Frequently Asked Questions

You have lots of questions? We have lots of answers! If you would like further information, please contact us.

TESOL - The Industry

An informative introduction to the industry, the opportunities worldwide, and how YOU can join the exciting world of teaching and travelling. >>GO

TESOL - The Courses

A TESOL Certificate is your ticket to countless overseas destinations! Here you'll find our TESOL Courses requirements, timelines, cost, registration and other details to help you get started. >>GO

TESOL - The Job

A unique and highly practical part of our courses is the job-search support. Get more information about how to find work and what to expect once you land your first -or next!- overseas teaching job. >>GO

Computers and Technical Issues

Here we answer your questions about computers and support >>GO

Other services

Teach International does not only offer a range of excellent TESOL Courses, but also many other services. Read more about them here. >>GO

TESOL - The Industry

1. What do TESOL teachers do?
2. What do all these terms mean?
3. What is the Communicative Approach to teaching English?
4. Why is there such a need for English?
5. Why Teach International?

1. What do TESOL teachers do?

TESOL teachers teach English to speakers of other languages in almost all countries where English is not the first language. There are also TESOL markets in countries where English is the commonly spoken language (international students, migrants and refugees). Teaching Opportunities include:

1. private language schools
2. private or public primary schools, high schools, colleges & universities
3. in-company or “business” classes
4. private tutoring

In our courses we go into detail about the different opportunities; the advantages and disadvantages of working in different types of work settings; and how to find the right type of position for you. Here is a document that more definitively describes international standards for the TESOL industry and employment pathways.

2. What do all these terms mean?

ESL - English as a Second Language (replaced by ESOL)
ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages
(these days English is not a second language for many people – it’s a third or fourth!)
TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language (replaced by TESOL)
TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESOL - Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages
NESB - Students from a non-English-speaking background

TESOL, TESL and TEFL are often used interchangeably. But there is a differentiation.

TESL was traditionally used to refer to teaching NESB students in English speaking countries, but in recognition that students may be learning English as a third or fourth language the term TESOL has replaced it. TEFL does not have the same problem because being used to refer to students learning English in a non English Speaking, English is a foregn language being learned. TESOL can be used interchangeably with TEFL.

3. What is the Communicative Approach to teaching English?

Teach International supports and practices the Communicative Approach to language teaching. This approach focusses on using English in the real world and often employs a focus on Conversational English. What does this mean? More student talk-time! No translation – only English in the classroom! No long lists of dry memorisation of vocabulary or beginner English speakers struggling with difficult grammar concepts. Let us teach you how to make English learning and teaching enjoyable and effective!

4. Why is there such a need for English?

• Business - English is the leading language of commerce, politics and technology in todays knowledge economy. Business people all over the world are under pressure to learn to communicate in English.
• Internet – Both casual and professional pursuits through the Internet are strengthening desires to learn English.
• Travel – Global Travel no longer needs to be accompanied by so many communication barriers.
• Media – English clearly dominates global film, television and radio. Native speakers of English are best prepared to teach ESL students the humour, slang, colloquialisms, and all the other connections between language and culture.
• Academics – Many ESL students are motivated by a desire to exceed academically either at home or in English-speaking countries.

  More details on the demand here.
  Fluency in English opens doors professionally and personally!

5. Why Teach International?

Teach International offers innovative, practical programs and we want to see you succeed! We are constantly reworking our courses and programs and base our changes on feedback from our students. We provide a range of training options to suit all needs – whether you want a year off to travel and earn or you want a new rewarding and fulfilling career, we have the right course for you!

Here are many excellent reasons to choose Teach International.
Here are many more!

 

TOP of TESOL - The Industry
TOP of FAQ

TESOL - The Courses

1. Are there any entry criteria for the courses?
2. Will I obtain a certificate upon successful completion of my course?
3. When will I receive the certificate?
4. Can I do a course completely online?
5. Can I start the online components first?
6. What do I need to do to get started on my online components?
7. Can I do the online components overseas?
8. What are the time frames for completing the courses?
9. Are the 12 hours of reading assessed? How?
10. What's the difference between your courses and a diploma?
11. Do I need to do a Certificate IV in TESOL to teach overseas?
12. What's the benefit of doing a Certificate IV in TESOL?
13. Who organises the practice teaching?
14. Do I need to purchase any extra resources?
15. Is it possible to fail the course?
16. Can I get academic credit for previous teaching experience or other courses?
17. Do you guarantee I will find work in Australia?
18. Can I enrol in your TESOL courses if I am in New Zealand?
19. How much are the courses?
20. How do I register/pay?

