International TEFL Academy

I had a wonderful experience getting my TEFL certificate via International TEFL Academy. I took the course online while I was still working my "day job"-- I was able to easily transition into teaching abroad when the timing was right. The coursework was perfect and really helped me to be ready for my new job. Thank you!

I did the 11 week online course. I reached out to my instructor about deadlines and extensions and she was great.. Until the end of my course when I attempted to submit some of my final assignments within the extension date and I never received a reply nor did the assignment stay open. I felt like I paid a lot of money for a course that lacks personal interaction. I also didn’t like the setup of the online course. I would recommend this course to anyone that wants to pursue this as a career but please do your research first because the practicum isn’t what it’s presented as before you start and the workload isn’t engaging in an online forum in my opinion. As for student affairs. They wanted to know that I withdrew, but kind of hurried it along. I also will have to pay a pretty hefty fee to withdraw and transfer to a later class. They’ve requested more money than that if I transfer to an in person class. If you have the money and know this is what you want, I would recommend this to be the company to go for but only if you can’t afford Cambridge University. I will say that if I were to choose again I would just go straight to the Cambridge University course and do the whole course in person.

I had a good experience with ITA. My advisor was helpful. I went to their affiliated school in Arequipa, Peru, which turned out to be a great decision. I learned a lot and did some practice teaching, which made me a lot more comfortable when I started for real. I also now have a job at the school whenever I am in Arequipa, which is great for a nomad like me.

I started my journey of living abroad with this program over a decade ago. I went to Shanghai for 7+ years and had some of the best years of my life. The program set me up to get started and it was a reputable company. I truly thank International TEFL Academy.

So far I’m really enjoying the course, it’s more of a brush up. I only worked for a nonprofit organization, LA’s BEST for afterschool students. TEFL has a great platform with discussions videos and staff that can answer your questions and guide you.

The classes were well put together. The instructor was really helpful and a great resource. However, the attraction to this program in specific was the job placement program. What was explained to me by the recruiter vs. the reality of the "assistance" I've received don't seem to align. I feel like I spent more money than I would have with the alternatives and I would have arrived at the same place for a third the price. If I had this to do all over again I would not have enrolled here or spent the money. I hate saying this but I was super excited. At this point I'm pretty bummed and feel like I have a useless certification and no real employment prospects at this time. You can reach people for "help". However, there is definitely a breakdown in communication between the recruiters and the job placement assistance portion of the program. I feel I was mislead. Best of luck to everyone in their pursuits.

I would recommend waiting to pay for your classes until the class is ready to start as they do not like to give you a refund or work with you if you need to reschdule or cancel a class and sign up for a different one. They will charge you hundreds of dollars extra if you need to do so. Read their refund and exchange policy well before signing up for any classes. Most of their teachers I would say are good but dealing with student affairs and signing up for classes and payments has not been a pleasant experience, which is all online or over the phone which makes it that much more difficult. I'm a good student and I receive good grades and did well with my classes and teachers and paid them several hundred dollars the classes that I completed with them, but yet when I needed to make a quick change with my last class becuase of my work schedule, they would not work with me, costing me hundreds of dollars after I had already paid them several hundred dollars out of my own pocket for previous classes I had completed with them.

Disappointed with International TEFL Academy – Overpromised and Underdelivered I had high expectations for the International TEFL Academy (ITA) based on their marketing, but my experience with both their online TEFL course and job placement program was deeply disappointing. ITA consistently overpromised and underdelivered, to the point that I would consider it misrepresentation. First, their job placement support was nearly useless. The country data they provided was already two years out of date, which made it difficult to plan realistically for job opportunities. Given how quickly visa regulations and hiring trends change, I expected current information—something they claim to provide but clearly do not. The online TEFL course itself was equally disappointing. My instructor barely participated in the class, offering only a single, generic post each week. Her comments on student posts were brief, generic, and lacked any real engagement or useful feedback. It was obvious she was just phoning it in, which made me question the value of the course as a whole. For the price ITA charges, I expected a much higher level of quality, engagement, and support. Unfortunately, what I got was an impersonal experience and outdated resources. If you're serious about getting TEFL certified and finding a job, I’d strongly recommend looking elsewhere.

