It is a question we get asked a lot at Global English. While our online courses are designed to prepare you for the real thing, the question remains: is some form of in-class teaching practice advised? Plus, if it is, how can it be obtained simply and cost-effectively?
Is teaching practice needed for TEFL jobs?
Mostly no. The vast majority of our online TESOL course graduates successfully teaching worldwide had no classroom experience beforehand. They tell us they are well equipped for their role thanks to their accredited training with us. With huge demand for English teachers, you will not need teaching practice for many of the worldwide TESOL jobs that exist.
However, there is no doubt that having done some teaching before you set out can be helpful and will enhance your credentials, as well as giving you some confidence before you launch your career. In more competitive locations, such as Italy, France etc. anything that can help give you an edge over the competition is certainly worth thinking about.
Where is documented teaching practice essential?
In a few countries, such as Korea or Hong Kong, you will generally need documented teaching practice to teach on certain programmes, such as the NET scheme and EPIK.
It is also worth knowing that the intensive classroom qualifications – the Cambridge CELTA and the Trinity CertTESOL – build observed teaching practice in as a core component, which is partly why they cost several times more than an online TESOL. If a specific employer names one of those qualifications, that is the exception where observed practice is unavoidable. We compare the two routes in our guide, Online TEFL/TESOL or CELTA?
How does an online TESOL prepare you without a classroom?
A good accredited online course is not just theory. On our online TESOL courses you plan real lessons, work through classroom scenarios and get individual feedback from an experienced personal tutor on every assignment – so by the end you have a folder of lesson plans and correction strategies ready to use with your first class. That external scrutiny matters too: our certificates are accredited by ACTDEC, which tells employers your training met an independent standard (see why accreditation matters).
In other words, the question is rarely “online course or teaching practice?” – it is “which combination gets me classroom-ready for the market I want?” For most destinations the accredited certificate alone is enough; for the competitive ones, a little documented practice on top is the cheapest edge you can buy.
Where can I get teaching practice simply and cheaply?
If you are Global English TESOL online graduate or trainee and would like some teaching practice before gaining work, here are some varied, cost-effective options:
- 1 week intensive English conversations posts in Hungary
- 1 week intensive English conversations posts in Poland
On the above schemes you teach in exchange for free hotel board and lodging. Plus, you will be in place to knock on the doors of local language schools should you decide to stay on afterwards.
- 2-9 month English homestays in Spain. This is a less intense version of the above. You teach your host family English in return for board and lodging. With plenty of time off, why not explore the country or hand some teaching resumes out ready to start paid work once the placement is over?
- Volunteer where you are in a local language school, local council, church or voluntary body. Opt to get your experience officially certified by Global English TESOL through our 20 hour teaching practice programme.
- Take a UK 20 hour practical weekend TEFL course, the perfect way to immerse yourself in TESOL and have a go at peer teaching. Available at venues across the UK.
Which teaching practice option suits you?
Here are those options side by side, so you can weigh up time and cost at a glance:
| Option | Time commitment | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conversation posts (Hungary/Poland) | 1 week | Free board and lodging in exchange for teaching | Intensive real-student practice abroad |
| English homestay (Spain) | 2–9 months | Board and lodging in exchange for teaching | Sustained one-to-one practice plus time to job-hunt locally |
| Local volunteering + 20-hour certification | Flexible | Low – certification fee only | Documented, certified classroom hours near home |
| UK weekend TEFL course | 1 weekend (20 hours) | Course fee | Tutor-guided peer teaching and instant feedback |
Online-only or online with teaching practice: which is best?
So which is best for you; accredited online only or online with teaching practice? Whichever you choose, we've got some unique course and placement options to help ensure you will be TESOL-ready. If you are still choosing your course, our guide to choosing the best online TEFL course for your career and our explainer on the difference between TEFL and TESOL will point you in the right direction.
Choose your perfect accredited online TESOL course.
Global English graduates, search and enquire about TESOL positions today.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need teaching practice with my online TESOL?
For most jobs, no. The majority of online TESOL graduates find work abroad and online without prior classroom hours, because employers primarily ask for an accredited certificate of 120 hours or more. Teaching practice becomes valuable in competitive markets like Western Europe, and is required for a few schemes such as Korea’s EPIK and Hong Kong’s NET programme.
Is a 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate enough to get hired?
Yes – a 120-hour accredited certificate is the standard minimum requirement for most entry-level English teaching jobs abroad and online. Adding documented teaching practice, a specialism or a higher-level course strengthens your application in competitive locations, but it is rarely a condition of being hired in high-demand markets.
What does “accredited” mean for a TEFL course?
It means an independent external body has inspected the course – the syllabus, assessment and tutor support – against a published standard. Global English courses are accredited by ACTDEC, the UK Accreditation Council for TESOL Distance Education Courses, which gives employers confidence in a certificate they may never have seen before.
How can I get certified teaching practice without leaving home?
Volunteer locally – language schools, councils, churches and community groups often welcome conversation-class helpers – and have the hours officially certified through a 20-hour teaching practice programme. You gain documented classroom experience, a reference and extra confidence without the cost of travelling abroad first.
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