If you find you don’t like it, you’ll be kicking yourself for blowing the thousands it’ll take for certification. Instead, we recommend that you try one of the following... teach for a year and if you really like it and can see yourself spending some serious time in Japan, go for a CELTA or a big on-site TEFL course program of at least 120 hours.

If you want to give yourself an advantage over other teachers but don't want to invest thousands in an a on-site TEFL degree, go the cheaper and faster route of getting an on-line TEFL degree. Just like the on-site degrees, there are hundreds of programs to choose from. One that has an excellent reputations and is widely known is i-to-i Definitely worth checking out.

Do I have to physically go to the class?
You can if you want to. There are both on-site and on-line TEFL courses available in every flavor imaginable. Considering just CELTA programs, there are over 230 locations worldwide. When you add in other on-site and on-line TEFL courses the numbers are in the thousands.

If you want the convenience of home study, there are many distance learning courses available everywhere.Take a peek around the net. You’ll see courses in all lengths and price ranges.

Can I get hired to teach English in Japan without taking a TEFL course?
Absolutely. Large chain schools like who do the bulk of the hiring in Japan like ECC, Berlitz and Aeon don’t require any type of teaching certificate whatsoever. And these guys hire by the thousands.

I'm extremely busy and need the flexibility of an on-line course but am worried about the lack of hands on experience. Any ideas?
If you're so busy that you can't take a full on-site 4 week course. You can get experience just by volunteering to teach an ESL class in your community. Every little bit of classroom time helps and you'll be surprised at how much you can learn.

Another option is to do a weekend course. They're way cheaper than the full-blown on-site courses but give you some of that valuable "hands-on" time. Plus it gives you a chance to see what other professionals are doing, helps you get a network started and cuts time off your learning curve.

Is CELTA and TESL the same?
Not exactly. CELTA stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. (TESL is a generic name given to any program that focuses on ESL certification) University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) fixes the assessment criteria and validates the course.

Basically it’s a stamp of approval from Cambridge. (Even the CELTA trainers are approved by (UCLES). A CELTA certificate definitely carries more punch – but it will cost you. Both in time and money. You can complete a CELTA course in as little as 4 weeks or you can chop at it bit by bit on a part-time basis over the course of a year.

How much do TEFL courses cost?
There is a really big swing on course costs. Expect to drop anywhere from around $100 U.S.(on-line types) to 2,000 dollars for standard 4 week 120 hour intensive CELTA TEFL courses. Click here to see our online TEFL comparison chart.

How hard do Japanese language schools look at where the certification comes from?
Not as hard as they should. Many schools are quite unfamiliar with TEFL courses in general. If you’ll be applying to your average language school in Japan and believe that a CELTA certificate will get you more in terms of salary, you’ll probably be disappointed.

However if you take a look at our teaching jobs page you'll find quite a few that only consider applicants with certificates and several years teaching experience.

Ok. What about smaller schools?
Smaller schools don’t have the well-oiled recruitment departments like G Communications (formerly Nova and Geos). Smaller schools survive by eliminating student turn-over. So higher quality lessons is their focus. More experienced teachers (read those with certificates) get hired by them. These guys are more willing to pay more for an ESL instructor with a certificate. Teaching certificates can definitely open doors to higher paying jobs.

Do English schools in Japan give heavier weighting to longer online course than shorter ones?
The long and short of it is generally not. Those who opt for longer courses in the 120 hour range in general don't have an advantage over those who opt for shorter courses. However getting on-line certificate will give you an advantage over other entry level candidates that have the same experience base as you as it indicates a level of commitment that those without certificates don't have.

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