TESL Frequently Asked Questions

TESL is Teaching English as a Second Language and TEFL is Teaching English as a Foreign Language. According to some, EFL is a British term and ESL is an American term. Apart from that, the difference is made between teaching English to non-native speakers in a non-English speaking country (EFL) and teaching English to non-native speakers in an English-speaking country (ESL), but this distinction is not consistent. Some British teachers use EFL (TEFL) as a comprehensive term whereas many American teachers use ESL (TESL) as a comprehensive term. The same applies to TEFL and TESL.

What does this certificate mean?

The Tennessee Foreign Language Institute TESL Certificate Program is designed for people who want to teach ESL overseas or in North America. Employers know that teachers with a TESL certificate are prepared and qualified to teach ESL classes. The program provides you with the knowledge and skills to help you get a job and to step into an exciting new teaching and living situation with confidence. Upon completing a Tennessee Foreign Language Institute TESL Certificate Program, you will be familiar with various methodologies of teaching English and have a variety of teaching techniques and activities at your fingertips, ready to put to use in the classroom. You will have teaching experience with peers and with non-native speakers of English. Prepared with information about the job market, you will know how to find the job you want, will have the skills you need to do the job well and the certificate to prove it. Whether you teach overseas or locally, prospective employers are looking for trained graduates. A TESL certificate is a strong addition to any resume and will open up job opportunities locally and all over the world!

Does this certificate substitute for the state teaching certification or the ESL endorsement for public schools?

If you are interested in pursuing a career teaching at a public school, you should enroll in a degree-granting university program to receive your state teaching license and/or ESL endorsement.

How long is the course?

The course will take about four months to complete of which five consecutive weeks will be required In-Class Training.

Where will the classes be held?

This course is not a traditional type course where students always meet in one classroom setting. The dynamic nature of the course requires students to be in a variety of locations. The course is divided into five different components; class times and locations vary, depending on which component is being conducted.

Part 1 Orientation is held at TFLI.

Part 2 Observations are at TFLI and in other selected locations.

Part 3 Pre-Class Assignments are the "self-study" component of the course.

Part 4 In-Class Training is located at TFLI.

Part 5 Practice Teaching is held at a variety of schools and sites around Nashville (this component can also be conducted in other countries or out-of-state).

What books and materials will be used?

The main course book is Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener. It is a “user-friendly guide on everything you need to get in the classroom and start teaching”. The course will also include materials developed by our TESL training team.

Who enrolls in the course?

We have had a wide variety of people enrolled in the course, for example: current language teachers, social workers, computer analysts, retirees, college graduates, anthropologists, nurses, musicians, doctors, homemakers, refugee services employees, community volunteers, computer specialists, and salespeople.

Is it possible to find a job as an ESL instructor?

International jobs are plentiful. With your TESL certificate, many doors will open for you. Most overseas work is full-time. You will rarely find a part-time job in the international ESL market.

Local part-time jobs are abundant. Most institutes that employ ESL teachers will have part-time work available. ESL teachers tend to move where the need is so you will need to be mobile and able to handle a flexible schedule. Usually classes will meet in different locations for two hours at a time.

As you do with any job, you have to promote and market yourself. If you are creative, resourceful and flexible you can find enough part-time work to keep you employed full-time!

What do graduates do after completing the course?

Local Success Stories

Some of the students in our course serve as volunteers in their communities or churches others seek part-time work. Our graduates have been involved in a variety of ESL jobs. The following are places that have employed our graduates part-time:

*The Tennessee Foreign Language Institute employs TEFL/TESL Certificate holders on a part-time basis.

*Two of our graduates opened their own ESL business in Nashville.

*The Nashville Basic Adult Education program has employed many of our graduates who hold a Bachelor’s Degree.

*Vanderbilt’s English Language Center has employed two of our graduates who have Master’s degree.

*The Woodbine Community Center, Nashville State Tech*, private English institutes*, private elementary schools, local churches and community centers have been employers of graduates holding the TEFL certificate (*some require a degree).

*We have also had people from out-of-state (KY, TX, NC, AL) take our course in Nashville. They have been successful in teaching in businesses and local community centers. They are often the ESL pioneers in their hometowns!

International Success Stories

International opportunities are limitless. Our graduates have been placed in numerous foreign countries including Japan, Korea, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Turkey and Russia. They have their own exciting stories

to tell!

There are several TEFL/TESL courses available in the USA and abroad. How do I choose one that is right for me?

Compare for yourself!

There is no national accrediting agency for proprietary TESL/TEFL programs. The TESOL organization (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) suggests that you consider the following criteria as you choose a program:

Pay attention to the number of hours of classroom instruction. Most respected TEFL/TESL courses offer 100+ classroom hours and have a practical training component. Usually, TEFL/TESL certificate courses in the United States and Canada are highly intensive, running full-time for 2-6 weeks. Some training courses are longer.

Ensure that the course includes peer and practice teaching components.

Ask the program director for references from recent graduates. Then follow through and ask these graduates if they are satisfied with the education they received, whether their courses actually met the needs of their current jobs, and whether the credential appeared to be respected by potential employers.

Examine the program's placement record. What percentage of graduates are offered jobs after they receive their certificates? Does the school offer placement assistance or career counseling? Is the career counseling specialized for your field?

What is the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute (TFLI)?

