What to look for in a TESOL/TEFL Course – Debunking TEFL/TESOL Myths

TL;DR

When it comes to becoming qualified as an English teacher, you should always ensure that you set your application up in the most accurate and convenient way possible. When it comes to documentation, there are specific items that employers and immigration offices ask for upfront. It is in your best interest to get these accurately prepared so that you can legally and conveniently work in your specific destination by acquiring a work visa. 

Apart from your passport (confirming your nationality and age), tertiary education qualification, criminal background check, and medical proofs, there is one other document which schools, language centres and immigration offices require – an internationally accredited TEFL/TESOL course. Having a valid qualification will ensure that (1) schools trust that you are well prepared to take over the reins of a new class and (2) immigration offices are happy to issue you an employment visa.

There are a few myths that many people believe to be true when it comes to TEFL/TESOL courses in general. While these myths may be true for some courses, let’s debunk some of them while referencing the full accredited Dux 120-Hour Online TEFL/TESOL course:

Myth 1: You do not need to complete an internationally accredited course to get a work visa

We at Dux urge you to seek proof that your TEFL/TESOL provider has valid international accreditation as this is essential in obtaining a work visa or for landing most online teaching jobs. If the accrediting body isn’t recognised by immigration departments, the applicant’s visa will be denied. The accrediting body needs to be an official and internationally recognised accrediting body such as Accreditat (The accrediting body for the Dux TEFL/TESOL course). 

International accreditation is crucial as it shows that the product you are purchasing was held up to a strict set of standards before being issued to the public. For example, think of someone writing their Ph.D. thesis at university. Completing their thesis would require their research to undergo frequent and strict scrutiny from their supervisor and external moderators. Otherwise, anyone could give themselves a Ph.D.! 

On top of this, we also urge you to check out the legitimacy and track record of the accreditor themselves. Unfortunately, there are accreditors who do not have the highest standards or requirements for the courses that they have accredited. Would you feel comfortable paying for a course which has not been reviewed by an expert who is known in the industry? Chances are not! 

At Dux, we’ve got you covered. We are fortunate to work alongside the international accreditor Accreditat (UK) who place a significant emphasis on high-quality and relevant TEFL/TESOL content. You can find out more about Accreditat over here.

Send us a message anytime and we’ll happily give your more information on our Internationally Accredited 120-Hour Online TEFL/TESOL Course. Find out more about our course over here.

Myth 2: You need a course that has in-person training or a tutor who grades your work

The fact of the matter is, no. To obtain a work visa, your TEFL/TESOL course does not need to have a practical teaching element. Unfortunately, many teachers pay for expensive and time-consuming TEFL/TESOL courses with a practical in-person teaching element that has no effect on their job opportunities or immigration requirements. The Dux TEFL/TESOL course does not contain a practical teaching element and the entire course is done online from a computer or mobile phone. This saves you time and money!

For many TEFL/TESOL students, waiting for tasks to be graded delays their course progression and they do not finish their course at the speed which they desire. Many students also have their assignments failed for trivial reasons leaving them extremely frustrated. Imagine that you were offered a job starting a month from now but were unable to get the visa on time as the tutor did not grant you a pass on your assignment.

With the Dux TEFL/TESOL course, we aim for your convenience. This is why the Dux course only makes use of automated multiple-choice questions. This means that you will not need to wait for a tutor to mark your work and you can progress to new chapters immediately after the previous chapter conclusion. You can then complete all readings, assessments, and your final exam within 1-3 weeks and even do so from your mobile phone! The time frame comes down to how many hours you dedicate to your learning. Upon course completion, you will still have 6 months access to the course materials if you’d like to refresh your memory before an interview with a school, or if you’d like some guidance on classroom management strategies, lesson planning, etc. 

The automation of our TEFL/TESOL course allows you to finish the course swiftly while still gaining insight into valuable and practical teaching practices.

Myth 3: Teaching courses are generally impractical for the modern-day classroom

Here at Dux, we do our best to keep things modern and up to date within our course. Long gone are the times where large amounts of poetic text make for an attractive course but fail to provide the student with any real and practical advice for the modern-day classroom. Our course will ensure that you stay safe in this regard, whether you choose to implement exact lesson structures from the curriculum or choose to simply implement aspects that suit your personal style of teaching. We acknowledge that teaching is a creative process for teachers so they should not be held down to a long list of shoulds and should-nots.

The Dux course incorporates practical and everyday questions and situations, which make for easy reference for you when completing the course.

We trust that the above information has been of utmost help to you on your quest to find the perfect TEFL/TESOL qualification for you. Feel free to send us a message anytime at tefl@duxrec.com and we will happily assist you with any questions you may have!