To study online or in the classroom - that's the question. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so a little bit of research is required before you make a decision. The choice you make should be as much about you and how you learn as anything else. So have a read and see which one's the best fit.
Your lifestyle
First things first, ask yourself a couple of questions:
• How much spare time do you have?
• Will you have to fit your TEFL course around work?
• Are your weekends free?
• Does your spare time vary from week to week?
The answers to these questions will help you decide if you should study online or in the classroom. You see a weekend course is intensive but short. You'll need to free up a whole weekend; in fact, you'll probably want to keep your evenings free too. Its fun work, but its hard work, so you really should make sure you're awake and alert.
If you can't free up a whole weekend and need to fit your course around your life, online TEFL courses will be a much better choice. You can do it in small doses or in a couple of long sessions, the choice is yours. And because you've got a good few months to complete your course, you can take your time.
So basically, if your time is short, but your weekends are free - a weekend course might be the thing for you. And if you've got a flexible timetable or want to spread your course over a couple of month - an online course might be a better choice.
Your learning style
Here's another set of questions for you:
• Do you need to read things for yourself to take them in?
• Do you enjoy working in groups or by yourself?
• Do you like to in-depth study with lots of information to get your teeth into?
• Do you revise in short sharp bursts or have one long session before the exam?
• Do you learn more when you're tested or when you do practical activities?
Right then, if you're one of those people who likes to get involved, have a go and generally get your hands dirty, you might want to consider a classroom course. You'll be in a group of about twenty people, which means you'll have plenty of opportunities to make new friends and have a laugh. What's more, you'll learn something then try it out in practice. So not only will you know you've learnt it, but you'll get some hands-on teaching experience too.
On the other hand, if you like to take your time, read everything for yourself and work alone, an online course might suit you better. You'll have plenty of time to take in all the information and you'll be working with an online tutor, which will make it much easier to identify the areas you need to work on.
Other considerations
There's one more option you might want to consider - doing both. It's the best of both worlds. You'll get the practical experience of a classroom course and the in-depth study of an online course. The initial investment will be a little higher but there are bonuses. Most combined courses come with an extra grammar module, so you can give this tricky topic a little bit of extra attention. And of course, combined courses look absolutely great on your CV.
So those are your options. Ask yourself some questions, answer them honestly and decide which course suits you best.
Catherine Luff - Online TEFL courses with over 20,000 course graduates each year, international accreditation and certification recognised by schools worldwide.
To Teach English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world and immerse themselves in new cultures. Whether you're a trained teacher or a complete beginner, a TEFL qualification is your ticket for the journey of your life.
Contacts
For interviews, images or comments contact:
Catherine Luff
Marketing & PR
Email: catherine.luff@i-to-i.com
http://www.onlinetefl.com
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