One of the most disappointing and stressful programs I've ever done I took the TEFL certification course with International TEFL Academy (ITA) in Barcelona, and I regret it. From the start, the experience felt disorganized and emotionally exhausting. The course didn't use a clear grading rubric--trainers graded based on vibes, not criteria. Feedback was minimal, which made it almost impossible to improve. Instead of walking away confident and prepared, I left feeling like a worse teacher than when I started. What really pushed this over the edge for me was the student visa situation. ITA heavily advertises that Americans can legally work in Spain by enrolling in their "Student Visa Program." They even imply you can teach full-time. What they don't say is that legal work under a student visa requires an extra authorization process that most schools refuse to do. I only found this out after spending thousands and being rejected by employers who said my visa wasn't valid for work. ITA's staff even admitted in writing that many graduates work "cash in hand" (aka illegally) and brushed it off like it's just how things work in Spain. For the money they charge, I expected professionalism, clarity, and legal accuracy. Instead, I got stress, vague answers, and no real path to employment. Please be careful before trusting this company with your money or your future.

I'm posting this review years after my teaching abroad experience because that is how great of an impression this place made on me. Because of this company I got a job teaching in South Korea, a formative experience in my life. The class was definitely more expensive than other ESL certifications, but it was comprehensive and for an online class I learned a lot. More impressive however is their life long job search aid. This place won't just get you a certification, they will get you a job. They walked me through every step of the process and I know that even years later, if I were to go back to them looking to teach abroad again, they would be the reason I would find a job. This is an excellent company. I highly recommend.

Thank you International TEFL Academy for being a ginormous part of a life changing occurrence!!! I am now an iTeacher; teaching English as a foreign language / second language (EFL/ESL) online. After being laid off from the mortgage industry twice in the first half of 2017, I had to make a conscious decision to take a step toward a completely different journey. It was the fourth time in my mortgage finance career of being "dumped". I was DONE going through that trauma. Slowly, I transitioned out of the mortgage industry. Admittedly, I struggled with the fear of starting over, with change, with uncertainty, with instability. When in reality, I fought myself for not accepting the hidden blessings. This opened multiple doors to more choices, plus the freedom to love what I do. I enjoy having a positive mentality and outlook in giving something that makes another feel great about themselves; because this also brings my English learners a multitude of opportunities. The International TEFL Academy offers on-location classes and online self-paced courses. The enrollment staff and academic counselors provide you all the resources they know you'll need, as many of them are/were teachers as well. The instructor I had (Emily) was awesome! She gave positive feedback, suggestions, encouragement, references...all to make the student the best future teacher they can be. Yes, you must put in the work and winging it is not gonna cut it. Ultimately it's a win-win scenario. The International TEFL Academy is the reason for my abounding gratitude!

For many, myself included, deciding which company to receive your TEFL certification from can seem completely overwhelming. Where do you even begin? What it came down to for me was my initial first impression of their website. How user-friendly it is, how professional it looks and the wealth of information provided before even engaging with a representative. ITA provided all of this! One I made the first step to being contacted, an admissions advisor (Felicia) contacted me within 24 hours. Felicia, Havvah (my student affairs advisor), and all professors and staff I worked with (in my course, as well as the webinars I watched and listened to) have all lived and worked abroad teaching English. They are all very well suited to answer any questions you may have on the experience. If you haven't already picked a destination, they can help you solidify one based on your needs and goals. If you already know your location you'll automatically be assigned a team familiar with your country. Your advisors will work with you throughout your course, and even after, to ensure you have all that is necessary to apply for jobs, get the job and what the heck to do when you actually land the job! Once you've started your course, you can join the general alumni discussion group on Facebook, as well as country-specific groups. I would be lost without these groups. It's so helpful to be able to connect with other alumni before and during your adventure to ask random questions about packing, things to do and advice. Many alumni also post honest reviews about the schools they are at or have previously worked with and will post when their school is hiring! I've had so many people ask me if the course is worth it, to that, I say yes!!! Do you speak English? Yes. But do you know how to teach a non-native speaker English? Hell no! This course teaches various techniques. Learning to teach young learners, adult learners as well as everything in between encompassing teaching and living abroad. I am currently teaching at a preschool in Shanghai, China. Holding a TEFL certificate has added so much value in my contract negotiation process. Many schools are cracking down on teachers holding a TEFL certificate (not just having a Bachelors degree and holding a passport from a native English country). I received my TEFL certification from the International TEFL Academy in June 2016. I couldn't be happier with the entire process. If you are in or near Chicago, they offer on-site classes. If you are anywhere else in the world, go for the online course. I highly recommend ITA!

