180-Hour TEFL Certificate

Week 1) Pre-Course – Intro to course and how to navigate  
Virtually meet your classmates, get comfortable with the online Canvas platform, and prepare yourself for what’s to come over the next 10 weeks.   

Week 2) The World of TEFL  
Why learn English in the first place, a look at the types of English learners, and an introduction to fundamental concepts from the intercultural field.    

Week 3) Teaching the English Language  

Week 4) Learning Vocabulary 
Explore principles of vocabulary and grammar, learn to explain parts of speech and sentence structure, and develop strategies for helping learners retain vocabulary.

Week 5) Teaching Grammar   
Examine the importance of grammar, discover how to practice verb tense in a group setting and learn practical solutions for correcting errors. Plus, you’ll learn to make grammar more fun and less dry!  

Week 6) Teaching Receptive Skills  
Analyze fundamentals of using reading and listening in context as a tool for learning and learn methods to test for comprehension and understanding.  

Week 7) Teaching Productive Skills   
Discover effective teaching methods for speaking and writing language skills, develop speaking activities that drive conversational learning and learn how and when to give constructive feedback.  

Week 8) Choosing your teaching materials   
Learn to supplement verbal lessons with visual aids and discover how to be effective at using your environment to provide a great experience. Analyze methods for using the board, body language, and facial expression to create a holistic learning environment.

Week 9) Planning Your Lessons   
Create effective lesson plans and discover skills meant for getting to know your students and integrating content and language for everyday use.  

Week 10) Classroom Management   
Develop tools to increase motivation and participation. Learn to instruct multilevel groups and handle frequent classroom behavioral situations.  

Week 11) Getting Ready to Teach   
Discover tips to help you prepare for what comes next. Including resume development, approaches to interviewing and how to speak about your TEFL certification experience.

Overview of English language varieties with an emphasis on spelling and pronunciation, outline of different teaching methodologies, and approaches to teaching English as a foreign language.

Your first time as a teacher in the classroom can feel daunting and that’s why our 150-hour course includes a practicum component where you can get real life, hands-on experience before jumping in front of the class alone!  Most teachers complete their practicum by working or volunteering in their local communities.  These opportunities include observing a classroom, co-teaching, lead teaching, or private tutoring.  Not sure how to set this up?  Don’t worry!  We’ll help you create a plan, from researching organizations, setting up practicum dates, and completing pre and post reflective work on your experiences. 

Learn about the benefits of a TEFL Practicum

WEEK 1: MODULES 0 – 4 

Module 0) Pre-course: Intro to Course and How to Navigate   
Virtually meet your peers, get comfortable with the online Canvas platform, and prepare yourself for what’s to come.   

Module 1) The Young Learner   
Identify the different types of learners and go over the language development stages.   

Module 2) Young Learner Motivation   
Understand your students and learn their motivations. Learn to observe multiple intelligences to better understand your students and their education.  

Module 3) Classroom Management    
How should you manage such young learners? Create class rules and learn skills on handling classrooms when they fall apart.  

Module 4) Approaches and Methods for Teaching Young Learners    
Learn methods for teaching as well as different approaches to teaching young learners.  

WEEK 2: MODULES 5 – 8 

Module 5) Providing a Language Context for Learning    
Strategies for providing context and visual aids for teaching.  

Module 6) Teaching Systems to Young Learners   
The basics of vocabulary and grammar as well as practical lessons and games to have on hand.   

Module 7) Teaching Speaking to Young Learners   
Promote fluency through error correction, songs and chants for the class.  

Module 8) Teaching Listening to Young Learners    
Learn how children listen and learn ways to encourage listening in the classroom.  

WEEK 3: MODULES 9 – 12 

Module 9) Teaching Reading to Young Learners   
Understand the relationship between reading and writing as well as the basic concepts of reading. Learn how to use stories and other skills to teach reading. 

Module 10) Teaching Writing to Young Learners   
Unpack the basics of writing and understand the approaches to teaching writing.   

Module 11) Assessing Young Learners   
How will you assess your young students? Introduce testing to your class and learn skills on how to create quality tests.  

Module 12) Beyond the Classroom    
Where do young learners learn English? Understand English through the internet and media, as well as hobbies and sports. 

WEEK 1: MODULES 0 – 4 

Module 0) Pre-Course: Intro to Course and How to Navigate   
Virtually meet your peers, get comfortable with the online Canvas platform, and prepare yourself for what’s to come.   

Module 1) The Teenage Learner   
Understand the role of teenagers in the classroom as well as their motivations as language students.   

Module 2) Classroom Management    
Build relationships with your teen students and learn tools to manage your classroom.  

Module 3) Methods and Approaches    
Unpack the approaches to teaching English at the teenage level.  

Module 4) Lesson Planning    
What kinds of lessons will engage your teenagers? Learn about different learning styles applied to lesson planning.  

