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How To Prepare For A TEFL Course: What To Do Before You Start
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December 16, 2025
Let’s chat. You want to do a TEFL course, but aren’t sure which course to pick, which TEFL course provider to trust, and what to expect.
These are mucho important things to consider before you embark on your TEFL journey to ensure your time and money are being invested wisely, avoid being scammed, and that you start your TEFL journey confidently.
This article is here to help you make an informed decision on what TEFL course aligns with your career goals, budget, and timeline; how to choose a reputable TEFL provider, what to expect from the courses, and how to succeed!
Before starting a TEFL course:
How to choose the right TEFL provider
The number of unaccredited TEFL courses is too high! Finding a legit TEFL provider will ensure your readiness to teach English as a foreign language and, most importantly, your eligibility to apply for and get a TEFL job.
Read more: TEFL Accreditation Explained
Here’s what to look out for:
Accreditation and regulation checklist
Is it at least 120 hours? ✅ Yes
Is it acrredited by a recognised body? ✅ Yes
Can I see the awarding body named clearly? ✅ Qualifi / TQUK / Highfield / etc
Is the accreditation verifiable online? ✅ You can click & check
Red flags:
🚩 If you can’t find clear accreditation information
🚩 If the provider avoids mentioning who regulates their qualification
🚩 Courses under 120 hours
Course length and levels
The industry standard is an online Level 3 120-hour course, which is particularly useful if you want to teach English online or volunteer.
The Level 5 168-hour course is more in-depth and is great for teaching English in class and long-term. This course can either be completely online or can include an in-class practicum, which will really ensure you are classroom-ready (plus it will set you apart from other job seekers).
Course types
Online TEFL courses offer flexibility to those who like to work independently, as well as those who work or are busy and need their study time to work around their schedule.
Face-to-face TEFL courses are a good fit for those who learn better in person and require structure and guidance. Class times are set, and having a schedule helps provide structure to your studies.
Hybrid TEFL courses (online study plus face-to-face practice) are great for those who don’t have any teaching experience and have the flexibility and opportunity to attend an in-class course component. The combination of theory mixed with practical experience really consolidates what you have learnt and gets you classroom-ready for both online and in-class TEFL teaching.
What to expect from a TEFL course
Content
TEFL courses will cover the foundations of teaching English as a foreign language:
- Grammar
- How to plan a lesson
- Different methods of teaching
- Teaching language skills (Reading, writing, speaking and listening)
- Classroom management
- Adapting learning for different age groups and levels
- Theories of learning
Read more: What Do You Learn On A TEFL Course?
Workload & time commitment
TEFL courses offer great flexibility, no matter your time or work commitments.
A Level 3 Course will take you 120 hours to complete, and a Level 5 Course will take 168 hours to complete. All at your own pace. The great thing is you should get a few months to complete the course. The TEFL Academy, for example, gives you six months’ access to your courses online. With The TEFL Academy’s Combined Level 5 Course, the same applies, but you will also complete a 10-hour classroom practical course.
Is 6 months a realistic time frame to complete your TEFL course? 100%!
The majority of TEFL students complete their course way before the 6-month mark. Some students have completed the course within 2-4 weeks (full-time study), whilst the majority of students complete their course within 2-4 months. That being said, the amount of time you put in will determine that.
TEFL study tips
- Consistency
If I could give my past self advice before starting my TEFL course, it would be:
“Do a little work every day, and try to complete one unit a week.”
- Time management
Time management is the biggest challenge when completing your TEFL course. I highly recommend setting a study schedule and printing it. Being able to see your goals and ticking off your progress gives you a dopamine hit and keeps that momentum going!
- Organisation
When it comes to assignments, having your notes written on an online document, like a Google Doc, helps with keeping your notes clear and organised. Plus it can easily be used in your written assignments.
- Reliable tech
For purely online TEFL courses, having a reliable PC or laptop is needed, along with a stable internet connection. To avoid distractions, first prize is a quiet space, but if that’s not possible, a good pair of headphones will go a long way too.
Planning your TEFL budget & timeline
Before settling on a TEFL course, decide which specific course aligns with your TEFL career goals, and then plan your budget and timeline.
Also, be sure to look at possible extra costs that may come into play, such as top-up courses (The TEFL Academy offers three free Top-Up Courses, including Teaching Business English and Teaching Young Learners) or course extensions (if you need some extra time).
Be realistic when looking at your weekly schedule and how you will incorporate study time into it. You can work at your own pace so studying can easily fit into your schedule. Most TEFL students are able to complete their TEFL course between 2 and 4 months.
Final thoughts
As a past TEFL student, I can honestly say that doing a TEFL course was both enjoyable and completely doable!
Some of the content may seem unfamiliar at first, but that’s okay!
Always remember that a TEFL course is meant to develop your TEFL teaching skills step by step, not make you an expert overnight.
What matters most is your mindset: Persevering when you become demotivated, being flexible in incorporating new concepts into your work and developing new soft and hard skills, as well as embracing feedback on your assignments or in your classroom practice. These traits will stand in your stead as TEFL students and future TEFL teachers.
If you ever feel like you are too busy, too old, or just shudder at the thought of having to study, a TEFL course is unlike any course you will experience.
It opens up a new world of possibilities, allowing you to travel, work from home, or start your own business.
And it never expires! A TEFL certificate is a lifelong qualification, so you can rest assured the investment is worth it. You are worth it!
Check out The TEFL Academy’s TEFL courses and start your new chapter today!
Author Bio
Accreditation & Quality Assurance
The TEFL Academy was the world’s first TEFL course provider to receive official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies in both the USA and UK. This means when you graduate you’ll hold a globally recognised Level 3 (120hr) Certificate or Level 5 (168hr) Diploma, meaning you can find work anywhere and apply for jobs immediately.
