CELTA vs TESOL - What’s the Difference?

There are a lot of certifications related to Teaching English abroad. You will encounter different acronyms such as CELTA, TESOL, TESL, and TEFL. But what is the most widely used and recognized certification for English teacher abroad?

If you dream of teaching English as Second Language, you need to research on how to work as an ESL teacher and understand which of these certifications is the right one for you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is TEFL?
• What is TESOL?
• What is TESL?
• What is a CELTA Certificate?
• Which ESL Certification Should I Get?
• Which ESL Certification is the Right One for me?

What is TEFL?

TEFL means Teaching English as a Foreign Language. You need to get this certification to teach English in a country where they don’t speak native English. An example of this country is Thailand.

What is TESOL?

TESOL means Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. If you are a native English speaker who would like to teach English to non-native speakers, you should get this certification.

What is TESL?

TESL means Teaching English as a Second Language. You need this certification to teach a student who lives in an English speaking country, but his or her native language is not English.

What is a TESOL Certificate?

• TESOL courses are accredited by external bodies
• A typical course costs about $3,000, it is less expensive compared to CELTA.
• A college degree is generally required, applicants must be at least 18
• It requires at least 100 hours of classroom time and 6 hours of supervised practice teaching.

What is a CELTA Certificate?

CELTA means Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. All CELTA courses are affiliated with and accredited by Cambridge University and adhere to the same standards.

• It is accredited by Cambridge University
• Price for course ranges from $1500 to $4000
• The course length is 4-5 weeks for full-time, and 2-3 months for part-time
• Applicants must be over 18, a native English speaker, and requires test and interview
• The curriculum is designed with 6 hours of practice teaching and 4 written assignments

Which ESL Certification Should I Get?

If you want to get a TESOL/TEFL course, expect to face some risks. There are too many TESOL/TEFL course providers with no strict guidelines. This is the advantage of CELTA over TESOL as it’s directly affiliated with Cambridge University. Do some research and make sure you sign up for a complete course with all the requirements you’re seeking for.