(From the mission statement) TFLI is an agency of the State of Tennessee, established by the State Legislature to promote, encourage, enhance, and facilitate the learning and teaching of foreign languages and cultures for the economic, professional and educational enrichment of the state government and its employees, the business community, foreign language educators, and the citizens of Tennessee. We currently offer over 100 language courses, and typically enroll more than 1000 students per ten-week term. Our Interpretation Translation Services (ITS) Department offers its services in over 40 languages.

Why should I choose TFLI for my TESL Certification?

The British Council acknowledges TFLI as a reputable teaching institution. Our coursework meets the highest standards; and therefore, graduates of TFLI's TESL program meet the criteria to become IELTS examiners for ELS and the British Council. For more information on the British Council, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org .

• Our course is the only TESL non-degree course in the southeast that has been designed and taught by experienced and practicing ESL professionals. The curriculum is consistently updated and evaluated to reflect the growing needs and changes in the ESL community.
• Our classes are small with a minimum of 12 trainees; trainee to trainer ratio is 1:3.

• Our TESL Director has nearly 20 years experience in the ESL field and is an active member of the ESL community. She is in excellent reputation with Nashville’s institutions, students and ESL community members.

• We provide supervised practicum for students to apply what they have learned.

• Though very intensive, our course is planned so that trainees can absorb, retain and practice what they have learned in the duration of the course. Trainees must dedicate 105 hours to the in-class training.

• Our course is recognized locally and by most employers around the world.

• Our course offers 105 hours of contact (classroom time with trainers and peers) time.

• We are a non-profit certification program. Our goal is to exceed the standards of teacher training programs worldwide.

• TFLI’s TESL Course is in accordance with the institute’s mission and ethics (see our homepage).

What is TOEFL?

TOEFL means Test of English as a Foreign Language. TOEFL is an examination administered to non-native English speakers who are applying to US universities. It measures speaking, listening reading, and writing proficiency in academic English For more information, visit www.ets.org.

Do I need to have prior experience teaching English and/or ESL?

Teaching ESL or EFL is very different from teaching traditional English. While prior experience is always a bonus, you do not need it to learn to teach ESL. The methods and techniques of teaching ESL to adults will be taught and practiced in the TESL Course.

Whether you have prior experience teaching ESL or no formal training, you will realize that our philosophy and methods for teaching the Communicative Language Approach will help you to focus and build your skills to become a more effective language instructor.

What happens during the Field Teaching Component?

Our trainees will observe an experienced teacher and their peer in an authentic classroom setting. Each trainee will teach 10 hours to ESL students in a classroom setting; six of those hours will be supervised, four will be on your own. An interactive debriefing session will follow each lesson that is supervised. For each lesson taught, the trainee is required to submit a lesson plan. Our course will teach you how to create a lesson plan that is suitable for your site and your classroom.

Does my TESL certificate expire?

No, your certificate never expires. However it is recommended that you put your newly acquired skills into action immediately upon completion. Like any other learned skill, if you don’t use it, you lose it!

Do I need to speak a foreign language to teach?

No. While knowing or being familiar with the process of learning foreign language is helpful, as it lend to an understanding of your students’ errors and frustrations, we will show you how to teach your students using English only.

Is the TESL Course accredited?

There is no accreditation organization for non-degree TESL, TOEFL or TESOL courses. Our reputation comes from our successful graduates and the schools, institutes and companies who seek them out and employ them.

However, the British Council acknowledges TFLI as a reputable teaching institution. Our coursework meets the highest standards; and therefore, graduates of TFLI's TESL program meet the criteria to become IELTS examiners for ELS and the British Council. For more information on the British Council, please visit: www.britishcouncil.org.

Will TFLI place me in a job afterwards?

We have relationships with four different recruiting companies: English First, TEFL One, Shane's English Schools, and Canadian Connection.

Though we are not recruiters, we collaborate with many organizations and receive many job bulletins and openings in the Nashville area. An international job guide and other job resources will be provided in the TESL course. Whether it is writing a letter of recommendation or reviewing a contract, our experienced trainers and staff have an open door policy and are committed to assist you in your career path.

How about taking an on-line TESL Course?

Unless you absolutely cannot access a physical location for a TESL Course, in this business, the rule of thumb is to avoid these types of courses. When employers look at your credentials, they will want to see that you have had real classroom experience. They will also look for peer and practice teaching components that on-line courses cannot offer. Being in a classroom with other students learning to teach is an experience that cannot be replicated on-line. In addition, most on-line courses offer less than the recommend 100 hours of in-class training.

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How about (weekend) TESL courses that are offered by mega-trainers?

In this world of globalization, there will be more and more mega-trainers who work from one central location. Don’t be misled by branding or big names—many of these programs are teacher factories. By not setting up a local office, these companies and organizations avoid the costs of hiring personnel, maintaining office space and providing resources for their teachers. Once you have gotten your certificate, you are on your own. Many jobs in this field are word-of-mouth, and since the mega-trainers do not have relationships with other providers in the community, there are lots of teaching opportunities that you would miss out on as a result.

How much coursework is there outside of class?

The coursework is intensive all throughout the program, but there are 3 days during the end of 105-hour In-Class Training that require several hours of outside work. Most other days you can complete everything within the 5-hour time period that you are in class. The Practice Teaching component will require a lesson plan for each day that you teach, but you will not be coming to class on those days, so
it evens out.

What is the average pay for teaching ESL?

The average pay is about $20/hr. At TFLI, we pay from $20-$25 an hour, with no pay for additional prep time. In the Nashville area, community Colleges will pay about the same, but it is per semester. Some pay about $18/hr with an additional hour prep time. Salary and hourly pay depends on the region (USA) or country you teach in.