1. Are there any entry criteria for the courses?

• You must be 18 years of age to enrol in any of Teach International's courses.
  
  
• You must have completed Year 12 or equivalent, or submit your CV* with the registration form for consideration. * On a CV we will be looking for employment experience and/or educational acheivements which indicate language capabilities at the level of the course you wish to enrol in.
  
  
• You must be a native English speaker**, or meet the IELTS entry criteria (not needed for iTESOL).|
  
  If you are not an native English speaker, wishing to enrol in either the Certificate in TESOL, Certificate III in TESOL, or Certificate IV in TESOL you must submit a Teach International English Skills Competency (ESC) Test prior to enrolment, or a copy of IELTS equivalency test results*** with your registration form. The IELTS or ESC test results required are:
  Certificate in TESOL requires IELTS 6.5 or equivalent
  Certificate III in TESOL requires IELTS 7.0 or equivalent
  Certificate IV in TESOL requires IELTS 7.5 or equivalent
  
  ** “For the purposes of English language teaching, a native English speaker is someone who was educated in an English speaking education system from childhood and is presently competent with standard English usage. Additionally, English was the first language in the home environment and/or English was the commonly spoken language in the country of upbringing”
  
  *** Instead of IELTS test results, you can submit equivalent test results with the Registration form
  
  
• You need to have internet access and be competent to work with browsers, email and a word processor.
  
  Please view other regulations and policies in the Registration form.

2. Will I obtain a certificate upon successful completion of my course?

Yes. You will receive your TESOL Certificate when you complete all the components of your TESOL course. On the reverse side of the certificate there is a breakdown of the components. At the end of the in-class course, however, you will receive a Verification of Study letter for successful completion of that component only.

3. When will I receive the certificate?

You will receive your Certificate once you have completed all mandatory components of your TESOL Course.

4. Can I do my course completely online?

We do have the iTESOL online course, which is 100% online. For all other qualifications, a large portion of our courses is available online for your convenience. However, all our students must attend the five day in-class component. Certificate III and IV students must also undertake practice teaching to real students or if they have been working in the industry for some time they may apply for recognition of prior learning, for practice teaching.

As English teachers ourselves, our philosophy of language learning is "to learn by doing". The same philosophy applies to learning how to teach. Our five days with you are very valuable, and the feedback forms we receive from our new graduates support that. We want to model teaching methods for you, and give you support and feedback, but most importantly, we want YOU to try it yourself, with our guidance and feedback.

5. Can I start the online components first?

Yes, our goal is to provide as much flexibility as we possibly can. Some students like to take on the on-line grammar course first and this is not a bad idea. But, you can still start the in-class component without having done that and you will manage just fine.

The on-line grammar course is concluded with an on-line exam, as do most of the other electives. The electives cover curriculum subjects that you may be asked to teach in a job. For example, you may teach children in the early afternoon, young adults in the late afternoon and business English by going to a company and teaching their staff. You need 80% to pass the on-line exams and if you fail you can redo them.

Certificate III and IV students need to complete some other online units that we refer to as auxiliary units. These cover more in-depth knowledge and are concluded with submitted written work. It would be more natural to do these auxiliary units after the grammar course and the electives, but again it is up to you.

If you are a Certificate IV student the last two Cert IV auxiliary units should be done during or just after your practice teaching.

iTESOL studnets can complete all components online.

6. What do I need to do to get started on my online components?

Once you have enrolled, we email you your Username and Password to access the Teach International online Student Centre. In the Student Centre you can select your electives and see which units have been marked as complete.

7. Can I do the online components overseas?

Absolutely! You may do the online components from wherever you like.

We will send your certificate to the address you provided upon registration, unless you advise us of a different mailing address.

What's more, if you are doing a Certificate III or IV in TESOL, you can complete your Practice Teaching and Observation units while you are working overseas!

