Top Ten TEFL Certification Courses In Washington D.C. in 2024 [Updated]

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Let me guess the reason you’re here, you have been searching for the best TEFL certification course online in the capital of the United States, our very own Washington, D.C, right? I hope it hasn’t left you drained umm yet. No worries because we got this. We’ve listed the top ten TEFL online course providers all across Washington D.C. and in the United States.

Before getting to the list let us overview how the TEFL course will enhance your teaching skills and what are the standards one should consider before enrolling to the course. I assume you already did the research for the course and are aware of what TEFL means, but an extra pinch of knowledge never goes in vain.

Let’s begin with what TEFL precisely stands for, TEFL known as Teaching English as a Foreign Language is a course that trains you as an instructor to teach the English language abroad to the speakers of non-native countries.

To know which course would benefit you better, you need to analyze the modules and the standards required to get certified.

Course Structure:

The TEFL course will teach the following, that will improve your teaching and chances of getting TEFL certified, which will of course then allow you to pursue a job abroad:

• Language Skills: How to improvise your language skills i.e. Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing, and learn to address them to your students

• Grammar: Ways to improve your grammar and how to make them easily known to your students

• Management: To learn how to manage both in-class classroom and online classroom

• Strategies and Methods: Different cultural locations require strategies and methods to make them understand you better

• Resources: Essential resources and materials are provided for guidance and future understandings.

Each college or online site you register for the TEFL certification will provide you with the module for your course period.

TEFL International Standards:

Apart from knowing what you will learn through the TEFL course, it is important to International Standards required for the TEFL certified job, which can be found mentioned below:

• The candidate should have had at least 100 hours of TEFL coursework training, 120+ hours is more preferable

• The candidate must be able to conduct or have live teaching practice for at least 6 hours

• An externally validated or accredited curriculum

• The candidates must be trained by the instructors qualified with a Master’s Degree/ DELTA/ Diploma in TEFL/ Diploma in TESL with at least 8 years of experience in linguistics and training.

Difference between TESOL and TEFL:

Often, there’s a confusion between choosing TESOL and TEFL. Although these terms have slight similarities they both differ from each other.  TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification allows you to teach English in both native and non-native countries to the speakers of the foreign language, for example, teaching English to immigrants.

Whereas TEFL allows you to teach English in non-native countries to the speakers of the foreign language, for example teaching English to Korean people in Korea. TEFL is mostly preferred over TESOL when hiring overseas.

Now that you know what the course pattern is and what are the course standards to look for in the TEFL course, we can now get to the top ten TEFL course providers in Washington D.C.

Although I tried my best to select the best TEFL course from Washington, there were a few online course providers that provide TEFL certification across the United States. The information in the list is based on either their lowest cost of course-set or details mentioned on their website:

1. Henryharvin.com :

I know this one isn’t based in Washington, but Henry Harvin has to be the best TEFL certification website in the education industry right now. Henry Harvin TEFL certification course provides 120 hours of course period which covers over 11 units that will enhance your language skills, train you with classroom management, time management and supervise you with the nuances of teachings by applying different methodologies and strategies.

Henry Harvin will also up-skill your learners’ psychology. The best part of Henry Harvin is the application of Bloom’s taxonomy which helps any candidate in understanding the concept from lower-level cognitive learning to a higher-level hierarchy.

Where: Online

Why choose them: The TEFL course at Henry Harvin is offered jointly with Tutree, an expert in the recruitment of international teachers, and offers a variety of opportunities that include:

• EFL teaching jobs
• Certified/ licensed teaching jobs      
• Principals & administrative posts
• College & University positions

Henry Harvin will also provide the candidates with exclusive access to their learning management system that has content varying from reference books, blogs and articles, videos.

Accreditation: The TEFL course at Henry Harvin is accredited with AAEFL (American Association of EFL) that follows the Centralized Universal TEFL testing standards.

