In regards to online TEFL classes. Yes they are all different and there is something to be said about a brand name of CELTA and Trinity and I am glad you did not make a negative comment about other providers as there are many excellent TEFL TESOL training centers worldwide and like all things some not so hot.

I have a BA in education and 6 years teaching experience (5th grade in the states). I took the TEFL Institute online class www.TEFLinstitute.com and found their curriculum 100 hours, quite challenging (it's the same as their in person class). There was also a required 20 hour practicum that was essentially the same format as my education degree practicum. I had observation, tutoring and teaching with ESL students locally. I had a log sheet, evaluations from the supervisor and reports I had to do. I observed 3 different teachers and taught both Latin American students at one location and Asian students in another (I'm in Chicago so there are many different options).

I looked into many online TEFL classes for months on end and found this one was excellent. I read their testimonials, I visited their office, spoke with an advisor and peeked my head into their onsite TEFL class next door, had a guest section of their online class and asked my ESL coworkers their opinion of the class and they recommended it.

On a related note, the online format was the same as I took in one of my college classes, very interactive with 20 or so students and my professor. Not a CD Rom kind of thing I've seen elsewhere.

One last note, I did look at a CELTA class being offered in a nearby suburban community college and frankly they didn't know anything about the world of English teaching and finding work. I found that a professional TEFL TESOL school that knows the world market is extremely valuable otherwise a certification with no guidance is not really worth too much (at least to me).

There is no easy answer to give about finding a good school as it depends (I personally wasn't going to go abroad and spend $ 4,000 for a class and housing). Ask the right questions and take everyone's postings and opinions with a grain of salt as we all have a different viewpoint and experiences.