First off, what is TEFL exactly? TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language—and your certification qualifies you to do just that! When getting TEFL certified, you’ll learn the skills and methods for communicating English lessons to students who don’t speak any English at all, and who may only speak a language that you’ve never learned! Many people are confused by the concept of teaching English to students you don’t share a language with, but TEFL certification programs will show you that it’s not necessarily as hard as it sounds. 

It’s worth noting that TEFL varies slightly from TESOL, TESL, and CELTA too. TESL means Teaching English as a Second Language, and typically applies to those who want to teach English in their home country to foreign language speakers. TESOL means Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and this has become a blanket certification for those who want both TEFL and TESL skills. On the other hand, CELTA stands for Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Many Americans haven’t heard of this particular type of certification, but it’s a great choice for those who want to build a career out of teaching English abroad. CELTA is held to an incredibly high standard by Cambridge, so you can expect the curriculum to go above and beyond what’s offered by other types of certification.