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How to get a TEFL job as a non-native?
Get TEFL qualified
The minimum TEFL training employers seek is usually 120 hours. Become a specialist English teacher with Premier TEFL’s Expert TEFL Course giving you 240 hours of tuition.
Finish your Bachelor’s degree
Having a degree as a non-native English speaker boosts your employment chances.
and especially teaching to young learners. The closer you can get to what you will want to do online or abroad, the better. Relevant teaching experience gives you credibility for future employers. They’re taking less of a risk when hiring someone with experience, if you can get experience locally or volunteer that’s great.
TEFL recruiters are inundated with resumes and CV’s daily. The world of TEFL never stops recruiting; as a contract-based industry schools always needs to hire ahead. Make sure your resume is relevant for teaching and if you have no experience make sure you highlight all your transferable soft-skills that you’ll use as a teacher.
Need help with your resume? Reach out for FREE resume tips and advice!
You did all the previous steps and are ready to apply, bravo! Look for internships and jobs that accept non-native applicants to improve your chances of success. We made a unique list of companies currently hiring non-native speakers!
TEFL FAQs
How do I get TEFL certified?
To get TEFL qualified you first need to select the best TEFL course to suit you and enroll.
Successfully passing each module of your course will lead you to a well-earned TEFL certification.
Payment for your selected course is handled securely and safely through Stripe or PayPal; we do not hold any of your financial details.
What is included in the course?
Your TEFL course with Premier TEFL includes a range of materials and personal support, including:
Flexibility and full control over your study pace
Course materials delivered online using latest e-learning technology
Reflective tasks, activities and videos that make learning enjoyable
Grammar Guide eBook
Lesson Planning Guide eBook
Six month study period with 24/7 access
TEFL certificate recognized worldwide
Support throughout from an academic tutor
Instant test results – gets you qualified quicker
What level of English do I need to take a TEFL course?
You need a fluent command of the English language to study any Premier TEFL course.
If you are a non-native English speaker, and can competently understand English, then our courses are suitable. TEFL teachers are expected to have a B2 standard or higher.
If you’re not sure of your level, check with the free online Cambridge assessment test.
What education level is required to become a TEFL teacher?
To get hired in the TEFL industry you’ll be required to be aged 18 with a high school diploma (Leaving Certificate / A-levels / Matric or equivalent) at minimum.
Some employers have a preference to hire degree qualified candidates. In certain countries, a degree (in any discipline) is required as part of the visa application. Put simply, budding English teachers who hold a degree will have more TEFL opportunities.
What do I need to be eligible for a TEFL course?
To complete a TEFL course all you need is a fluent standard of English (B2 or above), a stable internet connection and some self-study motivation!
I want to teach English online, which course should I choose?
To get hired as an online English teacher, companies will require you to have completed a comprehensive TEFL course. Typically this means a minimum of 120 training hours.
Recommended courses
120 hour Advanced TEFL Course (fast track certification)
168 hour Level 5 Ofqual-regulated TEFL Course
Traditional TEFL training courses focus on preparing you to teach in a physical classroom. This gives you the flexibility to start out teaching online but also provides you with the skills base to manage an in-person class too.
To better understand the differences for teaching digitally compared to in the classroom, take a bolt-on teaching English online preparation module alongside your core teacher training.
There are many hundreds of online teaching platforms to choose from; and active Facebook groups to join for hints, tips and impartial employer reviews.
Are Premier TEFL courses accredited?
All Premier TEFL courses are fully accredited by ACDL (Accreditation Council for Distance Learning) and written by English teaching professionals.
Premier TEFL is also an approved training center with TQUK (Training Qualifications UK), an Ofqual-regulated Awarding Organization.
Read more about Premier TEFL awards and verification here, plus see why 91% of customers recommend Premier TEFL.
How long do I have to study the course?
You have a six month study period to complete your TEFL course, from the date of enrollment.
As a guideline, the 120 hour Advanced TEFL Course takes 6 – 8 weeks to complete typically while the 168 hour Level 5 TEFL Course takes 10 – 12 weeks. You’ll have more than enough study time over six months to complete any Premier TEFL course.
If you require more time you can purchase course extensions for a small charge with options ranging from seven days to lifetime access.
On a tight budget? Contact our team to see how we can help.
What if I have any questions during my course?
If you need any help with your course our Academic Tutor is available to answer all your questions.
You’ll be assigned a tutor when you enroll on your chosen course and receive a welcome email from them.
Can I purchase a course now but start at a later date?
Yes absolutely, we are happy to pause your course access until you are ready to begin.
Why should I choose Premier TEFL, there are so many TEFL training options?
Good question! And we ask every new customer this during their welcome call to see what their reason was…34% say our 4.6-star reviews, 25% say our price, 25% say they loved our courses best and 13% say they thought we had the best customer service.
On top of that, we reckon our 14-day money back guarantee, lifetime study access option and government regulated training are great reasons too!