8. What are the time frames for completing the courses?

When you register for your preferred TESOL course with Teach International, you are offered twelve (12) months enrolment to complete your course. At the discretion of the Registrations Officer, you may be entitled to a further six (6) months extension but a fee will apply.

iTESOL Certificate: You have twelve (12) months to complete all online components. The 6 monthly extension option does not apply to iTESOL.

Certificate in TESOL (Foundation courses TWO, FOUR, SIX): You have twelve (12) months to complete all online components. You must attend the 5 days in-class training skills course within the first 6 months.

Certificate III in TESOL: You have twelve (12) months to complete all online components and 4 hrs practice teaching. You must attend the 5 days in-class training skills course within the first 6 months

Certificate IV in TESOL: You have twelve (12) months to complete all online components and 6hrs practice teaching. You must attend the 5 days in-class training skills course within the first 6months

Upgrading from one certificate to another: You can upgrade to a higher certificate at any time during your enrolment or no later than 30 days after your current registration expires. When you upgrade, you will be entitled to another twelve (12) months of registration from the date of your upgrade to complete your next certificate.

9. Are the 12 hours of reading assessed? How?

Our inclass component includes a TESOL Manual (yours to keep!) which you receive on the first day of the in-class component. We use it during the course, and when you finish the in-class component, it is your responsibility to read the rest of the manual. The Teach International TESOL Manual will also be an invaluable resource for your teaching career.

Aspects of the reading are reflected in the on-line units, but it is the on-line work that is assessed, not the informnation in the TESOL Manual.

10. What's the difference between your courses and a diploma?

In the Australian educational system, an accredited Certificate IV is equivalent to year 12, and an Advanced Diploma is equivalent to first year of University. But in the private arena, if they are not accredited, companies can call their courses 'certificate' or 'diploma' or use other terms.

A Certificate IV in TESOL (such as the one we offer) meets and exceeds the minimum requirement set by NEAS (the accrediting body for ESL schools in Australia). This criteria provides an international benchmark. Even though having a certificate that does not meet this level will in many cases be sufficient to gain employment, you will need our Certificate IV in TESOL along with a degree of any kind to work in Australia.

The NEAS Australia’s TESOL qualification criteria for working in an Australian English Language Centre includes:

• no less than 100 contact hours, or the equivalent in Distance Education programs, with a content focus on English language, language learning, and TESOL teaching
• a practical component including at least six hours supervised and assessed practice teaching in TESOL and
• approved/awarded by a university, approved by government, or a recognised TESOL program.

11. Do I need to do a Certificate IV in TESOL to teach overseas?

For most positions overseas, you do not need a Certificate IV in TESOL. Our Certificate in TESOL (Foundation courses TWO, FOUR, SIX) and Certificate III graduates have been finding amazing positions overseas for years! We recommend our iTESOL course for community teaching and volunteer post, but even then our students can find work in many countries with the iTESOL.

However, If you are planning on teaching in a place where there is a well established market and the competition for jobs is very high, then you might consider completing a Certificate IV in TESOL, as it will make you more marketable. We are happy to advise you depending on where you would like to teach and other qualifications and expereince that you may have.

12. What's the benefit of doing a Certificate IV in TESOL?

There are many; the main benefit is that our Certificate IV in TESOL qualifies you to teach in the Australian ESL market (provided you meet other requirements as set out by NEAS). You might take our Certificate in TESOL (Foundation courses TWO, FOUR, SIX) or Certificate III in TESOL, teach overseas for a year or more, and then decide you LOVE teaching. In that case, you can upgrade your course from Foundation to Certificate IV very easily through Teach International.

If you are looking at teaching ESL as a career change, a Certificate IV will provide you with more background knowledge on theoretical aspects of language teaching as well as the practical teaching components.

Finally, a Certificate IV in TESOL will make you very competitive in certain markets.

13. Who organises the practice teaching?

The practice teaching component in the Certificate III and IV courses can be organised by us - we run a number of free English classes around Australia and have a number of ongoing mentor training arrangements in place. Also if you join one of our Study Overseas Programmes we run practice teaching with our partner schools.