Awesome from the start! My adviser was great! (Shay Ames) He was very helpful and patient, with all of my questions in the beginning. He also stayed on me about enrolling in the course (in a good way), in the sense that he knew I really wanted to do this - however, I was letting doubts and people from my family get in the way of my decision. He gave me sound advice. My teacher was great! (Sam Bandy) He always responded to my e-mails, in a timely manner! He always provided additional examples, when more clarity was needed or I didn't understand a particular part of the course. I had some personal things come up, during my course and he was very understanding about that as well. I highly recommend him as a teacher! The online class was very insightful and I did learn a lot. (I loved the lesson plan examples!) The platform was very easy to use. The whole experience was amazing. I'm done with my course and I can't wait to start my teaching adventure! :-) Try ITA, you won't regret it. It is on the pricey side, but well worth it - you get what you pay for!

Great facility & faculty! I've had the pleasure of working with the team in Chicago and Madrid. This academy for those looking to get certified in teaching English as a second language and interested in travel.

One of the most intellectually stimulating experiences I have done. I learned so much in a short amount of time and came away with a true respect and admiration for teachers. The instructors, Julia and Melissa were not only brilliant and challenged the class but they truly inspired us. Although the profession is a lifelong journey I feel like I got all of the tools I needed to start it. If you are considering this path the International TEFL Academy is definitely a great place to start. The course will not only change how you see teaching but it will open your eyes to the world and the diversity of it's people. I waited far too long to embrace this calling so my advice is: Just sign up and make the commitment, you won't be sorry!

PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY, and do your RESEARCH before registering for a TEFL course with this company. The reason is that I purchased one of their online courses, and I wasn't satisfied at all. After the first week of the online course, I felt the quality of the course wasn't helpful and not well organized. I regret spending over $1000 for their online course. Its something I will not ever do again, and wouldn't recommend for someone to do. There are other better-qualified TEFL courses, just not this one. I highly recommend for someone who plans to teach abroad, just go through the US government website. The US government website has a list of several resources of how teach abroad/overseas...for FREE! The U.S. government will provide you with reliable information, because this International TEFL Academy will not! If you need a TEFL/TESOL certification, I highly recommend asking your advisors or a studying abroad office at your State or local Universities/College. Your state/local universities can help you find better and reliable resources for you to gain a TEFL/TESOL certification. Bottom line: This company is charging for resources to help you find a job overseas and a comprehensive TEFL/TESOL course that bad quality. Please save yourself the quick and easy Google search, and assuming you will find reliable companies that will help you get a TEFL/TESOL certification easy, and give you trustworthy information about teaching positions abroad. That is how I thought when I found this company on a Google search.

When I began my search for an English Teaching course in Asia I stumbled across several TEFL courses on the internet. International TEFL Academy's struck me as the most compelling program for several reasons: First, the TEFL courses and "job guidance" opportunity was very attractive. International TEFL Academy's offer of an international TEFL certification with the prospect to teach in Cambodia and other Asian countries was exactly was I was looking for. The fact that I could speak to a real, professional advisor who had been there and done just that sealed the deal Secondly, their job guidance and assistance provided me with a sense of job security. I felt comfortable traveling to a new country and I did not worry about searching for work around Asia. It was really great to hear that I could travel there and find a job right away once I was finished with the class. Lastly, everyone I contacted who completed the program had great things to say about the course and the year long trips and programs around Asia. Going to set off for Cambodia in a few months!

This company isn't worth your time. I submitted a review on the BBB months ago explaining my frustration at their admissions advisor because I emailed him interested in potentially obtaining my TEFL certificate. All of a sudden, without introduction or telling me anything about the program, I start receiving bulk emails from him - as an Admissions Advisor, it's appropriate to welcome your student and guide them through the process. None of this was provided to me. I just received a BBB response from this company that said "Not a customer" as the business reply - really? That's all you have to say?? Yet another clear example of un-professionalism. There's no way in hell I'd be a customer with your company because nobody is professional enough to actually tell me who they are, what their role is in my education, and more. I'm beyond frustrated and even still upset months later now that I saw your response to BBB.

I graduated from the International TEFL Academy in April, and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made to take the class here. I had the two greatest teachers I have ever had- Melissa and Julianna. Also, the staff was always kind, friendly and helpful. I wish I could do it all over again. Met some life long friends, and I know that everyone at TEFL Academy is just a phone call away if I ever need any help w/anything teaching wise :-)