2. Theteflacademy.com

The TEFL Academy provides the best TEFL certification course in Washington and has official recognition from the government-regulated awarding bodies both in the US and the UK. They specialize only in TEFL and train their candidates with instructors that are ESL professionals and DELTA, qualified assessors.

The TEFL Academy provides its candidates with 168 hours of TEFL course training which includes 20 hours of classroom teaching practice in Washington, D.C. and an additional grammar course to upskill your TEFL training.

The TEFL academy syllabus includes 11 units that cover your vocabulary and pronunciation, classroom management and planning your lessons, receptive and productive skills.

Where: Washington, D.C.

Why choose them: Level 5 TEFL certification which is CELTA/ Trinity CertTESOL qualification.

The TEFL Academy Level 5 certificate qualifies as a diploma for higher education or a foundation degree and is slightly on the same level as CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL.

The course is tutor-supported with 6 months of access.

Accreditation: The Level 5 TEFL Course is DEAC-approved meeting the criteria for Approved Quality Curriculum (AQC) status.

The TEFL course is supervised by Ofqual and allocated by Qualifi which is a UK government recognized awarding body.

3. StudyCelta.com

CELTA is the most highly recognized TEFL/ TESOL certification course in the world and in Washington, D.C. CELTA is known for the high standards it has set and the diligent assessment it follows.

The TEFL course is internally assessed and externally moderated by Cambridge ESOL approved assessor. Anyone with or without any experience of teaching, with a minimum age of 18 and has completed High School can apply for CELTA.

The syllabus at CELTA includes five units that cover language skills and language awareness, professionalism and lesson planning using resources for different teaching contexts.

CELTA follows Cambridge ESOL guidelines for the evaluation process and is based on practical. There will not be a final exam. The written assignments are evaluated.

Where: Washington, D.C.

Why choose them: CELTA provides practical seminars on methodologies and supervised teaching practice.

As a StudyCELTA trainee, you will be able to sign up for free at www.teflwork.com for TEFL jobs. TEFLwork provides job locations for both at home and abroad with your CELTA certificate.

CELTA would pose as a superior choice for people planning to teach in Europe and Middle-east, although it is applicable worldwide.

Accreditation: CELTA is authorized by the Cambridge University.

 

Also Check: Top 15  free tefl course in 2021

4. Ilidc.com

The International Language Institute (ILI) provides an online TESOL/TEFL certification course in Washington. ILI allows its candidates to practice their training in both individual and group settings. The course is of 120 hours and covers all the required aspects of language and teaching, lesson planning, material and design, and classroom management.

ILI also guides in acquiring theoretical knowledge in English and the methodology to apply it for job placement and career opportunities. Assessment for the course is based on a grammar proficiency test and exit examination.

Where: Washington, D.C.

Why choose them: Highly professional instructors with years of experience in ESL applications. The candidates receive complimentary materials that will help them enhance their teaching skills further.

The candidates can request for the mention of Continuing Education Units earned during the course on their Certificate of Completion. ILI also assists in preparation for interviews, resume writing, referral and placement.

Accreditation: The TEFL course is accredited with ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training).

The course is licensed under the DC Educational Licensure Commission.

ILI is a member of AAIEP (American Association of Intensive English Programs), WATESOL (Washington Area Teachers of English Speakers of Other Languages), NAFSA (Association of International Educators), and ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages).

5. Lado.edu

LADO International Institute offers ESL, ESOL, and TEFL certification courses in Washington. Lado offers 135 instructional hours’ teacher training program which includes 13.5 hours of practical in-classroom teaching experience and 13.5 CEUs.

The methodology applied in the training is developed by Dr Robert Lado. The course covers Learners’ awareness, lesson planning, material development, classroom management and also helps to enhance modern ESL training strategies.

Where: Washington, D.C.

Why choose them: Lado provides both oral and written feedback, assistance and lesson preparation advice. Upon the completion of course they also provide a letter of recommendation and certificate with the number of hours of practical teaching experience the candidate has achieved throughout the course mentioned.

