Do you have to do a CELTA TEFL course to teach in Europe?

Question

I want to do a TEFL course that I can use in Spain. Does it have to be a CELTA course? I've seen a 4 week full time course for 950GBP. I was hoping a standard TEFL certificate would be ok?

Answer 1

This TEFL sector is becoming more and more tightly regualted. You reaslly do need the CELTA or its equivalent to gain employment in reputable schools. The average is 160 hours of tuition and at least 6 hours of observed classroom practice.

The only people who may get away with having one of the inferior certificates is someone who already has a non-TEFL teaching qualification (such as a primary or secondary school teacher).

Proven teaching ability (either through work experience or through the teaching practice component of a CELTA-type course) will be valued ahead of paper accreditiation.

Schools that do take on unqualified or underqualified staff tend to pay badly and treat their staff (and students) poorly.