What’s the Difference Between a CELTA and

a TEFL Cert?

 It’s a bit of apples and oranges really, but not really.  All  quality TEFL training programs will contain components of teaching methodology, English grammar, observed teaching practice and demonstration classes in front of your peers.

Most programs will also include information on the problems and needs of the EFL students in the country where they are located and this is very helpful for you if you take the course in the country where you intend to teach.

Generally speaking these programs are quite intensive, there is a LOT to learn in only a few weeks.  Don’t plan on partying or hanging out on the beach too much while you are in training.  Hang on the beach, but take your study materials with you . . .

CELTA is more standardized as it is a franchised program and the TEFL schools that teach the CELTA TEFL program must pay a royalty for each course participant.  Possibly for this reason you will notice that CELTA programs are generally the most expensive around the world. 

CELTA also is a program oriented towards teaching adults - the “A” in CELTA.  If you wish to teach children, you might wish to lean towards a TEFL Certification program that will give you some practice with them as well as adults. Most TEFL Cert programs will try to give you a variety of practice teaching experiences and will cover teaching children AND adults.  Many new teachers, just starting out, will spend some time teaching children - so this is an important consideration.

There is an elitism about CELTA and you will find people who rabidly consider it to be the only real TEFL course.  But, you will also find that people have great loyalty to the TEFL school they went to.  It’s a bit like loyalty to your university or high school - people spend some money, put in some hard work, and therefore want to feel that their school is the ONLY school or at least it is the BEST! 

It's like the kinship solders get from going to boot camp together.