FAQ

The following FAQ reflect real questions which ITTP Onsite TEFL/TESOL applicants frequently ask, and are divided into FAQ covering Onsite TEFL/TESOL course study and teaching English abroad/in Prague

FAQ – Onsite TEFL/TESOL course study

• What kind of people take the course?
• Which is the right course for me?
• Are your courses Internationally recognized?
• Do you have a selection task?
• Why do you have a selection task?
• When do courses start?
• How many other trainees will be on the course with me – I have heard that some schools accept as many students as they can.
• Is any dress code required whilst training?
• How busy will I be?
• Is your program mostly for native English speakers? (I am from Norway and am not a native speaker).
• Is it advantageous to have an American/British/Australian/etc. citizenship over countries where English isn't the native language?
• What is the difference between TESOL, TEFL, ESL, EFL, and CELTA?
• Can I prepare myself for the course in any way?
• What are the possible final grades?
• Does your TEFL/TESOL certificate state that the certificate is obtained onsite?
• How much will my course cost be in a currency other than USD/EUR/GBP?
• How should I go about finding accommodation and is the price of accommodation the same if you want to room with another person?
• How do you get health insurance while going through training?
• Does your certificate expire after a certain amount of time therefore requiring me to get re-certified?
• I have been having problems submitting the application form - I simply don't get an email sent to me.
• Do you need to have a university degree already to take the TEFL course?
• Do you have to pass a final examination?
• I am a US citizen. Will obtaining a visa to study and then work in Prague be difficult for me to arrange?
• Are there any additional course costs?

FAQ - Teaching English Abroad

• Do I need a TEFL/TESOL certificate to teach English overseas?
• Where can I teach English with the Onsite ITTP TEFL/TESOL certificate?
• You say you guarantee your newly qualified TEFL/TESOL English teachers will find a job at the end of the course. Is this true for everybody who passes the course - even those without a degree?
• I plan on staying in Prague to teach. Once hired... how do we go about setting up a bank account to get paid?
• What is the average teaching salary in Prague?
• What’s the best time of year to come? Is there a \'hiring season\' for EFL teachers?
• How likely are two people taking a course together to be placed in a job together afterwards?
• Are teaching jobs on a contract basis, say, for a year, like most I've seen? Are there also 6-month jobs?
• What about age discrimination? As a mature person, I obviously don't want to waste my time and money if I'm going to have a hard time getting a job after.
• Will there be a dress code?
• What would a typical monthly salary be for a newly qualified teacher in American dollars?
• Can I save money?
• Is Prague expensive?
• Do I need to know the language of the country I want to be teaching in?

FAQ – Onsite TEFL/TESOL course study

Q: What kind of people take the course?

A: A whole range of people from many different cultural backgrounds graduate from the course. ITTP encourages and welcomes all applications - regardless of sex, age, race or nationality.
Conditions of entrance are set by international guidelines.
These are that applicants:

• should be Native English, or Non-Native advanced English speakers (i.e. English is your first language or Mother Tongue and/or if you speak English proficiently).

• applicants must be 18 or over.

ITTP encourages and welcomes applications from both Native English and Non-Native English speakers.

Q: Which is the right course for me?

A: To begin with, ITTP invites you to Test your TEFL/TESOL knowledge and this will provide you with a better idea of how well prepared you feel in advance of taking your international TEFL/TESOL study, and also provide you with a clearer insight into your learner profile and learner objectives - the test is for fun and has been designed as a taster of TEFL/TESOL.

ITTP runs 3 Internationally recognized TEFL/TESOL Onsite certification courses:
Prague Online/Onsite
Prague Onsite – Low Season
Prague Onsite – High Season

The Prague Online/Onsite is recommended for applicants, with or without prior teaching experience or prior experience of learning a foreign language, who require the opportunity to complete onsite teaching practice study combined with the flexibility of online home study.
It is the perfect solution for anyone wishing to take an Onsite international TEFL/TESOL certification program abroad but for whom other commitments mean that studying full-time abroad is not a realistic option.

The Prague Onsite – Low Season is recommended for applicants, with or without prior teaching experience or prior experience of learning a foreign language, who choose to take their Onsite international TEFL/TESOL studies any month between November and May (includes the months November and May).