Or if you prefer, you can organise it yourself. Many graduates complete this component whilst on the job overseas. If you organise it yourself, or do it overseas, then you must ensure that the requirements for the school and the supervisor are met - the information and procedures are found in the Practice Teaching Handbook, which you can access as a student.

If you already have teaching experience, you may apply for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) for the practice teaching components.

14. Do I need to purchase any extra resources?

Included in your fee are all online materials and your TESOL Manual which you receive on the first day of your in-class component.

As an ESL teacher you will need to purchase a good teacher's grammar reference book for the job. But this is not needed at the start of your course. If you are a Cert III or IV student you can buy a grammar reference book when you do the practice teaching. In any case we recommend having one before taking on a teaching position.

15. Is it possible to fail the course?

The Teach International academic department is here to assist you as much as possible to pass the course.

Our courses are competency based, so students can redo components until they reach the competency level required to pass the unit without having to pay additional fees.

For the practice teaching, if ongoing problems are experienced, some students may be required to teach additional hour, or you may need to redo the in-class component (to rebuild practical teaching skills). They will also receive additional one-to-one support. If there are significant ongoing problems, we may also help you to exit the course with a lower-level qualification.

We not only want to teach you, we want to see you succeed, and our whole team is here to help you do well!

16. Can I get academic credit for previous teaching experience or other courses?

We ask all students to complete the in-class component because this is where we train you in the aspects of delivering lessons according to the Teach International method. Our method is according to the widely accepted "communicative methodology" but we do have our own integrated formula - we know you will benefit from the experience. Sometimes those who have taught for many years are the ones who need this course the most, because the style of teaching language is so different to styles of teaching other subjects. There may be habits you need to unlearn!

For all other components you can apply for Recognition of Cross Credit (RCC). You can do this if you have completed another TESOL qualification or have completed a degree which had some papers covering TESOL methodology. We look for TESOL relevance, so other discipline areas such Communication Skills and/or Literacy don't apply. There are exceptions - one being where applicants hold a Cert IV in Training and Assessment (Cert IV TAA/TAE) where we can cross credit aspects of assessment design.

The application process for Recognition of Cross Credit (RCC) is covered in the RPL Handbook.

17. Do you guarantee I will find work in Australia?

The TESOL industry in Australia depends on different factors to the overseas markets. Student numbers influence how many teachers are employed by schools, so teaching jobs are usually on a casual or part-time basis. There are few full-time jobs and there is a lot of competition for them. Factors like fluctuating exchange rates, perceptions about safety, changing visa regulations and political ideologies affect the student numbers. Therefore, it cannot be guaranteed that graduates will find work in Australia at any one point in time. This will depend on the state of the market at the time you graduate.

18. Can I enrol in your TESOL courses if I am in New Zealand?

We currently offer our courses in Auckland where we also have practice teaching arrangements in place.

19. How much are the courses?

For our current prices please contact us on 1300 55 88 90.

20. How do I register/pay?

You can register in one of three ways:

1. online via our secure payments (Australia only)
2. by calling the office on 1300 55 88 90
3. by filling out a registration form at one of our information sessions (Australia)

You can pay in one of several ways:

1. credit card (Visa or Mastercard) through the phone or at an information session
2. International Money Transfer (IMT) from New Zealand
3. bank cheque – available from your bank (Australia)
4. Internet banking - click HERE for details (Australia only)
5. Directly into Teach International's account - click HERE for details (Australia only)

Please visit the registrations page for full details on payment options for all courses.

TOP of TESOL - The Courses
TOP of FAQ

TESOL - The Job

1. Where are the jobs?
2. How do I know which country is best for me?
3. How do you help me find a job?
4. But I don’t speak their language!
5. What are the work conditions?
6. Do I require a degree to teach English overseas?
7. Do I need teaching experience to get a job?
8. Am I too old? Am I too young?
9. What if I don’t like the job?
10. How long are the job contracts?
11. What is your job guarantee?

1. Where are the jobs?

The ESL industry is strong and the last decade has seen phenomenal growth in the market worldwide. In areas like Europe (Eastern and Western), Hong Kong and the Middle East, English is widely spoken, and yet the ESL market continues to grow. Places like Japan, Korea and Taiwan boast a stable infrastructure in the ESL market, and no sign of slowing down. The most exciting areas of the industry, however, lie in locations such as China, South-East Asia and Latin America. It is here that the need seems the greatest and the market is the most vibrant. Basically the only perceived non English speaking countries where there is a reduced market are those where English is an official language and consequently taught right through the school system. These countries include India, Malaysia, Philipines - there is an ESOL market in these countries, it is just that it is reduced.

