertook the course with the University of Toronto and am most happy to recommend it to anyone considering TEFL as a vocation.

Many thanks to the University.

Philip Dean
(Australia)

What would you improve about this program?
No program is perfect. I don't think I would change anything.
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Meera
3/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Staff Support; Placement

The staff were fantastic resolving minor issues like inability to access documents but also with providing extension on the time frame for completion when I couldn't finish the course due to unforeseen family events.

I haven't tried any foreign placement so am unable to comment on that.

What would you improve about this program?
Repetition of some aspects of the course course in the specialisations.
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Judy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great course

Very interesting course. The content was appropriate and can be used.
The instructors were interesting and added variety. I am sorry it is over and may take additional courses in the future if time allows.

What would you improve about this program?
There were occasional technology glitches either from my computer or the program. When they initially happened, I was looking for contact information and it was difficult to locate. I made some expensive phone calls internationally before I was able to reach the correct source to address my questions.
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Sarah
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

As Expected

I took the 120-hour TEFL course in preparation for my time overseas and was working a more than full-time job at the same time. I found the core material was generally challenging. The printable activities were helpful and the handouts made for good examples. I found the videos to be beneficial depending on the speaker, though some were not as engaging as I had hoped. The course was usually pretty self explanatory and could be somewhat redundant in format - something others may prefer more than me.

What would you improve about this program?
If there had been a book along with the course, it would have been easier to follow along. I found the tests were often too easy and not necessarily helping me to retain the information. Overall it was a decent course for online, though having more engagement with a staff member (grading assessments, commenting on journals, etc) would have made this course stronger in critical thinking. I think the various sections are lacking in consistency of difficulty as different individuals present each one - this could be streamlined. The only practical piece of my experience was my own time volunteering in an ESL classroom to SEE the material in action. If their were more video examples of the strategies and tools, that would be helpful. Overall it was a decent course.
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Marc
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Totally worth it

This course has given me much more confidence into being a teacher than other certification centers. Language schools recognize this program and the material learned in new teachers. They give you so much information that at time it's overwhelming but good to have in order to go back to it later on.

What would you improve about this program?
Some slides are glitched and need to be fixed. The technical staff took its time on telling me how to fix it myself and when done so they were kind of rude about it. As if it's my fault the slide glitches and I don't know how to fix it myself.
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Kevin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

120 hour TEFL course

This was a really useful study programme, that allows you to complete the course at your own pace. The programme content is both relevant and interesting.
A couple of minor technical issues were resolved within 24 hours allowing me to continue the course after using the online contact facility.
I am already teaching abroad, but felt this course was really helpful in reinforcing what I needed to know.
Big thank you to the course team.
Kevin Robinson

What would you improve about this program?
Sometimes the video input did not work on my macbook, no great problem as the content was included within the course notes.
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Philip
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Most impressed

I am a vastly experienced TEFL teacher with two Master degrees including one in Education. I undertook this course in order to fulfil an administrative prerequisite. Before the course, I thought the course would be both a stroll in the park if rather boring. I was completely wrong on both counts! Not only was the course challenging and thought-provoking, but it proved a reinvigorating process that has taught me so much. Most impressed.

May I take a respectful bow towards the University of Toronto. Thank you.

What would you improve about this program?
There were some minor computer glitches and explanatory inadequacies.
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Linda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Completely Satisfied.

Let me start off and explain why a 1 was given on the job placement question. My motivation for taking this course was not to teach abroad, possibly in the future, but to further my current career. I can not rate something that I have not utilized.

I loved how this course allowed me to work at my own pace and I never felt time pressured. It is easy to navigate around the lessons.

I had some technical issues a couple of times but the support was right on top of it.

Overall I more than satisfied with my choice to take this specific TEFL course over the local college course. I am quite confident this course has given me the tools to succeed.

What would you improve about this program?
It seems that information from early lessons just got rehashed in later lessons or in the specialization courses. When that information came about there were times that I thought 'we have already been through this'. I can understand why this is done, to reiterate tools and strategies, so that you can be comfortable with the information and to refresh memories. I understand it but I still think it can be a waste of time, energy, and funds to go through something twice. This is by no means a negative as I really did enjoy this course and would do it all over again as it stands.