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For aspiring English teachers in London keen to kick-start their journey teaching English as a second language, there are a wide range of globally recognised TEFL courses on offer in the capital.
When it comes to teaching English as a second language, TEFL have been the educational gold standard for decades. In London, established course providers continue to offer flexible opportunities to gain recognised qualifications and develop practical classroom skills that will help freelancers land teaching roles both in the UK and beyond. We’ve picked out three of the best accredited TEFL courses in London that are taught either in-person or through a hybrid format combining online study with face-to-face training.
Cambridge CELTA
Totalling 120 hours of learning, Cambridge CELTA is one of the best known entry-level qualifications in teaching English, with the choice of attending at recognised institutions such as International House London, UCL and London South East Colleges. It will depend on your chosen institution as to whether you’ll be doing the CELTA course full time or part-time, in-classroom, or via a blend of both. The course itself involves a mixture of theory and practical training, lesson preparation, observational and writing tasks, all designed to give trainees the skills and experience needed to step into an English-language classroom at the end of their learning.
Level 5 Regulated TEFL Diploma
A more flexible alternative to the above, the Combined Level 5 TEFL Diploma pairs 158 hours of self-paced online study with a one-day, 10-hour classroom session at The Wesley near Euston. The online component can be started straight away and is designed to be completed within six months, covering methodology, grammar, vocabulary and lesson planning. In contrast to CELTA’s assessed teaching practice with groups of English learners, its practical element includes peer-to-peer teaching exercises. A the successful conclusion of the course, graduates receive an Ofqual-regulated, Qualifi-awarded 168-hour diploma, alongside a separate teaching-practice certificate.
Oxford International Trinity CertTESOL
Oxford International’s Trinity CertTESOL is another Level 5 tefl qualification taught face-to-face at its London Greenwich school, with a fully online option also available. The course comprises 120 hours of theory and practical input, plus six hours of supervised teaching with real English learners, written assessments and a somewhat unusual four-hour unknown-language exercise. Like Cambridge CELTA, it features assessed classroom practice and international recognition, but in addition puts a strong emphasis on reflection, phonology and understanding the learner’s perspective.