WEEK 2: MODULES 5 – 8 

Module 5) Getting Started   
Get started leading your classroom with tricks on warm-ups and warm downs.  

Module 6) Teaching Systems to Teenagers   
Learn to successfully teach grammar and vocabulary as well as skills on answering conceptual questions about grammar and vocabulary.  

Module 7) Teaching Speaking to Teenagers   
Unpack speaking a new language and develop skills on encouraging speaking in the classroom.   

Module 8) Teaching Listening to Teenagers    
Create listening activities and ways to encourage language listening in the classroom.  

WEEK 3: MODULES 9 – 12 

Module 9) Teaching Reading to Teenagers   
What is reading? Learn reading strategies for your students.   

Module 10) Teaching Writing to Teenagers   
Break down the meaning of writing and how to teach writing to teenage students.   

Module 11) Teaching with Technology    
Evaluate the internet and social media in EFL classrooms.   

Module 12) Assessment    
Assessing your teenage students. Learn to provide proper quizzes and exams. 

WEEK 1: MODULES 0 – 4 

Module 0) Pre-Course: Intro to Course and How to Navigate   
Virtually meet your peers, get comfortable with the online Canvas platform, and prepare yourself for what’s to come.   

Module 1) The Adult Learner   
Understanding the basic motivations of adult learners and best teaching strategies.   

Module 2) Classroom Issues    
What kinds of issues arise in an adult classroom and how can you handle them? Understand the different abilities and ages in the adult classroom.   

Module 3) Classroom Management for Adults    
Learn to deal with problems in the adult classroom.  How do you respectfully make a correction? Understand appropriate classroom language.   

Module 4) Approaches to Lesson Planning    
Gain skills on planning lessons for adult learners. What kinds of activities are best?   

WEEK 2: MODULES 5 – 8 

Module 5) Student-Centered Learning    
Unpack the meaning of student-centered learning and learn how to apply it to your classroom.   

Module 6) Grammar, Vocabulary, and Pronunciation    
You might know grammar, but have you tried teaching it? Learn skills on teaching pronunciation and vocabulary.  

Module 7) Teaching Verbal Communication Skills to Adults    
Understand the listening process and learn skills to apply to your classroom and lesson plan.  

Module 8) Teaching Written Communication Skills to Adults    
Understand and break down the reading and writing process. Learn to assess reading and writing at the adult level.   

WEEK 3: MODULES 9 – 12 

Module 9) English for Specific Purposes (ESP)   
Understand the meaning and kinds of specific purposes there are for learning English. Learn to design lesson plans and classes around this.  

Module 10) ESP: Business English   
Learn what makes business English so different and how to adjust lessons accordingly.  

Module 11) ESP: EAP (English for Academic Purposes) Exam Preparation    
The importance of EAP and specific characteristics of EAP. 

Module 12) Virtual Teaching    
Discover the essentials to teaching English online and the tools to do it successfully. 

This course is right for you, if:

• You have no teaching (or TEFL) experience and are looking to explore it  
• You’re going to be, or want to be, a lead teacher abroad for a longer period of time 
• You’re going to be, or want to be, lead teacher of your own classroom  
• You’re looking to professionalize your teach abroad experience  
• You’re applying to jobs that require a TEFL certification  
• You are looking to land a precise type of teaching position  
• You are looking to deepen your understanding of age-specific pedagogy.   

Language proficiency: Participants in all CIEE TEFL courses must be native English speakers or maintain an advanced level of English proficiency equivalent to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) C1 level or higher. If a nonnative English speaker applies for a CIEE TEFL course, they must demonstrate their advanced English proficiency by submitting one of the following minimum test score proofs: TOEFL iBT: 95; IELTS: 7; CAE: 180; PTE General: Level 4; PTE Academic: 76; TOEIC Listening & Reading: 945 and Speaking & Writing: 360.

Enrollees must be at least 18 years of age or older. 

Coursework requires reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills. Course outcome and evaluation will include elements of all four competencies.  

Students must be capable of using a personal computer, as all coursework is completed online. Students must have consistent access to internet.

A TEFL certification never expires, so you could complete it at any point in time if you meet the basic requirements. If you are looking to put your training to good use, then here are few timelines to keep in mind for if you want to:  

Teach abroad: Begin your TEFL course at least 6 months prior to your intended departure date 
Teaching at home or online: Begin your TEFL course at least 3 months before you apply for a position 

All course content is online so if you have a computer with access to the internet you are good to go. 

Part of becoming a successful teacher is practice! Putting yourself in front of the class will further help you to develop what type of teacher you want to be.  This opportunity is something many online programs don’t offer.  CIEE TEFL is dedicated to helping you become the best teacher you can be, and the required 20-hour practicum is going to help you achieve just that.  It’s also going to give you the classroom experience most hiring institutions are looking for.