TEFL Teacher Training Certification
What is WorldTeach TEFL Certification?
The WorldTeach TEFL Certification program is accredited by ACCREDITAT. For more information on ACCREDITAT and what this accreditation means for you and your certification, click here.
Please refer to individual country program profiles to see if the program you are interested in applying to offers TEFL Certification. There will be an additional $50 charge for volunteers participating in the TEFL Certification program for departures leaving on or after July 1, 2012.
The image below depicts each part of the WorldTeach Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certification process for teachers teaching English as a Foreign Language in our semester and year-long programs. The image also shows how each opportunity adds to teacher professional development overall. Below the image please find more detail about each component.
Pre-work and Orientation
WorldTeach requires each volunteer participating in the WorldTeach TEFL Certification program to observe an ESL classroom for 14 hours, and then complete an observation packet reflecting on their experiences observing the classroom. The observations and packet must be complete and submitted to the home office in Cambridge before the volunteer departs for his or her program in order to continue with the TEFL Certification program once abroad. Volunteers receive this packet when they are accepted into a program.
Libraries, community colleges, Kaplan English Language programs, and Sylvan Learning Centers are all good places to start when searching for an ESL course to observe.
All WorldTeach volunteers receive an orientation before leaving for their sites. This orientation includes various sessions on TEFL. Volunteers also have a short teaching practicum during orientation, where they practice teaching with the skills they learn during orientation, and then receive feedback on their teaching from fellow volunteers and field staff.
Professional Development Modules
These modules are designed to give volunteers insight and suggestions for teaching English abroad. Most modules are case studies or readings focusing on typical "problem areas" for WorldTeach volunteers, including classroom management, lesson objectives, checks for understanding, and introducing new material.
Lesson Plan Submissions
Volunteers are required to submit written lesson plans, answering a set of reflection questions on how the lesson went in their classrooms. These submissions also offer volunteers an opportunity to ask for suggestions or help from the Cambridge-based TEFL team.
Case Study Creation and Teacher Assessment Portfolio
Case study creations allow volunteers to use the expertise they have gained from teaching English abroad and create case studies to be used by future volunteers as professional development modules. Volunteers receive detailed instructions with how to write these case studies.
The Teacher Assessment Portfolio gives volunteers an opportunity to video record themselves teaching a full class, and then reflect on the video, answering questions about their teaching.
Site Visits
All WorldTeach programs require field staff to visit each volunteer throughout his or her service when possible. Volunteers participating in the TEFL Certification program will be able to talk about their specific teaching needs and struggle areas with field staff, as well as make plans for future improvement.
Mid-Service Training
Mid-Service is a time for volunteers to reunite half-way through their service and reflect on the first half of their WorldTeach experience. TEFL sessions targeting specific areas of need are given during Mid-Service in countries where volunteers teach English.
For additional questions about the WorldTeach TEFL Certification program, please contact Director of Education Katrina Deutsch at kdeutsch@worldteach.org.