A number of counties offer full time contracts where it is common to undertake a telephone or Skype interview and contracts may also include the reimbursement of your air fare. From Australasia, these countries are China and South Korea and, less so, Japan. One needs to recognise that jobs advertised on the Internet are the tip of the iceburg, so in all countries (except China) when you enter the country as a tourist and and visit schools looking for work you will inevitably meet with success. You will mostly be able to support yourself from your employment within a month or tow of job seeking. The majority of TESOL teachers gain employment this way - in such a case the contract offered may be on a consultancy basis to overcome work visa issues and teachers then renew visas by a simple border crossing. Once you are established in employment then you can ask the school to help you gain an officail work permit.

Take the example of Istanbul, a city of over 10 million. It is estmated that there are between 500 - 1,000 language schools in that city. So, you can imagine that in the centre and at every transport interchange there will be a number of language schools close by. One franchise group in Istanbul, 'English Time', employs between 200 - 300 native English speakers spread across their many schools. While jobs advertised on the Internet may cluster around August, prior to the September start of the academic year, there will be many many jobs available of the ground. One just determines the best time to arrive and that time is around August for September work. But, with a market such as Istanbul, you can find work at any time of the year. The quiet period is over the July-August period because it is their academic holiday period - it is holiday time for many students. At this time many TESOL teachers do short course work in the Uk where there is a massive amount of TESOL work over the academic break. With just a little bit of research you will find the story to be very similar for most countries.

Click here to visit our Job Centre - just a sample of the thousands of jobs you're eligible for with our TESOL certificate!

2. How do I know which country is best for me?

Let us help you! We have extensive experience in travel and teaching, and can help you make a good choice based on your background, your interests and your skills.

Our trainers are very interested in making you aware of all the opportunities, and would like to open your eyes and mind to places you may never have thought of living or working!

One way to sort this out is to simply start your course. On the in-class course we divide the world up and discuss the different markets. Another way to open your mind up to the possibilities is to do one of our Study Overseas Programmes. Join us in Istanbul or Hanoi and get a real feel for what it's like on the ground - that will really fire up your imagination.

3. How do you help me find a job?

We tell you where the opportunities are, what the salaries and cost of living are in different parts of the world, and give you personal advice on which places may best suit you. We help you build an international resume, and give you advice and tips on that till it meets our standards. We give you a list of very valuable questions to ask before you sign a contract (so you end up with no surprises on your arrival overseas). And we tell you where you can look online to find thousands of current job postings.

We do not place you in a job, but guide you. It is best for you to find the job that’s best suited for you. We are very confident that you will find a job after we set you up with the skills you need. So confident, in fact, that we are happy to offer you our money-back job guarantee.

In addition, we have a fantastic Job Centre online, where employers from around the world advertise positions at their schools (this is NOT, however, the only place for our graduates to look for jobs! There are thousands out there, and we teach you how to find them!). We offer free and ongoing job search support to help you even after you have finished the course. You can view schools that have been recommended by other TI grads, use job forums, be in touch with a huge network of grads and much more!

4. But I don’t speak their language!

As an effective ESL teacher you will speak only English in the classroom. You are not a translator. Your students want to be immersed in the language, so even with beginner students of English you will be communicating in English. It is most beneficial for your students and for you to never use their first language in the classroom. That is what they come for. One principle of language teaching is to scaffold language complexity, so in any lesson the students will undersatnd perhaps 70% of the language before you start. Course books naturally control this scaffolding process and when you teach you inevitably use a course book - along with your various changes and additions to it.

