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What’s the Difference Between TEFL, TESOL, TESL, CELTA & DELTA?

The world of English teaching qualifications is full of acronyms; what do they mean, and how do they compare to each other?

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What’s the Difference Between TEFL, TESOL, TESL, CELTA & DELTA?

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When it comes to teaching English, whether as a second language, foreign language or however you like, there are a lot of acronyms. Fine, it’s not quite the medical profession - but you’re going to have to learn a number of phrases and letters!

After all, nobody (you’d hope) would undertake a qualification without fully understanding what it is. If, for example, you signed up to do a TEFL certificate with us, we hope it’s because you know that TEFL stands for Teaching English as a Foreign Language, and that TEFL certification is a must for any budding teacher.

Yes, acronyms are everywhere, from your parents thinking “lol” means “lots of love” to the world of English language teaching. So, let’s navigate each acronym, figure out what it means, and leave you with a full understanding of the industry and its quirky abbreviations.

Ready? Let’s start ASAP.

What does TEFL stand for?

TEFL refers to ‘Teaching English as a Foreign Language’. It really is that simple. If you’re looking to teach English as a foreign language, you’re looking for TEFL courses. TEFL certificates can be used anywhere in the world to teach English to non-English speakers. The great thing about TEFL is that all you need to get qualified is a fluency in English!

These courses are typically completed online with the top providers offering regular short classroom courses. This means you can fit in studying towards your TEFL qualification around your existing schedule as courses are typically flexible and self-paced.

TEFL courses are measured in hours, so you’ll see most courses listed by the number of hours they take to complete. You’ll also see some courses described as ‘Level 5‘, which means the course has been accredited by Ofqual and is English government-regulated. Most employers look for teachers to have a 120-hour TEFL qualification, so it’s a good idea to take a 120-hour TEFL course with at least these hours.

What does TESOL stand for?

TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) essentially means the same as TEFL. TEFL is the acronym used primarily in the UK while TESOL is more often used in Australia or the USA. It can also be used to refer to the teaching of immigrants or refugees who come to a native English country. Their needs are very different from a TEFL learner; a TEFL learner will typically only hear English in their classroom while a TESOL learner will be hearing English all around them as they learn to live in their new country.

What does TESL stand for?

TESL means ‘Teaching English as a Second Language’. TESL teachers predominantly work teaching English to immigrants, like TESOL teachers. Or, they find themselves teaching people living in a country where many languages are used, and English is one of the main ones. It can also be referred to sometimes as Teaching English as an Additional Language (TEAL), just to throw another acronym into the pile!

You’re less likely to hear the term ‘TESL’ than you are TEFL or TESOL, but it’s worth learning. If you want to know more about the difference between TESOL, TEFL, and TESL, you can see this guide here.

What does CELTA stand for?

The CELTA is a qualification that set the benchmark for English language teaching for decades, and it stands for Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. This is a qualification provided by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), and it’s highly regarded by employers.

A CELTA course should run for four to five weeks if you choose to undertake them full-time, but these courses can (depending on location) be available part-time as well. They are very intensive and, at anywhere between three and five times the cost of a TEFL course, quite expensive. In recent years, the CELTA has become available online or in hybrid settings where some online teaching and some in-person study takes place. This has meant that it’s far more accessible than it used to be.

To apply for one, you need to be a proficient English language user (CEFR level high C1 or above), educated to the standard required for entry into higher education and aged 18 and over, unlike TEFL where all you need is a native-level ability to speak English.

What does DELTA stand for?

Want to go a step further than CELTA in your English language teaching adventure? The DELTA is the Diploma in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and is an advanced TEFL qualification. It can only be taken by qualified English teachers with a few years of teaching experience who are looking to advance their qualifications.

It is similar to the CELTA qualification in that it is completed as part of an intensive course undertaken over several weeks. It is also granted by the UCLES, like CELTA.

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What are the main differences between TEFL, TESOL, TESL, CELTA & DELTA?

By this point, you might be thinking “Well, great, I know all the acronyms. How does this actually benefit me?” It’s a fair question.

The thing is, when it comes to actually doing TEFL courses or CELTA courses the distinctions are extremely important. They can differ hugely in terms of availability, intensity, cost, how long they take and - perhaps most importantly - how they’re delivered.

So let’s delve further into this world of acronyms so you can make an informed choice.

Length of course
Intensity
Cost

Length of course

The CELTA course is over in a flash; normally, it’s completed over 4 weeks and involves a total of 120 hours of classroom study. CELTA training centres will usually run one or two courses a year. With this said, there are online and hybrid learning options, but these are typically the same length.

A TEFL/TESOL/TESL course can be completed entirely online and most of the more established providers also offer short classroom courses as well. You can study when it suits you and work through the course at your own pace, though you should ideally be finished within 6 months. The industry standard for a TEFL certificate is 120 hours of study in an online TEFL course, just as the CELTA lasts for a total of 120 hours.

A DELTA, meanwhile, tends to take between 7-12 weeks if you’re studying full-time. These courses, like the CELTA, tend to be conducted in person, though there are options.

Intensity

In terms of intensity, you can’t really top the DELTA. An advanced TEFL qualification, it’s not for the faint-hearted. Expect very busy, demanding sessions while you’re studying, and desired completion within 2 months. There’s a lot packed in there, and not long to do it in.

The CELTA, of course, is intense in its own way. If you’re studying a CELTA then be prepared to take it very seriously indeed.

A TEFL certificate - from a good provider at least - should have some degree of intensity and impetus, but it shouldn’t be a nerve-shattering experience. A reputable course provider will let you study at your own pace, in your own chosen environment.

