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This is how our TEFL graduates feel they have gained from their course, and how they plan to put into action what they learned:
Online TEFL courses vs onsite TEFL coursesOnline TEFL courses offer several advantages. For countries that do not have high requirements for their teachers than an online TEFL certificate could be the ticket to getting in and finding work. Online TEFL courses can also be significantly less expensive than their on site counterparts. It would also be useful for someone that was just looking for a way to teach on a short term basis but wanted to improve their teaching ability. Since an online course does not require a high financial commitment it is a helpful option for those that would like to explore the idea of teaching without going so far as to take an onsite course or invest the time that would be required to do authentic practice teaching.
One of the biggest drawbacks for an online TEFL course is that the student does not take part in any kind of guided teaching practice. This does not mean that someone taking a TEFL course cannot volunteer somewhere to get teaching experience, but since it is generally not integrated into the class some companies may prefer someone that has taken an onsite TEFL course.
The downside to an onsite TEFL course is that it is far less flexible. Someone working in an area where no onsite TEFL course is offered might have to spend a lot of money in travel expenses to attend a course. Even if someone lived near the place where a TEFL course is offered if they have a job or family that demands their attention then it is much more difficult for them to add one more thing to their life. An online course can be completed at the pace of the student and does not depend any kind of physical location. The flexible nature of an online TEFL course along with the lower cost can make it ideal for a teacher that has internet access and wants to improve their teaching qualifications. Since many online courses lack any kind of teaching practicum supplementing a teaching job with an online course is a great for self improvement.
Onsite courses are beneficial for people that are new to english teaching. In addition to the hands on experience the students will get they also have the chance to make friends and network. There is more to gain from taking a TEFL course than just gaining information. Making connections can be useful in finding future work or learning from the experiences of those taking the class with you. In an online course student interaction may be low or not a part of the course at all.
Many programs integrate the process of getting a certificate and finding work. This option could lower the cost of getting onsite training for a TEFL certificate, but also demands a higher level of commitment. If someone knows where they want to teach english then there may be a chance to work and get TEFL training at the same time. In this ways students would get hands on teaching experience as well as experience working in a new culture. They would also have the advantage of working alongside other teachers. Being able to easily communicate with other teachers that would understand their specific needs would be a useful advantage to onsite training. In an online course it may take one or two days to get a response and even then the person responding is distant. They may not be able to understand quite as well as an instructor that is onsite and has been working with the student on a day to day basis.