5. What are the work conditions?

Every job will vary, but these are some of the most common features:

• Contracts from 2 weeks - 2 years
• If you gain employment in-country and outside of the peak employment time, often you are first offered 'a class' which might be 5 or 10 hours a week of work. Then you might get another class at another language school down the road - if the first school doesn't give you more hours first.One way or another you work yourself up to the hours you want. Along the way you may also take on some private lessons, since you will often be approached for private lessons.
• Accommodation and international travel expenses may be reimbursed for one or two year contracts.
• Health insurance often paid.
• Monthly salary ranges from volunteer to $5000 per month depending on country.
• Severance pay equivalent to one month's salary common at end of contract.
• Extras like internet access, language lessons or cultural lessons often negotiable in contracts.
• Often extremely low cost of living and low taxes.

6. Do I require a degree to teach English overseas?

See question 1 above, 'Where are the jobs', for a background on gaining employment directly in-country. In that case, which is most cases, you will not need a degree. The employer is looking to employ a native English Speaker with a TESOL certificate. If they like you and maybe a demonstration lesson then you will get the job. Where jobs are advertised on-line, many positions do ask for a university degree as well as a TESOL certificate. Also because for these positions there will be an official work permit set up, so they will be asking for you to have a degree.

If you are under 30 there are some countries where you can gain a one year working holiday visa. This will depend on the country you are in and the country you are going to. Visit the embassy website for the country you are interested in to see if this condition exists.

Also, in fact many employers will advertise what is called a 'wish list' asking for lots of qualifications, but usually settling for less dependent on the applicant pool. Take into account that the rules are more relaxed the further away from the central government you get.

7. Do I need teaching experience to get a job?

No! Most new ESL teachers are doing this for the first time! However, if you look back at your life experience, you probably have taught! Do you have experience in any of these capacities?

• coaching
• babysitting
• training others in your workplace
• camp counselling
• parenting
• tutoring
• informally teaching English to friends or relatives
• hosting non-English speakers in your home
• student leadership
• community involvement
• office management

These are just a few of the experiences where you develop skills directly related to teaching and will not only help make you more "marketable" as you look for a job, but more importantly, prepare you for the classroom!

8. Am I too old? Am I too young?

Our students range from 18-70 years of age. We regularly have students who are retired and looking for some new exciting challenges. If you have the energy to teach and travel, as well as the desire, then you are not too old! Some countries (ie. Japan and Korea) are somewhat ageist, and it is more difficult to find positions as you get older. But there are seniors teaching English all around the world. In China the official age limit is 55 years for women and 60 years for men. Now is always a great time to go! One way to think about this is that young people tend to head for the positions in the big cities where there is a lot of entertainment. So then, if you look at cities one step away from capital cities then you are most likely to find more opportunities. In most teachers' room in most language schools you will see a range of teachers from different countries and of different ages and a group of teachers who are native to the country.

You must have completed high school (or equivalent) and be at least 18 years old to take our course. Work experience which can be recognised as suitable prior learning to the course may be considered in place of a high school certificate.

9. What if I don’t like the job?

We really help you do your research, and give you the right questions to ask so that wherever you end up there are no surprises and you love your job! Many ESOL teachers renew their contracts and teach in the same school for 2 or 3 years, or for many more!

There are, of course, many opportunities for you once you get overseas, so you might find a sweeter deal after being there for awhile. Of course we recommend that all teachers honour the contracts they have signed. If you decide you want to move on to another school down the road, in another city or even across the world, you usually have only to give your “notice” of one or two weeks. Again, this is something to check in your contract.

It is more likely that your concern will be about whether you fit into the culture, so we also help you in various ways to understand how to think and what you need to do to feel good about your cultural adventure.

We will set you up for success!

10. How long are the job contracts?

If you gain employment in-country and outside of the peak employment time, often you are first offered 'a class' which might be 5 or 10 hours a week of work. Then you might get another class at another language school down the road - if the first school doesn't give you more hours first.One way or another you work yourself up to the hours you want. Along the way you may also take on some private lessons, since you will often be approached for private lessons. Once you have a job that you like you can generally stay as long as you want.

For positions advertised on-line most schools are looking for teachers to commit to a one-year contract. Many teachers actually extend their contracts and stay for two or three years (or even longer!) at the same school.

11. What is your job guarantee?

See our money-back job guarantee here.

TOP of TESOL - The Job
TOP of FAQ

Computers and Technical Issues

1. I'm not so good at using the computer.
2. Do I need to have a computer and if so, what type?
3. Do I need any special software?
4. Do I need to have an Internet connection at home?
5. What technical support do you offer?
6. Do you give me my own username and password?
7. What if I don't have an email address?
8. How long do you give me access to the Student Centre online?
9. Sounds great! What can I find in the Student Centre online?

