FAQ
Here are some answers to various questions you may have.
What does TESL, TEFL, and TESOL mean?
TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) - Teaching English to learners who live in a country where English is spoken as a first/native language (e.g., England, Australia, USA).
TEFL ( Teaching English as a Foreign Language) - Teaching English to learners who live in a country where English is not spoken as a first/native language (e.g., Italy, France, Spain).
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) - refers to both TEFL and TESL.
What does CELTA mean?
CELTA - (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults).
What kind of people sign up for a TEFL or CELTA certificate course?
Native and near-native speakers of English who come from a variety of different backgrounds, life experiences, and stages in life. All of them are adults. Most people who sign up for a TEFL course have very little experience teaching English as a second or foreign language. Some have experience teaching in other fields; others already have experience teaching English for private language schools abroad, but want or need to improve or update their teaching skills. In some cases, English teachers with experience, need a certificate to help them find work or remain competitive with other applicants who are looking for jobs. All are interested in travel, meeting new people, working with students, and learning about a different culture.
What is the difference between signing up for an onsite versus online TEFL certificate course?
An onsite course is very intense and needs to be completed within four-weeks, in most cases. It includes teaching practice experience and gives you the opportunity to collaborate with other trainees and teach local Italian students in a classroom environment. It also provides an opportunity for you to receive feedback from professional EFL teachers and peers on your teaching practice performance.
An online course is more affordable and can be done from anywhere. It also allows you flexibility to complete the course on your own time. It doesn't include traditional, "in the classroom" teaching practice experience, but allows you to work on modules with an experienced teacher trainer or tutor who provides feedback and suggestions on the work you complete.
Does English have to be my first language?
Absolutely not! You need to be a native or near-native speaker of English. Many near-native speakers of English, who speak English as a second language, often have a better grasp of English grammar than many native speakers of English.
Which English shall I teach?
Teach the English you know. If you are an American and write "center" in this way--do that. If you are from the United Kingdom and write "centre" in this way--do that. Don't try to teach American English if you're British or teach British English if you're American. It can be very helpful to teach your students the differences, when you know them, but stick with what you know and feel most comfortable with.
How many hours should I expect to work per week as an English language teacher?
You should expect to work anywhere between 20 to 30 hours. Remember, as a teacher, you also need time to prepare your lessons. You shouldn't expect to be teaching in a classroom any more than 30 hours per week. It is possible, but will affect the quality of your lessons and time for preparation.
Will a TEFL or CELTA certificate help me find work in Italy?
Yes, definitely. In most cases, private language schools will no longer hire a teacher without certification.
What kind of work is available in Italy teaching English?
A TEFL/TESOL or CELTA certificate will allow you to teach in private language schools. It will also help you find work as a free-lance teacher, offering private lessons, on your own.
If you are working with a private language school, you will find that you could either be teaching group lessons in a classroom setting or sent out to private companies for one-on-one or group instruction.
What different kinds of teaching program opportunities are available to me in Italy?
See Teaching Programs. All teaching programs except for Teaching Practice in Florence can be applied to directly with the companies offering them.
Will I have difficulty finding work in Italy if I am not a member of the EU?
It's definitely easier finding work teaching English in Italy if you're a member of the EU. If you're not, it's not impossible. There are language schools that will hire non EU members, but you'll have to work a little harder to find them. Don't expect things to happen as easily for you as they might in your own country.
If you are American and are able to pursue Italian or EU citizenship through a relative, it is definitely recommended. Italian citizenship can be granted through grandparents and/or great grandparents providing you can provide the required paperwork to your local consulate. If you have more questions about eligibility, consult http://www.myitaliancitizenship.com/ for Italian citizenship questions and answers.
What kind of help will I receive to help me secure employment in Italy?
If you attend an onsite course, a job board will be available with local, national, and international job listings. There will also be an optional job placement assistance workshop with further information. This will include resume/CV and interview preparation as well as additional information from staff who have experience working and teaching in Italy. You can also write to Teaching English in Italy for ideas or check the resources listed on this website for employment opportunities. In short, we will help you in any way possible, but we cannot guarantee job placement. Job placement assistance is available for as long as you may need it, whether you enroll for the onsite or online TEFL certificate course options.
