TEFL Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate

Teach English overseas, live abroad, and experience another culture

Hamline has been preparing people to become effective teachers of English to speakers of foreign languages for more than thirty years. Whether you have little to no teaching experience or have already spent your career in a classroom, this program provides you with what you need to join our graduates who have taught in more than 40 countries worldwide!

Why study at Hamline?

• Learn the teaching techniques you need to function effectively in an English as a foreign language classroom from internationally recognized faculty
  
• Gain hands-on experience through 40 hours of teaching and observation in a classroom with English learners—real-world training is not often found in most other programs
  
• Earn an internationally recognized certificate that follows rigorous international standards that reputable employers expect and respect
  
• Experience the Hamline difference: Our program is one of only two university-based, accredited programs in the Midwest, with global recognition of our program and preference for our graduates, whom employers know receive the best training available

What will it take?

TEFL Certificate program details

Start dates and application deadlines

We review applications on a rolling basis, meaning that you can apply anytime. You can start the TEFL Certificate program once per year in the fall. We recommend applying at least six weeks before the term you want to start to ensure your spot. How to Apply

TEFL Certificate program format

Hamline's Teaching English as a Foreign Language certificate is on campus. Classes meet one evening a week, typically from 6 to 9 p.m.

Time to complete your TEFL Certificate

The typical time to complete the certificate is typically 9 months when you take TEFL I in fall term and TEFL II in spring term.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language courses

• ESL 7621: TEFL Certificate Part I
• ESL 7622: TEFL Certificate Part II

The certificate program covers two fundamental areas for the TEFL practitioner, as follows:

The context of language learning

• Factors that affect second language acquisition
• Understanding cultural traits and norms—your own and others'
• Learning theories

Language teaching practices

• Analyzing students’ needs
• Teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing
• Teaching grammar in context
• Teaching pronunciation
• Teaching vocabulary
• Teaching English for special purposes
• Lesson planning
• Using classroom aids
• Error awareness and correction
• Classroom management
• Assessing teaching effectiveness

How to apply to the TEFL Certificate program

Applying to the TEFL certificate program is simple and only required if this is the first certificate you’ve applied for at Hamline or if you are not enrolled in another Hamline School of Education degree or certificate program.

• Online application (no fee)
• Official transcript of a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 2.5 from a regionally-accredited college or university.
  • This should be sent directly from the institution to Graduate Admission or provided in a sealed, signed envelope. Official electronic transcripts should be emailed from the institution to gradprog@hamline.edu.
  • You do not have to supply transcripts for courses taken at Hamline University.

  

  One of the things that attracted me to the program was that the TEFL certificate counted toward a master’s degree, which was a great way for me to test out the program. I had a great time in the program, which inspired me to continue on and earn my master’s.

  Nick Reishus ‘14, MAESL; TESOL technical officer II at FHI 360 in Washington, D.C.

  How we help make your TEFL certificate affordable

  Competitive tuition

  When you invest in a master's degree in TESOL from Hamline, you benefit from a prestigious degree from Minnesota's first university. We work hard to ensure our tuition, accompanied by scholarships, tuition discounts, and other financial aid, is a worthwhile investment for all students.

  Financial aid

  Federal student loans are available for the evening courses, depending on eligibility. You also have the option of setting up a payment plan with the student accounts office. A minimal fee is charged for the payment plan.

  Our graduates have taught in more than 50 countries around the world.

  Explore career paths and career support

  Positions and organizations

  The majority of jobs you can get with a TEFL Certificate are in private language institutes, working with adult learners. There are many private schools around the world that serve young learners as well, but completers report that most of their work is with adults.

  There are also positions through some exchange programs working in K-12 schools. Our graduates have secured positions with:

  • JET (Japanese Teaching Program)
  • French government teaching assistant program
  • Central European Teaching Program
  • Fulbright Teaching Assistant Program
  • Universities in China and Korea

  Some of these allow you to teach in the European Union, where it can otherwise be difficult to get a work permit.

  Career support

  We are dedicated to supporting you in your job search, both during the course and following completion. When you enroll in the program, you have access to the following services:

  • A career opportunities workshop, where you practice interview skills, and learn about writing your resume and cover letter
  • Our job placement files, including listings of schools, job openings from the internet, and postings from our completers
  • A panel discussion with completers who have returned from teaching abroad
  • On-going job counseling including feedback on resumes, cover letters, and more
  • Job referrals and recommendations are available for successful completers

  Apply your certificate toward an advanced certificate or degree

  Advanced TEFL Certificate

  Once you complete the TEFL Certificate, you can apply your credits to earn an Advanced TEFL Certificate where you will learn more about language theory and linguistics. While the initial TEFL certificate is offered on-campus, the courses for the advanced certificate are offered online.

  Master’s degrees

  Enrolling in a certificate program is a great way to experience what the master's programs at Hamline are like. With the TEFL certificate, you’ll earn credits that you can apply toward the following Hamline master's degrees:

  TEFL Certificate FAQs

  • Where can I find a job with a TEFL Certificate?
  • Albania
  • Austria
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Cambodia
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Czech Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Ethiopia
  • France
  • Germany
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Laos
  • Latvia
  • Malaysia
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Morocco
  • Nepal
  • Nicaragua
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Taiwan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United States

  Many of our graduates teach in the US, either in private language schools or in community-based adult education programs. Some use the certificate along with a teaching license to teach in the Adult Basic Education system. In Minnesota, those with a master's degree in another field, along with 18 semester credits in ESL, are eligible to teach in the community college system. TEFL and Advanced TEFL Certificates can fulfill that requirement.

  The standard for reputable TEFL Certificate programs around the world is that a course meets 100-120 hours and includes a substantial student-teaching component. Depending on the format, we meet 110 to 120 hours, and 40 of those are spent in an ESL classroom with your colleagues and instructors. The practicum is fully integrated into the program. Remember, you are also working towards valuable credits that can become a part of an advanced degree. Most people don’t come into TEFL at Hamline thinking they want a master's degree, but nearly 20% of our students go on to complete the Advanced TEFL Certificate or the MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at Hamline.

  Once you've been accepted to Hamline's TEFL certificate program, you get to work with one professor in a group of six to 10 student teachers during your practicum. All of our faculty have years of international experience and hold master's degrees in ESL or PhDs in education.