Accreditation: The course is accredited by ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training) a national accrediting agency certified under the international standards set by the international organization of standardization.

6. Premiertefl.com

Premier TEFL offers English government-regulated TEFL certification courses and provides both practical and accredited courses. At Premier TEFL you can choose between an advanced 120 hours TEFL course and level 5 Ofqual regulated 168 hours TEFL course.

The 120 hours advanced TEFL course includes a total of ten modules that covers identifying learners’ needs, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. It will also train you in enhancing your learning and language skills.

The 168 hours Ofqual regulated course includes a total of eleven modules that covers the principles of TEFL, language skills and vocabulary, grammatical technicalities. It will help you up skill your teaching abilities to young students and the effective use of resource materials.

Where: online

Why choose them: Premier TEFL course provides paid scholarships where the successful candidates receive up to 97% sponsored tuition, teaching practice. The scholarship provides access to unique international experiences across England, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Malta, Slovakia and Romania.

Premier TEFL also provides paid internship opportunities and job assistance.

Premier TEFL is a level 5 Ofqual regulated certification TEFL course.

Accreditation: The TEFL course is accredited by ACDL (Accreditation Council for Distance Learning) and approved by TQUK (Training Qualifications UK) that is an Ofqual endorsed awarding organization.

7. Oxfordseminars.com

Oxford Seminars is another one of the best leading TESOL/TEFL certification courses in Washington and across the US and throughout Canada. They will provide effective training for your TEFL course. The TEFL course spans for 120 hours of course service training with live instructor-led classes and comprehensive course materials.

The TEFL course covers a variety of essential topics that include an introduction to ESL with help of warm-up games and exercises. They enhance your classroom management techniques, lesson planning. It also supervises on how to deal with cultural sensitivity in the classroom, teaching practicums, etc.

Where: Washington, D.C.

Why choose them: Oxford Seminars provides a thorough curriculum and course materials worth $150. They also provide supervision at teaching in a multicultural setting. The course also covers resume writing, finding ESL jobs, preparation for job interviews for teaching positions.

8. Teflcourse.net

International TEFL and TESOL Training (ITTT) provides high-quality online TEFL certification course training. Any person fluent in English and is over a minimum age of 18 can apply for the TEFL course.

The course completes a 120 hours training which includes extensive materials based on the current recruitment environment. The TEFL course materials are designed for the enhancement of teaching skills. It mainly emphasizes on the practical teaching training (6-10 hours of observed teaching practice both with individuals and in groups).

The course includes 20 units and divided into two teaching areas. The first half subjects are related to classroom management, teaching theories and methodologies, lesson planning. The second half of subjects include language awareness, speech & tense identification, professionalism.

Where: Online

Why choose them: Each student receives an official transcript from the Paris College of International education along with their certification.

The course also provides comprehensive videos for learning, enhances CV/Resume writing skills and guides for interview preparation.

Accreditation: ITTT is accredited with OTTSA (Online TESOL and TEFL Standards Agency).

ITTT is a member of IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language

ITTT course is authenticated by many universities including the Lamar University in the USA, Siam Technology College from Thailand.

9. Teflpros.com

The TEFL pros provide digital TEFL certification course training with high-quality course materials and practical skill-building techniques. TEFL prose 120 hours course includes 10 modules that cover almost every aspect of TEFL training.

To pick a few the course will enhance your learning, speaking and writing skills. They will guide you in the management of the classroom, assist you for the preparation of your teaching materials. Along with the modules, TEFL Pros also provides 17 Hours of in-Classroom observation videos, step-by-step video instructions.

Where: Online

Why choose them: TEFL Pros graduates will receive a TEFL Certificate along with a letter from Jos and Whit. You get a portfolio of your work for job interviews, lifetime job assistance and course materials. 

