How to TEFL in 2025

Every January 1st, people love to say, “New year, new me”. This statement has different levels of irony, but when it comes to teaching English as a foreign language, there’s no sarcasm or joking attached. The changing of the year is as perfect a time as any to consider a seismic shift in your life. It’s a great time to consider where you are and whether you’d like to make a departure. For many, it’s a perfect opportunity to consider their career. What about the things you’ve always wanted to achieve? The things you’ve always wanted to see and haven’t entirely managed to yet?

New Year is always a perfect time to pause and reflect. That said, there’s never a bad time to stop and take a moment to think about a career change, especially if you’re considering TEFL. Call us biased if you will, but the facts are: TEFL has never been more popular, there have never been more eager teachers jetting out to different locations around the world, or more talented teachers working online to the beat of their own drum, setting their hours and schedules.

So, how’s it done? What’s stopping you? We’ll answer the first question for you, but the second? Well, that’s your call. Hopefully, everything in this blog post will help you make up your mind one way or the other. Just know that here at The TEFL Org, there’s a supportive staff on board to answer any remaining questions you might have about TEFL courses, becoming a TEFL teacher, or anything else!*

*within reason. Unfortunately, we don’t know the meaning of life. We’re working on it.

Why TEFL?

Call us predictable, but we’d instead ask: why not TEFL? 

Teaching English is an exciting, rewarding career choice, whether you take it up for a while or the rest of your working life. If you’re looking for a job that broadens and tests your skills ,  you’ll love teaching English as a foreign language. We’re talking about communication skills, problem-solving abilities, organisational attributes, the ability to work with different groups of English learners, and loads more. You’d be amazed by the teaching skills you already have, by the way - there are a lot of transferable skills you’ve probably developed in your career to date.

Travel

TEFL gives you opportunities to teach worldwide, which is one of the main attractions. Location independence is a real thing, people! You could wake up in Colombia and take on the challenge of teaching English in Latin America . You could spend years  teaching across Asia , stopping off in Thailand , Taiwan ,  China ,  Vietnam , or wherever you fancy. Maybe teaching English in Europe is where you want to be, in countries as diverse as Croatia , Turkey or Germany ? Or, it could be that you want to explore the hot weather and even hotter salaries of the Middle East in exotic outposts like the UAE or Saudi Arabia . It’s all possible.

Work online

Of course, there’s another option: working from home. Teaching English online is super popular, and it’s not hard to see why. If you’re TEFL qualified, you can gain financial and locational independence by teaching English from the comfort of whichever room of your home is comfortable. Or, you can become a digital nomad and get the best of both teaching abroad and teaching online.

Earn a living

So, exciting opportunities: check. The chance to work remotely: check. Travel: check. What about earning a living? Salaries in the TEFL world can vary depending on location, qualifications, and experience. That’s true of any industry. However, you might be surprised how much you can save as a TEFL teacher. Some jobs will have a suite of benefits, and it’s vital to bear in mind that, while some countries’ salaries may look a little low, they might have a cost of living that’s even lower, meaning that wages stretch much further.

Make a difference

While you’re seeing the world and maybe even building up that bank balance, the social impact you can make is enormous. All kinds of people can benefit from learning English as a foreign language, from refugees and asylum seekers to those working in top businesses worldwide. Language is a great equaliser. If you’re working with disadvantaged groups, your impact can be substantial, and volunteering is a fantastic way to build vital career skills and find networking opportunities.

What is TEFL certification, and why do I need it?

Now, let’s slow down for a second - all those foreign locations and career goals sound impressive, but you’ll need TEFL certification first.

In the old days, you might’ve been able to turn up at some school and say, “Hey! I can be a teacher!”. It might’ve worked - especially if you had a degree - but nowadays, employers of TEFL teachers will need to see some internationally recognised credentials.

There have been some fundamental changes over recent decades. The CELTA used to be the only show in town where certification was concerned, and you’d have to study in person at one of a few recognised CELTA-approved centres. Nowadays, there are various valuable TEFL qualifications, with 120 hours of study time representing the industry standard. The options are plentiful, with Level 5 Courses , combined in-person and online courses , advanced TEFL courses and loads more! Navigating the differences between TEFL courses can be tricky - it’s worth researching before committing to one option.

