Does "TEFL" refer to a certificate?

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bradwelljackson
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:22 pm
Location: Shakhty, Russia

Does "TEFL" refer to a certificate?

Post by bradwelljackson » Thu Oct 12, 2006 10:03 pm

The word "TEFL" is bandied about quite a lot, and I'm wondering what it refers to specifically. The term "TEFL certificate" is used quite a bit, which makes me wonder if "TEFL" refers to a specific certificate. Is it a standard certificate that has an agreed upon criteria for accreditation, shared by many schools across the world? Or is it a loose term that could mean anything from a Master's degree in English to a 4-hour workshop that one might take to get a brush up before volunteering to teach local immigrants?
Any answers would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

fluffyhamster
Posts: 3031
Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again

Post by fluffyhamster » Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:43 am

Well, I have a CTEFLA (now called a CELTA) and must have heard or read 'Do you have a CELTA (or equivalent)' quite a few times by now.

The fact that the 'C' there stands for 'certificate' is a bonus, but I see no reason why people couldn't equally well ask 'Do you have a TEFL?' (with 'certificate' ellipted after 'TEFL'), and probably many do ask in just such a way (you could maybe check the Job Discussion forums, Google etc, to be more certain).

If there is a difference in length/level of qualification it is likely some sort of modification or expansion will be in order: a 4-week TEFL, a 3-month TEFL Diploma etc. That being said, I can't offhand think of any TEFL Diplomas or MAs etc!

pucca
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Oct 19, 2006 6:58 pm

question...

Post by pucca » Mon Oct 23, 2006 12:39 am

I"m thinking of getting a CTESOL at Transworld soon.....what is the difference between CELTA, TEFL, and CTESOL?

thanks!
fluffyhamster wrote:Well, I have a CTEFLA (now called a CELTA) and must have heard or read 'Do you have a CELTA (or equivalent)' quite a few times by now.

The fact that the 'C' there stands for 'certificate' is a bonus, but I see no reason why people couldn't equally well ask 'Do you have a TEFL?' (with 'certificate' ellipted after 'TEFL'), and probably many do ask in just such a way (you could maybe check the Job Discussion forums, Google etc, to be more certain).

If there is a difference in length/level of qualification it is likely some sort of modification or expansion will be in order: a 4-week TEFL, a 3-month TEFL Diploma etc. That being said, I can't offhand think of any TEFL Diplomas or MAs etc!

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