Accreditation: TEFL Pros certificate course is accredited with ACCREDITAT that meets the demanding standards of ethics and quality of the course.

10. Uni-prep.com

Uni Preps TESOL/TEFL online certification course helps their students to qualify and work as an ESL/EFL teachers internationally. The course provides 120 hours of training and has no set schedule. When registered at uni-prep they provide a log-in credential that is accessible 24/7. The course will usually take a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks to complete.

After completing the course the candidate gets to choose between either a TESOL or TEFL certificate. The TEFL course has a total of 10 units and also includes video lectures. The course covers topics like classroom management, proficiency testing, phonetics, curriculum and lesson planning, etc. 

Where: Online

Why choose them: The TEFL course at Uni-preps can be done anywhere and at any time, would take you a minimum of 2 weeks for completion. There is no final examination. They also provide full-time tutor support and job assistance through their job partner ESL Job Lounge.

Accreditation: Uni-preps is accredited with ACCREDITATION an international learning and development body.

These were my top ten TEFL online and in-class certification courses in Washington and across the US. There are also hundreds of other websites that provide TEFL courses in Washington, D.C. as well as around the US.

So the choice is totally up to you to choose the best course at your convenience. If you still are in a state of confusion regarding which TEFL course would suit you the best and is cost-effective, I have jotted down some answers related to your TEFL course.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Whether you should choose the course online or offline?

My opinion would be to choose an online option as it provides more flexibility which allows investing your time as per your convenience and is cost-effective as it saves time cost.

Is an accredited course an important feature for your course?

Accreditation is the most important point to consider while choosing a TEFL course. There are numerous independent accredited and regulating bodies. Ask your course instructor thoroughly about its accreditation, whether it is recently established, the benefits that the particular accreditation would help you for job application.

What is a Level 5 certification?

An official government recognized level 5 qualification means that Ofqual (UK government) has approved the qualification to be a recognized level of achievement.

What should be the ideal course period?

As per the International Standards, a TEFL-certified candidate must have at least 120 hours of training and 6 hours of practical teaching practice. The longer the course period the more it will benefit your certification. The course must provide live teaching practice.

What should be the required post-certification benefits?

The course providers must assist you with the job placement, providing VISA, and legal paperwork (sometimes optional).

What to consider for the qualification of your trainer?

As mentioned earlier in the TEFL Standards, the trainer must possess a Master’s degree/ Diploma in TEFL or Diploma in TESOL/ DELTA. The trainer must have extensive experience in ESL, training, and linguistics.

Above mentioned are also some of the questions you must consider and ask your trainer/instructor before opting for any course.

Post-Certification Guide:

Last but not the least, it is important that you are clear with where you are heading after the course. Understand what cultural background you are most comfortable in teaching.

This is important because knowing what is your goal after the course will benefit your learning, help you choose your course accordingly.

If you are unsure about what to look for after completion of your TEFL course, here are some points to consider:

• Set your goals. Note down the locations that are hiring ESL teaching staff or providing internship opportunities. Pick out the best you feel will suit your comfort zone for the beginner level. Be firm on your objective of teaching students abroad

• Once you select the location it is important to have a piece of knowledge about the cultural settings and sensitivity. This will help you adjust to your new location and boost your confidence while teaching new students

• Ask yourself what is your teaching niche. What is the size of the classroom you are comfortable teaching? Whether you want to teach in a school, academy, or university? What age group do you feel you can manage well?

• It is advisable to research the salary expectations for beginners or paid internships and choose the job accordingly

There are also a variety of other blogs, sites, and articles that you can refer to and will guide you with what to look for before and after applying for the TEFL course and TEFL certification.

Recommended Read:
– What is TEFL Certification
– Top 10 TEFL Certification Program in 2021
– Top 5 Programs to Get Your TEFL Certification in South Africa
– Top 50 Best TEFL Certification Courses
– TEFL Vs. TESOL

 

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