Which TEFL course to choose: Level 5 or 120-hour?

What does Level mean in a TEFL course title?

Many people think that the TEFL qualification implies a level system, however, this is not entirely true. Based on the name TEFL Level 5, we can decide that it is preceded by levels 1, 2 and so on. But has anyone heard of this?

The only reason for this name is Ofqual, namely the government department that controls the standards of qualifications in England. For those who are not familiar with the UK government, let's clarify that each territory in its composition (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, England) is responsible only for its own education system. So, the regulatory body in Scotland is SQA, in Wales - Qualifications Wales, and in Northern Ireland - CCEA. From which it follows that we cannot find the course approved by the government of the whole of Great Britain.

However, Ofqual has a structure of 8 difficulty levels. For example, grades D, E, F, or G for the GCSE (Certificate of Secondary Education) correspond to the first level of the Ofqual scale, while the pinnacle of academic achievement is the 8th level with the title of Doctor of Science.

In other words, when considering studying at an institution with Ofqual standards, you may be considering more than just that. Now there are many official bodies with the right to issue diplomas, such as TQUK. Such an independent institute will carefully study and evaluate the applicant's abilities and courses for compliance with the basic standards of certification.

As a result, the TEFL Level 5 course takes its name according to the standards for assessing qualifications on the Ofqual scale.

What does Hour stand for in a TEFL course name?

Typically, TEFL courses are measured by the number of hours it takes to master the material. A course of 120 hours is recognized in the educational system as a necessary minimum and is in demand in most companies, which can be easily seen by looking at vacancies for the position of an English teacher. That is how long it takes to start a career as a teacher and gain the required knowledge, from grammar to teaching methods.

A course designed for fewer hours will not bring the desired results in work. In this case, it is unlikely that potential employers will pay attention to you, since even the approved minimum has not been reached. But 120 hours or more of training will only improve your resume and increase your chances of getting a high-paying job, especially if you are going to specialize in specific areas.

Which course is better: 120-hour or Level 5?

Having dealt with the specifics and differences, we are still wondering: “What to choose?”. Details like these can be confusing even for experienced teachers, but don't worry.

Let's figure out who the TEFL 120 - hour:

• A candidate with a bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• A teacher with experience.
• A citizen of one of the English-speaking countries: Great Britain, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Or an applicant with a high level of English.
• Those considering a job in a country with a high demand for English teachers.

In the meantime, TEFL Level 5 is for those who meet the following criteria:

• No high school diploma.
• No experience in teaching.
• English is your second language and you are not fluent in it. You do not have an English speaking passport.
• You are going to work in a competitive environment or online.
• You do not yet feel confident in learning English and would like to understand everything.

As you can see, the decision criteria are quite transparent. In any case, such an increase in professional skills will distinguish you from competitors in the labor market and help you work with different student needs.

Is the TEFL Level 5 course identical to CELTA?

According to the Ofqual classification, CELTA and TEFL Level 5 are recognized as identical in terms of difficulty, but not equivalent in terms of theory and practice. The courses are focused on different topics and involve completely different learning systems. CELTA focuses on teaching adults, while Level 5 covers students of all ages. TEFL allows you to study online while observing your own mode and pace of life, CELTA requires constant and full concentration on learning, most often designed for face-to-face work for a month.

Both certificates will be an unconditional advantage when looking for work abroad, however, CELTA is slightly less in demand by foreign employers. But there are exceptions. In the event that a CELTA qualification is required, TEFL Level 5 is unlikely to be considered as an alternative replacement. If they were really considered equivalent, then employers would not set such conditions.

Most often, CELTA is in demand among companies in English-speaking countries. Typically, the CELTA certification requirement is followed by a certain number of years of work experience. So many educators just get TEFL, work abroad for a few years to get enough practice, and then go back to getting CELTA. And, by the time the training is completed, they become candidates that fit all the requirements. Due to its rather high cost (around 1,200) and long study time, CELTA is more suitable for those who are thinking about expanding their teaching knowledge.

Will a Level 5 qualification help me earn more?

TEFL Level 5 certification will give your resume an advantage in the eyes of the employer, however, this will not affect income in any way.

Salaries in teaching are determined by the experience of the applicant. Therefore, new teachers can expect the same salary regardless of whether they hold CELTA, TEFL 120-hour or TEFL Level 5 certification.

Depending on the circumstances and the place where you are going to work, Level 5 can be an outstanding plus in a competitive environment. You should not expect that in this case you will be able to demand a high rate, the educational labor market is arranged differently. Although the tactic of “don't be afraid to name your price” works all over the world, for English teachers it can be a failure.

Questionable courses

Unfortunately, there is no single accreditation body for all companies providing professional development services. This means that nothing can stop scammers from calling a TEFL 120 hour course when it actually takes only a few hours to complete, or calling the course Level 5 when there is no control over learning from Ofqual's side is out of the question.

Without the approval of courses by external educational bodies, this is a guess. Accreditation provides a clear and concise justification that the course will provide all the declared theoretical and practical knowledge according to the required standards. An official agency will never grant accreditation to companies that deliberately name inappropriate courses with well-known names.

How can you find out the truth anyway? The only proof of the reliability of TEFL Level 5 will be full compliance with the standards of the supervising Ofqual. Of course, the most resourceful can claim to have Ofqual regulation even if it doesn't. Or, they may be persuaded to obtain confirmation from TQUK, which of course is a less thorough process than regulation, and absolutely unequal.

In any case, the only correct solution is to carefully check the accreditation of the center. It must be approved by a specialized agency. And remember that membership in such institutions or support from them does not equate to accreditation.

Conclusion

The slight differences between the 120-hour and Level 5 give us a full understanding of the need to obtain one of them. As the demand for teachers grows every year in all countries of the world, we must be ready to demonstrate our right to decent work and wages.

You cannot become a sought-after teacher in one day. As we found out, this will take time. First, the study of teaching methods, and then the development of knowledge in practice. Fortunately, getting the first work experience is real and easy.

But in order not to waste time in vain, we recommend that you start preparing now. Get the teaching skills you need with the TEFL/TESOL online course. During your studies, you will already be able to feel confident in the selection of materials and the organization of lessons. Follow your own schedule by studying at any convenient time and getting feedback from a native speaker tutor. Now there is an opportunity to purchase a TEFL/TESOL course with a 50% discount.

We hope that this article helped you figure out how to distinguish conscientious certification representatives from scammers, and choose the best professional training course for yourself. We will be happy to answer the remaining questions on the topic in the comments below.