Published 28 April 2026 · 7 min read · Category: TEFL Advice
For 95% of English teaching jobs worldwide — Vietnam, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Japan, UAE — a 120-hour TEFL or TESOL certificate from an accredited provider is all you need. CELTA is the premium option for top international institutions but costs significantly more.
TEFL = Teaching English as a Foreign Language. A 120-hour TEFL certificate is the industry-standard entry-level qualification for teaching English to non-native speakers. It covers applied linguistics, grammar, EFL methodology (CLT, PPP, TBL), lesson planning, classroom management, and supervised teaching practice with real learners.
TESOL = Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. In practice, TEFL and TESOL are used interchangeably. TESOL is more common in the USA; TEFL is more common in the UK, South Africa, and Asia. If a job ad says "TEFL or TESOL required," they mean the same thing.
CELTA = Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. A Cambridge University qualification — the most prestigious entry-level TEFL certificate. Includes extensive supervised teaching practice. Pros: recognised by top international schools. Cons: costs £1,500–£2,500 and is overkill for Vietnam, Philippines, or South Korea where a 120-hour TEFL is fully sufficient.
| Your Goal | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Teach in Vietnam, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, UAE | 120-hour TEFL (accredited, in-person) |
| Teach in South Africa or Latin America | 120-hour TEFL (accredited, in-person) |
| Top international schools or British Council | CELTA |
| Online teaching | 120-hour TEFL (accredited) |