Here’s some helpful shorthand: consider a TEFL certificate as the driving licence or passport for English teaching. This is a handy metaphor for our next point since you wouldn’t get a driving license or passport from somewhere dodgy or disreputable and hope for it to work. 

Accreditation is vital. You must get your TEFL certificate from a recognised, professional and respected institution. Otherwise, it’ll be worth very little, and employers won’t respect it. Look for multiple sources of renowned accreditation. Groupon deals and discount courses aren’t going to have this.

How do I get TEFL certified?

When it comes to getting TEFL certified in 2025, there are more options than ever. If you enjoy studying online, the industry has opened up to distance learning in a significant way. Online courses are hugely popular, with several reputable (and many less so) outlets offering comprehensive, engaging TEFL courses.

If you’re looking for classroom and online experiences, then a combined TEFL course may be what you’re after. These allow in-person, one-to-one tutor conversation and the opportunity to work alongside your fellow students in real life. Add an easy-to-use online experience for coursework and assignments; you’ve got the best of both worlds.

Alternatively, if you prefer to study in person, a range of classroom TEFL courses are available worldwide. Traditionally, CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL certificates - from Cambridge and Trinity College London, respectively - were the ways to become TEFL certified. In recent years, the value of other, newer TEFL certificates has created a debate about whether CELTA or TEFL is better. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice, but you can easily find classroom courses.

Finding a TEFL job

So now it’s time for the exciting bit: finding a TEFL job. Your first port of call ought to be The TEFL Org Jobs Centre , where we have countless excellent opportunities for teaching English abroad or online.

When you’re looking for jobs abroad, consider the following:
1. Do I meet the job requirements?
2. Would I want to work here?
3. Does the salary match my skill set and experience?

Recruiters are often a valuable tool for finding jobs. It’s worth researching recruiters - make sure they’re ethical - but when they’re reputable and highly recommended, having people find work for you speeds up the process. If you want to hear how recruiters work, our episode of I Taught English Abroad with Dan Wharton is super interesting!

Application

Just because you have a shiny TEFL certificate and other requirements you need to teach, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get a job. You’ll need to write impressive job applications , have a spot-on CV ready, be able to put together a classy cover letter, and - if necessary - send a video lesson to a potential employer.

We wouldn’t send you away without some great resources, however, so here are some of our very best ones:

CV

How to boost your TEFL CV/Resume

The TEFL Org CV Guide

Cover Letter

10 top tips for writing a cover letter

How NOT to write a cover letter

How to write the perfect cover letter

Video lesson

Demo EFL lesson tips and advice

How to create a TEFL intro video

Interview

Interviews can be nerve-wracking, but you'll notice the formula once you’ve done a couple. It’s as much an audition for your prospective employer as it is for you, and as much as you’re there to answer questions , you’re there to ask some , too. Interviews are a great chance to get a feel for a job - what your employer’s expectations are, the kind of hours you’ll be expected to work, the company culture, and so much more can be ascertained from the interview.

Once you’ve been offered a job, you’ll be given a contract to sign. Upon receiving a contract from an employer, make sure it’s to your liking. It’s worth consulting with your local legal representatives if anything doesn't look right. If you’re in the UK, try Citizens Advice or the Citizens Advice Bureau in the USA. Don’t sign anything mindlessly - especially if it’s in a foreign language!

2025 is your time!

Got everything packed? Sorted out an ideal job? Have you even gone as far as renting out your accommodation, writing a travel itinerary or booking flights? Or maybe you’ve plotted your journey to working from home, cutting commuting out of your life, and going into online English teaching.

Look, you don’t need to have gone that far yet. It’s worth checking out our travel checklist , which points out everything you need to think about before you head off. That includes visas, documentation, what to pack, and other priceless gems. Still, having that unmistakable feeling of butterflies about a new adventure is an irreplaceable and special one to have with a brand new year ahead of you. 

If you’ve proven anything at this point, it’s that A: you like a long read, and B: you have all the mental tools you need to teach English as a foreign language. Before you launch into it, if you can, seek some advice on online forums or with people who’ve become TEFL teachers overseas - there’s always something you might not have thought of, and everyone has advice they wish they’d learned sooner.

The rest of your life starts now. Are you ready?

Not sure where to start your TEFL journey? Download our TEFL Org Guide to the World today, and figure out where your adventure begins!