Hi guys,

I'm currently a first-year university student studying Italian and Media & Communications. Upon graduating, I plan to get my CELTA certificate and travel the world for a few years, teaching English, before maybe settling down and becoming an IELTS examiner.

However, while I'm studying, I'd like to obtain an online EFL/ESL certificate, so that I can tutor foreign students in English to get some teaching experience and a bit of extra pocket money. However, as my main investment is going to be the CELTA in 2013, I'm not looking to spend much money on my interim qualification.

I've narrowed my decision down to two options: either the 100-hour (non-tutored) TEFL certificate offered by The International TESOL Corporation (http://www.teflcorp.com/tefl-certificate-courses.htm), or the 100-hour (non-tutored) TEFL certificate offered by International TESOL Teacher Training (http://www.tesolonline.com/courses/without-tutor.php). The courses are the same price, the content appears to be identical. Additionally, my acceptance e-mail from both institutions were signed by "Broc Glendinning", which gives me the impression that they are essentially owned by the same parent company. Both companies are institutional members of The College of Teachers, and both claim their certificates are internationally-recognised. A few reviews here (http://www.teflcoursereview.com/international-tesol-teacher-training/) support the notion that most companies will accept ITTT as a valid qualification, although some don't. The review for TITC (http://www.teflcoursereview.com/the-international-tefl-corporation/) doesn't make mention of its acceptance worldwide. For this reason, perhaps I should go with the ITTT course. However, the TITC website looks far more professional, and so I'm not sure :P.

Considering this rather lengthy post, does anyone have any suggestions on which of these two courses I should go for, and whether 100-hour online courses are generally somewhat adequate qualifications for ESL teaching? I'd love any information you can provide.

Many thanks.

Cheers,
Will