Once I decided South Korea was where I wanted to be and saw what the requirements were to teach over there, I started searching for where I can do my TEFL certification.
While searching for TEFL certification programs, I came across a wide variety of different programs. There were some programs that were 5 hours long but promised to meet TEFL certification requirements, some that were super cheap (like $99) and some that were not so cheap. I ultimately decided to sign up through International TEFL Academy (ITA). I had a friend that taught in South Korea a few years ago that received her TEFL certificate through ITA so she recommended them to me. While they were not the cheapest, I wanted to ensure that the program I signed up with was accredited, reputable and legitimate. This article on their website sums up why I decided to spend a little more to have a bit more peace of mind that I had a good TEFL education. I cannot recommend ITA enough–they were worth every penny and I loved my experience with them.
From the moment I first inquired, the ITA representatives were speedy and thorough with communication. I never really felt confused about what to do or like I didn’t know what was happening next. I signed up for the 11 week online course, which was taught by a university-level professor who was very helpful and quickly responsive to any questions I had. Come to think of it, all of their courses are taught by university level professors. By the end of the course, I had 150 hours of coursework and the minimum 20 hours of practicum completed.
The thing I liked most about ITA were the amount of resources available. I sat in a couple of webinars dedicated to teaching to in South Korea and Japan. In those webinars, they highlighted the requirements, the difference between teaching in a hagwon and a public school, and the process of applying for hagwons and public schools. They have advisors on hand where you can set up Skype calls to get advice on the hiring process and honestly, anything else TEFL or teaching abroad-related. Another service they offer is reviewing your resume so the resume is all ready to go when you’re ready to start applying for jobs. They also do contract reviews, which came in really handy when I was ready to sign the contract for my job. These resources are just a tip of the iceberg!
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