Pros And Cons Of Online TEFL Courses

Deciding to study is a big decision and there are many factors to consider. Let’s face it, investing all your time and money into an enterprise only to fail is not the ideal situation. So we need to make sure that we know exactly what we are getting ourselves into to be prepared for all the challenges that may await us. Being prepared is just one way you can help yourself do your best and achieve your goals when studying.

The situation is no different when it comes to studying an online course, even though the method of studying may be very different to what we are used to. At the end of the day, studying is studying and how you learn material is up to you; the course of study will only affect the delivery of that information.

Having said that, let’s look at the pros and cons of online TEFL courses.

Firstly, the pros of online studying are quite obvious. The beauty of doing an online TEFL course is that you will be able to study wherever and whenever you like, be it first thing in the morning in bed or in the afternoon in the park. You are also flexible in the time you dedicate to the course, in contrast to face-to-face tuition where your hours are dictated by the school. Instead, if you want to study for an hour before dinner or in your lunch hour, you can; if you want to work really hard over the weekend and take time off during the week, you can. Whichever is the best way for you to study, you can arrange your schedule so it suits you.

The cons of doing an online TEFL course are actually related to the pros. You are studying independently – which gives you freedom – but it also means that you have to make sure you find the time to study. You have no set time dedicated to studying, so you have to make the time yourself. What’s more, you’re your own cheerleader.

Though there are tutors on the course who will help you when you need it, it will be up to you to motivate yourself to take your studying seriously. This can easily lead to other aspects of your life taking precedence over your studying; it can be difficult to say no to your boss when you are studying for a new job!

Finally, a big disadvantage for online TEFL courses is the fact that they’re online, which means that you need an internet connection to visit the course website or download materials or assignments. However, these days the same could well be true for a face-to-face class. Nowadays many courses require you to do a certain amount of work online in order to prepare for your classes.

However you feel about it, there are both pros and cons of online TEFL courses. If this type of course suits you, then don’t be afraid to take the plunge and sign up for a course and change your life!