In the current grim economic climate, more and more people are looking to pack their bags and move to a new country to become English as a Second Language, or ESL, teachers. The best thing to do before you go is to get qualified. Having a teaching qualification means a wider range of countries to choose from and accessing a higher rate of pay in some countries.

Why get Qualified?
For those with no prior teaching experience, teaching abroad is a very daunting experience. Most countries expect you to hit the ground running and start within a few days of arrival. If you have a TEFL, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language, qualification under your belt it will give you a base of skills in class management and lesson planning that will prove invaluable in situations where on-the-job training is not given.

A TEFL is also recommended for qualified teachers who want to move into the ESL field. This is because dealing with ESL students requires a different approach than dealing with students in your home country. For instance, body language is a lot more prevalent in an ESL classroom than a standard one, as many of the students will not understand what you are saying.

Types
The most common course available is the TEFL course. This will provide you with a TEFL certificate, the most common qualification for ESL teachers. This can be done online or in the classroom. TEFL diplomas, or a TEFL master's are also available. Diplomas can be gained online, but they do have an in person element also. The accepted standard for schools is at least 100 hours of TEFL training, and some in classroom experience, before starting work.

The other most common certification for English teachers is the Cambridge English Language Training fro Adults, or CELTA, but the course to receive this is not available online. If you see this available as an online course, it is a con.

Benefits of Learning Online
As with all distance learning, the main benefits of learning how to teach ESL online is that it fits around your existing schedule. Assignments can be completed and submitted outside regular working hours. The other advantage of electronic distance learning is that assignments are submitted and transmitted instantly to the course provider. It is also ideal for those living in rural areas, who may not be able to commute to regional training centers.

Which Course is Right
When people see the multitude of TEFL courses available to them, it can be difficult to know which one is right. There are scams out there, courses that will leave you with not a lot of training or money at the end. In order to try and avoid these, it is best to do extensive research on the quality of these providers before handing over any money.

The correct course for you depends largely on which age group you wish to teach, and at what level. The standards for entry differ with each employer. Most countries accept a TEFL certificate to teach in schools. However, you should have a master's in order to teach at a university.

Accreditation
A common question among those looking for TEFL certificate courses is if these courses have any accreditation. That is, are the course poviders trustworthy? The simple truth of the matter is that there is no single body that gives accreditation exclusively to online TEFL providers. However, a trustworthy group is the Open and Distance Learning Qualifications Council, or ODLQC. This body provides accreditation for TEFL course providers in addition to other types of distance learning. TEFL diplomas and TEFL master's degrees are accredited by the universities that run them.