1. I'm not so good at using the computer.

Basic computer skills are a necessity for completing the course and for doing your job search on the Internet. You need to be able to use a word processor like MS Word, use email and attach files to emails, and to use a browser. We have many students who are not highly skilled in computer or Internet use, and are able to complete the online components.

If you are not confident in your computer skills, we recommend checking out your local community centre or library for free short instructional computer courses. There are also some great computer tutorials which you can do online, and we can recommend those to you. We also offer some basic tutorials through our Student Centre.

2. Do I need to have a computer and if so, what type?

No. It certainly makes studying more comfortable if you have your own computer; however, people who don't have one use a friend's or go to an Internet cafe to download and, if possible, print out the online components. Then you can study all the material from the paper copy, making notes, and then go back to the Internet cafe to complete the online exams and/or submit answers to activities and tasks. So, you don't need to spend every hour that each component takes in front of the computer, but you do need a few hours at a time in order to access the material and to submit your work.

3. Do I need any special software?

Not really. All you will need is Adobe reader, which is free software (most computers have it installed already) and you can download it from our Student Centre online. You will also need to have a word processing program such as Microsoft Word (or other) for some of the online components. If you want a free one, google, 'OpenOffice' or 'LibreOffice'

4. Do I need to have an Internet connection at home?

No. Obviously, it will make your life easier to have access at home, not only to complete the course, but also for your research and job search and application process afterwards. But if you don't have it, you can download all the materials at an Internet cafe or a friend's and save them on a disk (or print them).

5. What technical support do you offer?

We offer technical support on the issues that may arise with our Student Centre online. That is, if students have problems accessing the online components, forums, etc. we look into the problem and fix it where applicable. Support is offered via the phone through our head offices, and via email through a specialised online help email address.

We also offer Tutorials in the Student Centre online for those who may need extra help using computers or the Internet.

However, we cannot offer support with issues that concern the users' end, that is, if you have problems with your computer, or your Internet connection, etc.

6. Do you give me my own username and password?

Yes! Every Teach International student and graduate receives their personal username and password to access the Student Centre online.

7. What if I don't have an email address?

These days, you can get a number of free email services, such as www.yahoo.com or www.hotmail.com

8. How long do you give me access to the Student Centre online?

There are deadlines for completing your online components; however, every Teach International graduate has access to the Student Centre online for life! Your username and password never expire.

9. Sounds great! What can I find in the Student Centre online?

Lots of great information!

• Tutorials - if you need any help with computers or the Internet
• TESOL Country Guides - updated info on your destination of choice: weather, visas, embassies, work, salaries, accommodation, the ESL market and lots of links to get you there!
• Teaching resources - you can download many of the activities we do during the in-class component, as well as some extra resources for your classroom
• Travel - lots of important information about travelling overseas safely
• Links - we have a HUGE collection of links related to the TESOL industry, including employment, resources, and much, much more!

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Other Services

1. I need a good teacher for my language school; do you offer a recruiting service?
2. Can I advertise teaching positions through Teach International?
3. Teach International sounds great! Can my business collaborate with TI?
4. Can your graduates volunteer-teach at my school in Australia or New Zealand?

1. I need a good teacher for my language school; do you offer a recruiting service?

Yes! If you have hired Teach International graduates in your language school, or you are in charge of recruiting for your school, we have an excellent referral service. For more information, visit our Job Support section.

2. Can I advertise teaching positions through Teach International?

Yes! We have our own Job Centre where employers around the world are invited to advertise vacancies in their schools. For more information, visit our Job Centre.

3. Teach International sounds great! Can my business collaborate with TI?

Absolutely! We have many business associations (see our Affiliations page) with whom we collaborate. Please ring our office for more information.

4. Can your graduates volunteer-teach at my school in Australia or New Zealand?

Of course! Our Certificate III and IV in TESOL include a practice teaching component. If your school in Australia or New Zealand would like to hire trainee teachers from Teach International, please contact our office and ask to be put in touch with the corresponding person in your area.

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