Training the world's English teachers since 1997
Global English is a UK-based, ACTDEC-accredited TEFL/TESOL provider. We train people to teach English online and overseas: over 2,600 students certified since 2010 - with a real personal tutor behind every course, not an algorithm.
Who we are
Global English is an independent TEFL/TESOL training provider based in Exeter, in the South West of England. Since 1997 we've specialised in one thing: turning people with no teaching experience into confident, qualified English teachers - ready to work online or in classrooms overseas.
We're accredited by ACTDEC (the Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses), which covers every Global English course except the 10-hour Enter English introductory course, and registered with the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP).
We are a small UK school, not a volume mill. That is a deliberate choice. Larger providers process thousands of students through automated marking. We keep enrolments at a size where a named tutor can still read your work and write feedback you can use in a real classroom.
What we teach
TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) are used interchangeably by employers. What they actually look for is the number of hours, the level, and whether ACTDEC has assessed the course. Our core certificates cover that ground:
- the 120-hour Level 3 course - our first full TEFL/TESOL qualification;
- the 150-hour Level 4 course - the core certificate plus advanced class management, assessment, online teaching and professional development;
- the 250-hour Level 5 course.
Specialist short courses sit alongside those certificates if you already have a TEFL and want a named skill: business English, young learners, grammar, or teaching English online. If you are not sure which level fits, take the 2-minute course quiz or browse the full course list.
How the courses work
Every course is online and self-paced. Most students finish the 120-hour course in 6 to 12 weeks; the 150-hour and 250-hour courses take longer if you study around work or family. You get a set access window (180 to 365 days depending on the course) and you work through interactive lessons, then submit assignments.
Those assignments are the point. A real TESOL tutor reads them and sends feedback. Nothing on a Global English accredited course is auto-marked and left at that. A certificate on its own does not make you a good teacher; proper feedback does.
If you are unsure whether your English is strong enough to start, take our free English test first. There is no obligation and no card details needed. Every course also carries a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Who it is for
Most of our trainees have never taught. Many are career changers in their thirties, forties or later - mature teachers are often in demand for business English and adult classes. Non-native English speakers are welcome: a large share of our graduates now teach successfully worldwide.
You do not need to live in the UK. Students enrol from every continent and study from home. If your plan is to teach English online, or to apply for classroom jobs in Asia, Europe, the Middle East or Latin America, the same accredited hours are what employers and platforms ask to see.
Where our graduates end up
Global English graduates teach in classrooms and online right across the world - from China and South Korea to Spain and the Middle East, as well as teaching English online from home.
We stay involved after you graduate. Every course includes lifetime access to our international TEFL jobs board, plus CV and resume support to help you land a first role. Read graduate stories on our blog and stories hub.
Common questions
Do I need teaching experience to start?
No. Our courses assume no teaching experience and no grammar expertise. A personal tutor marks your work and gives feedback throughout, so you can start from scratch and finish ready to plan and teach a lesson.
Where do Global English graduates teach?
Graduates teach in classrooms overseas and online from home. Common destinations include China, South Korea, Spain and the Middle East, as well as remote platforms that ask for a 120-hour TEFL or TESOL certificate.
Are you a UK school?
Yes. Global English is based in Exeter, in the South West of England. We have been training English teachers here since 1997, and our Level 3, 4 and 5 TESOL courses are ACTDEC-accredited.