Cost

A good-quality TEFL qualification will usually cost between £180 – £400 ($240 – $550). If it’s much cheaper, be extremely wary, as they often aren’t accredited and may not be recognised by employers. There are lots of budget TEFL course providers out there offering extremely cheap courses, but these are unlikely to prepare you properly for teaching English and often involve a lot of hidden fees.

CELTA courses, on the other hand, cost substantially more at around £1,250 – £2,000 ($1,500 – $2,600), depending on the centre. In fact, if you complete the CELTA as most people do – full-time over the course of a month – there are other significant costs involved, such as loss of earnings and, potentially, accommodation.

So if your choice of TEFL or CELTA certification is a cost issue, then TEFL is your best option.

Is CELTA the best qualification?

So after all that, is there a “best” qualification to get if you’re a TEFL teacher? It might’ve been the case at one point, with the Cambridge CELTA being the primary (and really, only) certificate for teaching English as a foreign language on the market. Certainly, it’s the one that employers recognised most, and the one that opened most doors worldwide.

Nowadays, it’s more of a debate. For sure, the CELTA qualification - carried out through a proper, recognised CELTA training centre - is a high-quality certificate that will help you with everything you need to get started on your English teaching journey. “Best”, though? Well, that’s hard to quantify.

A number of TEFL course providers would argue that for price, flexibility and international recognition, their 120-hour or more courses represent the “best” qualification you can get. Does that mean it’s the best? Who’s to say?

Ultimately, it’s subjective. At one time, yes; the CELTA was the best and, realistically, only qualification for people who wanted to teach English overseas. Now, that isn’t the case. The best qualification is the one that puts you in a position to succeed as an English teacher.

Are TEFL courses recognised by employers?

In more recent years, the debate has been about whether online TEFL courses are recognised by employers. Going further back, the argument opens up a little, and it’s something worthy of discussion.

Are TEFL courses recognised by employers? Yes. Across the world, employers have realised there’s more than the CELTA out there; established, reputable TEFL course providers (like this one!) have popped up over recent decades, offering real choice to the consumer, as well as a wealth of knowledge and resources for budding English language teachers who want to head off and teach English abroad.

As TEFL course providers have emerged, though, so have unscrupulous, shady providers. That’s why accreditation is so important. An employer worthy of your time and effort should be savvy about the industry, and know the importance of accreditation when it comes to TEFL qualifications.

What is accreditation?

For clarity’s sake, let’s explore what we mean when we talk about accreditation. When a course provider applies for accreditation, an external body assesses them and, if their standards have been met (or even exceeded!), they will award accreditation. High-quality accrediting bodies will continue to monitor a provider. That way, they can ensure that these standards continue to be upheld.

This is crucial: there is no overarching accrediting body for TEFL courses and providers. You do not have to have accreditation from one particular body in order to create and sell TEFL courses. That’s perhaps why there’s a lack of regulation within the industry.

TEFL course providers with an emphasis on quality will seek out accreditation from established bodies that have a rigorous assessment process. Those shady, less reputable providers will either have no accreditation, mislead you about their accreditation status (yes, it happens), or hold accreditation from organisations without any kind of established reputation.

How do you choose the best certification for your needs?

If only there was some kind of easy, accessible quiz to find out which TEFL course is right for you…

Ultimately, there are a range of factors in play here. Firstly, what kind of time do you have to commit to a TEFL certificate? If you have a full-time job, care commitments or, generally speaking, can’t find a four-week/seven-week window in your schedule, then taking on a CELTA might not be possible. On the other hand, a very intense, short period of study before finding work might be just what you need.

Inevitably, cost is also a factor when it comes to TEFL certification. If you can’t commit to a CELTA, but want TEFL certification, then you need to find the right one. Finding a course provider with excellent, verifiable accreditation and reasonable prices isn’t too hard in today’s market. If you can read a slate of reviews before spending any money on a TEFL certification course, we’d recommend it!

Ultimately, it’s a personal choice for English teachers. Finding a course provider for TEFL certification can be tricky - you don’t want to commit to one unless you’re sure of its quality. Alternatively, if you feel like a CELTA certificate and maybe even a DELTA are the path for you, they’re both extremely well-established and recognised qualifications.

Our best advice? Speak to TEFL teachers and find out what worked for them. If you’re wondering how to work somewhere in particular, try to reach out to people who teach there and find out what they did.

Or, try that course quiz…!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is TESOL the same as CELTA?

No. TESOL is the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages. CELTA is a qualification that will enable you to start teaching English abroad or online.

Q. Which is better TEFL, TESOL or CELTA?

TEFL and TESOL are interchangeable terms that relate to teaching the English language, with CELTA being a type of TEFL/TESOL qualification. CELTA is a globally-recognised qualification, with an established history, but TEFL certificates are recognised internationally, too.

Q. Do I need a TEFL if I have a CELTA?

If you have a CELTA, you don’t need to study for another TEFL qualification in order to find work. However, if you do want to study more before teaching English abroad, there are advanced TEFL and DELTA qualifications out there.

Q. Is a TEFL Level 5 equivalent to CELTA?

A Level 5 TEFL course and CELTA are both level 5 qualifications. However, it only means they’re at the same level of difficulty, not that the qualifications are interchangeable - these qualifications are taught differently.

Q. What are the requirements for DELTA?

To study a DELTA, you need to be at least 21, have a TEFL qualification (preferably a CELTA) and at least 2 years of teaching experience.