Can accommodation be arranged for me if I decide to do an onsite TEFL certificate or Teaching Practice program in Italy?
Yes, accommodation or suggestions can be arranged by the teacher training center while you're enrolled in either the four week TEFL course or the one and/or two week teaching practice program. Students enrolled for the four week onsite TEFL course in Florence, normally arrive on the Saturday before the start date of the course and depart on the Saturday immediately following the course. If you'd like to arrange your own accommodation in Florence, Genoa or Milan, Teaching English in Italy can give you some suggestions, but you will responsible for organizing, and reserving your own lodging if you decide to arrange it yourself.
What can I do to prepare before the start of a TEFL or CELTA certificate course?
Buy yourself a good grammar textbook and familiarize yourself with it. We suggest anything written by Michael Swan, such as: How English Works: A Grammar Practice Book with Answers by Swan, M and Walter, C; Grammar in Use by Murphy, R; or any other grammar books written by Diane Larsen Freeman. Some other helpful books for beginning teachers include: Teaching by Principles: An Interactice Approach to Language Pedagogy by Brown, H. Douglas; and Learning Teaching by Scrivener, J.
If you'd like to teach in Italy, Europe, or any other country, consider purchasing Susan Griffith's book Teaching English Abroad. It provides an excellent overview on working conditions in specific countries and gives tips on teaching English in Europe and on other continents.
What shall I bring with me?
If taking the onsite TEFL or CELTA certificate course, bring your own laptop computer and have your resume/CV ready; you'll need to include it in your final portfolio and have it handy when applying for jobs or going to job interviews.
How do I find out further information about the onsite TEFL or CELTA certificate courses before signing up?
Send us a message through our contact form and we will send you additional information and more details about any of the courses and provide you with answers to your questions.
How do I sign up for an onsite TEFL certificate course in Italy?
Fill out the online application completely. After receiving and upon acceptance of your application, we will require that you send a deposit. We will send you a payment request for the deposit through PayPal. The deposit will guarantee and hold your place in the course, as per your preferred course dates. When the deposit has been received by Teaching English in Italy through PayPal, we will send you a confirmation for the course dates of your choice and further information. The teaching center in Italy will then send you an email in regards to setting up your accomodation, if needed, and provide you with any other information that you need about the onsite course or living in the city where the course will take place.
How do I sign up for the online TEFL certificate or CALL course?
Click on the ICAL banner shown along with the Online TEFL Certification infomation. Fill out the ICAL registration form. If you're interested in working with a tutor who has experience living and working in Italy as an English teacher and teacher trainer, let ICAL know that you'd like to work with Sheila; otherwise feel free to choose any of their other available tutors.
How do I sign up for the onsite Teaching Practice (TP) program in Florence?
Fill out our online application completely. After receiving and upon acceptance of your application, we will require that you send a deposit in the amount of $150 (1 week) or $225 (2 weeks) USD for either the one or two week TP option. We will send you a payment request for the deposit through PayPal. The deposit will guarantee and hold your place in the teaching practice program, as per your preferred dates. When the deposit has been received by Teaching English in Italy through PayPal, we will send you a confirmation with the specific dates for your Teaching Practice program and further information. The teaching center in Italy will send you an email in regards to setting up your accomodation, if needed, and provide you with any other information that you need about the onsite course or living in the city where the course will take place.
How do I sign up for other teaching programs in Italy?
For all teaching programs except Teaching Practice in Florence, follow the links provided and sign up with the prospective companies directly. Of course, we also encourage you to sign up for an onsite or online TEFL certificate before or after completing any of the teaching programs listed to enhance your teaching experience.
When can I start an onsite TEFL certificate course in Italy?
See course dates for Florence, course dates for Genoa, course dates for Milan.
When can I start the online certificate course through ICAL?
Anytime.
If you have any other questions not answered here, please contact us through our contact form.
Resources
“It's a great course for any aspiring teacher and it was without a doubt the best experience of my life!”
-Nollaig
“I feel ready to teach now, I have gained invaluable insight into the teaching profession.”
-Clem
