5 Ways To Upgrade Your TEFL Certificate

Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) abroad is a way for you to satisfy your nomadic cravings, see the sights you want to see and earn money while you’re doing it. We all know that once you’re bitten by the travel bug you won’t be able to stay in the same place for very long, and a career as a TEFL teacher is how you can achieve a lifestyle that helps you do exactly that. To be honest, in our experience, a TEFL job is just as infectious as a travel bug: once you’ve taught one class you’ll want to teach ALL the classes. But first, you need to get yourself a TEFL certificate. After that, you might want to upgrade your TEFL.

Read more: 7 Things to Consider When Choosing a TEFL Course

This is why while some people use TEFL to keep themselves occupied and out of trouble on a gap year, many TEFL teachers choose the become TEFLers for life. If this is you, and if continuous professional development is the name of your game, then we know you won’t stop at the TEFL certificate. Sure the TEFL course will prepare you to teach English as a foreign language to any age group, from any background, with any first language, but it is an entry-level course. If you are serious about calling yourself a TEFL teacher for more than a couple of years, then, once you have a few years of experience under your belt, you should look at ways you can upskill your TEFL certificate.

Read more: Teaching English Abroad in Your Gap Year

There are a few different ways you can do this. Which option you choose will totally depend on how you would like to upgrade your TEFL and how much time and energy you are willing to dedicate to the cause. But don’t worry, we’re going to look at a few options to see which would suit you best.

The obvious way

Teach. Teach. Teach.

When it comes to teaching, whether it be teaching English as a foreign language or another subject, experience is key. The more experience you have, the more skilled you will be. We’re not just talking about doing your usual teaching for a few years, you should try to get experience in a rnage of teaching situations.

Chat to your Diroector of Studies or manager to see if you can get some experience teaching another aspect of TEFL, such as English for Specific Purposes. Branch out and get a few private students who are a different age group or nationality. If you’re only teaching groups, look for 1:1 students.

Even if this option is not a formal qualification, it’ll stand you in good stead for your future teaching experiences.

The free way

There are a number of different websites you can find which offer free resources for continuous professional development for teachers. The British Council is one of the them. From webinars to blog posts to podcasts to resarch publications, the British Council Professional Development section offers resources on a range of different topics within the field of teaching English as a foreign language.

Why should I use the British Council?

The British Council has a wealth of resources for TEFL teachers, and you can be sure they are well-researched and appropriate.

How much does it cost?

Free.

The millennial way

When you think about it, upgrading your TEFL certificate doesn’t have to be such a serious matter. If you spend a decent amount of time online – and that’s most of us, right? – why not replace your endless scrolling with blogs which will upskill you?

Read more: Our Top 8 ESL Blogs to Follow

Why should I read blogs?

Blogs are the easiest way to keep up to date with current research and opinions on teaching English as a foreign language. There are blogs on every topic imaginable to suit every taste. Blogs are especially useful for TEFL teachers because they provide us not only with theory and knowledge but also practical tips and ideas for the classroom. And they are so convenient! You can read a blog while you’re on the bus, while you’re in the bath, while you’re waiting for your dinner to cook – anytime, anywhere.

How much do they cost?

Happily, blogs are free, but you need to have access to the internet.

The best way

But, of course, we’ve saved the best for last. The absolute best way to upgrade your TEFL certificate is to do one of The TEFL Academy’s top-up courses. Choose from Teaching Business English, Teaching Online and 1:1, and Teaching Young Learners, and wow your future employers.

Why should I do a Top-Up Course from The TEFL Academy?

Um, why shouldn’t you?

Each course gives you an overview of the specialisation while diving into the common issues involved. There are also tips, tricks and techniques for teaching it. Each course is made up of a number of units which are assessed online through tests and assignments. Each course is 30 hours but you have six weeks to complete the course. Once you’ve successfully completed a course, you will be sent an electronic certificate which will jazz up any CV.

How much do they cost?

The TEFL Academy Top-Up courses are a worthwhile investment, not only because of the quality of the courses but also the reputation they bring with them. Luckily for you, they’re really affordable too – at only $130.00.

Read more: Specialise with Our Top-Up Courses

In a nutshell, if you’re a qualified TEFL teacher and you’re looking to upgrade your TEFL certificate, there are plenty of ways to go about it. There is no need to stop at one TEFL course. Decide how much time, energy and money you have to dedicate to the cause and this will help you decide which route you want to take.

On the other hand, if you’re still starting out in TEFL, we’d be happy to help you get started on your journey teaching English as a foreign language.