What to expect from online teaching qualifications: A look at our 140-hour course
We’re not sure if you’ve noticed but there’s currently a boom in online teaching happening. Yep, the e-learning industry is predicted to be worth upwards of $6.4 billion a year by 2022. Today, it’s estimated that just under a third of all English learners around the globe are accessing online classes. That’s a trend that’s been put on rocket boosters since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing thousands of schools to shift to digital teaching platforms.
The result is a new breed of online teaching qualifications; ones specifically focused on web-based tutoring. The myTEFL 140-hour course is just that. It’s got all the in-depth stuff you’d expect of the 120-hour course but with an added unit that details the ins and outs of working over the web. This guide offers an insight into what you can expect from it and how it can help you in the brave new world of online ESL…
Dealing with online classes
Online classes can be very different to in-person classes. For starters, there are several different types, from group lessons to one-on-one exam tutoring, with everything in between. What’s more, they vary considerably in length and scope. Courses to prepare teachers for the world of web ESL usually give a glimpse of the variety of different sessions you can expect to encounter. That’s especially important when you think that you might be working with multiple online schools at any one time, each of which could have different lesson formats and platforms.
Planning for online lessons
Any TEFL teacher who’s ever walked into a classroom should know that lesson planning is the numero uno of the teaching world. That fact doesn’t change just because you move to online work. However, the way you go about it might change. Our 140-hour course, for example, takes a look at the various structures you can use to plan your online classes, along with some fantastic resources for getting online class materials.
Online TEFL gear
One of the main hurdles that new web TEFL teachers face is getting kitted out. You have to remember that your office is now your laptop. Everything relies on it, along with a strong internet connection, a good webcam, and a high-quality headset or mic. A good online teaching qualification should give a solid grounding in the sort of tech specs you’ll need, so you can make an informed decision if an upgrade is necessary before you get going.
Marketing yourself
Marketing yourself as an online English teacher is a whole different kettle of fish to doing it in person. To stand out from the crowd, you’ll need to sell your experience and abilities without actually meeting someone. That’s why online teaching courses like ours offer help with everything from contacting schools to creating stand-out intro videos that’ll leave you looking like a total TEFL pro.
Help finding online TEFL jobs
Don’t go thinking that online teaching qualifications are just about the technical side of how to teach. They’re also practical. Our 140-hour Master Course gives a rundown on some of the leading schools in the industry. It shows all the red-line requirements that they ask for in applicants, whether that’s a degree, previous teaching experience, or just native-level English. It also recommends ways you can go about sending off your applications and what hours the average contract involves.
Tempted by our online teaching qualification, the all-new 140-hour Master TEFL Instructor course? Get in touch for more information on how to enroll!