When you take all this into account, it’s easy to see why over 91% of our customers recommend us.
Can I take a TEFL course as a non-native English speaker?
Yes, you can take a TEFL course as a non-native English speaker. As long as your written and spoken English is at a B2 level or higher a TEFL course will be doable for you.
I did a TEFL course a long time ago, do I need to do another?
The short answer is no. However, if you gained your TEFL qualification a few years ago you may want to take a new TEFL course to refresh your training.
For example, taking a specialist TEFL course, such as Teaching Business English, will add to any previous training you have completed.
The TEFL job market is very competitive, so having specialist TEFL qualifications gives you a stronger TEFL resumé and shows professional development since the date of taking your original certification.
Does my TEFL certification expire?
No, your TEFL certification does not expire. It’s a lifetime qualification. Great news, right!?
However, if you gained your TEFL qualification a few years ago you may want to take a new TEFL course to refresh your training.
I have a teaching qualification, is a TEFL course necessary?
If your teaching qualification (such as a degree) is in English teaching then TEFL is not necessary.
If your teaching qualification is not specific to teaching English, or teaching through language submersion then taking a TEFL course is the perfect add-on to your resumé.
Is TEFL expensive?
When it comes to gaining your qualification to teach English you can be savvy on saving money!
Online TEFL courses are the most affordable option when it comes to gaining that sacred TEFL qualification.
Classroom TEFL training and CELTA courses are significantly more expensive, but may be the best fit for you.
Since TEFL is a lifetime qualification it is definitely a worthy investment and within your first few paychecks you’ll make back your investment!
Still unsure? Let’s look at which TEFL course is right for you.
Can I teach English as a non-native English speaker?
Yes, you can teach English as a fluent non-native English speaker!
TEFL teachers are expected to have a high fluency in spoken English and strong written English. Many schools and companies ask for a B2 level and higher when advertising TEFL jobs. Taking an IELTS or a TOEIC exam will be useful for non-native speakers when applying for TEFL jobs.
How much does a TEFL teacher earn?
TEFL teacher salaries depend on the country you take up a teaching position with. The highest paid salaries are typically in the Middle East where salaries reach a whopping US$3,000-$4,000 per month (often tax free).
Asia comes a close second with salaries in Japan around US$2,500 per month, South Korea pays a handsome US$1,500 and includes rent-free housing.
In Europe TEFL teachers can expect to earn US$1,250 – $2,000. Latin America and Africa will pay less, but with lower costs of living you will enjoy a comfortable life.
Also, you can teach online as well, choose the teaching style that suits you best and even set your own rates and hours!
Do I get a certificate?
Yes! Premier TEFL courses follow the same certification process except for the 168 hour Level 5 Ofqual regulated TEFL Course. Since this is a (UK) government regulated certificate, issued directly by TQUK, there are some extra steps that must take place.
168 hour Level 5 Ofqual regulated TEFL Course
On completion of your 168 hour course, you will be issued with a PDF coursework completion certificate within your dashboard.
Next, your 11 assessments will be reviewed by our internal quality assessor (IQA). When undertaking a level 5 course, it is important to understand that you may be asked to re-attempt some questions to demonstrate to the assessor that you have fully understood the learning objective.
Where necessary, the IQA will contact you with details of the assessment questions they wish you to re-attempt. After your satisfactory re-submission of this work, your certificate may be requested from TQUK.
All TQUK issued certificates are sent to Premier TEFL’s Irish Headquarters where they are then sent by registered post to the learner.
The processing time for these steps is around 8 – 12 weeks.
All Other Premier TEFL Courses
Once you have completed your course, and achieved 80% or above in your end of module knowledge tests, you will receive a digital PDF certificate instantly which you can email to prospective employers.
In addition to the digital copy, you can order a hard copy certificate from within your learning portal. Printed on embossed certificate card, your Premier TEFL certificate will be mailed on Mondays from our Irish Headquarters.
If your certificate is sent by Standard Post, delivery estimates are – Ireland and UK within one week, Europe up to three weeks & Rest of World up to four weeks. Fees range from $25 to $90 depending on your worldwide location and the type of postal service you require.
What if my employer wants to verify my certificate?
First of all, congratulations on your TEFL job offer! Kudos… we’re excited you’ve landed a new teaching job.
In many countries, employers will be required (or have a preference) to receive official verification that your teacher training certificate is authentic. Don’t worry, it’s a good thing that they want to make sure you’re a genuine applicant with all of the correct paperwork.
Now it’s simpler and quicker than ever to complete TEFL certificate verification. Your future employer can check the genuine status of your Premier TEFL qualification by visiting our certificate verification page and entering the unique certificate identifier that’s printed underneath the date of issue on your award.
This service is available for all Premier TEFL certificates issued from 25 March 2019. For certificates awarded prior to this date, employers and TEFL job recruiters can email us at info@premiertefl.com for prompt manual confirmation.