The Prague Onsite – High Season is recommended for applicants, with or without prior teaching experience or prior experience of learning a foreign language, who choose to take their Onsite international TEFL/TESOL studies any month between June and October (includes the months June and October).

Q: Are your courses Internationally recognized?

A: Yes. TEFL courses in general are recognized as long as they meet the industry standard of being at least 100 hours, have a minimum of 6 hours of teaching practice observed by an experienced trainer, and have qualified teacher trainers. The ITTP IntCertTEFL/TESOL Onsite course is 130 hours and offers 14+ hours of actual hands-on teaching and this covers teaching Young Learners/Very Young Learners, Group Lessons, One-To-One Lessons, General AND Business English Lessons (of which our clients include Unicredit Bank, Zivnostenska Bank and the national Dnes newspaper offices) - more variation than any other school in Prague. In addition our trainers have over 20 years of EFL/ESOL experience and teacher training experience between them. Alena is currently studying for her PhD in teaching English and Neville has and continues to contribute to ongoing TEFL/TESOL literary research (for further details pls refer to About Us).
In addition though, Onsite international TEFL/TESOL certification courses MUST be linked to a larger teaching organization. These can include Trinity, Cambridge, The College Of Teachers, or the British Council. ITTP is Institutional member of the College Of Teachers, a member of the British Council. ITTP is also Educational Partner with Cambridge University Press. Both ITTP Onsite certification courses and ITTP Online/Onsite combination certification course (and the ITTP Online certification courses) lead to the awarding of the internationally recognized TEFL/TESOL certificate and you will be employable worldwide following your course. ITTP is additional Educational Partner with the local Elementary School at Stare Mesto, faculty school of Prague's Charles University. Here trainees have the opportunity of teaching Young and Very Young Learners and are observed by leading English teachers in the field, such as Ms Mgr. Vuckova who was awarded the title English Teacher Of The Year 2006 (awarded by the European Commission EU, NA Socrates).
ITTP is also proud to be member of the British Chamber of Commerce Czech Republic. The British Chamber of Commerce is a member of COBCOE - the Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Continental Europe. As recognition of the Chamber's substantial growth, influence and achievements over the past years, the Chamber was identified the best from twenty three British Chambers in Europe and was presented with the prestigious Chamber of the Year 2004 award.
Lastly, our grads teach worldwide; from La Paz in Bolivia to Chiang Mai in Thailand. The vast majority of so called international TEFL courses in Prague, based solely in Prague, claim to offer international certification but in reality simply offer a fancy piece of paper (sometimes accredited by just 1 international body) which is valid only in Eastern Europe. An international school such as ITTP has a global network of education contacts and the advantage of the investment of international TEFL/TESOL certification with ITTP is both our local Prague knowledge expertise and our global knowledge expertise.

Q: Do you have a selection task?

A: Yes. A selection task shows that a school maintains high standards of entrance criteria and provides you with the confidence that upon acceptance that you will be at the level needed to successfully complete the course. The process of booking your place on all 3 ITTP Onsite international TEFL/TESOL courses begins with completing the ITTP online application form. We will then arrange a mutually convenient time for a telephone interview (at our expense).

Q: Why do you have a selection task?

A: Primarily, the reason ITTP has a selection task is to have a better idea of an applicants' language awareness and language skills. We are looking for the ways in which applicants use the language, and in the forms in which they express and describe their ideas. There is also attention to basic sentence structure and correct grammar usage (although not specifically to knowledge of TEFL/TESOL terminology). It is also an important opportunity for you to personally talk to a member of the ITTP team and ask any further questions which you might have for us. An additional reason for a selection task is to avoid offering a place to (and accept payment from), someone who we feel does not have a good chance of passing their chosen Onsite international TEFL/TESOL certification course

Q: When do courses start?

A: Please refer to course pages (Prague Online/Onsite, Prague Onsite – Low Season, Prague Onsite – High Season) for course start and finishing dates. ITTP courses are very popular, and we cannot predict how fast course places will fill up. The sooner you apply the better chances you will have of securing a place.

Q: How many other trainees will be on the course with me – I have heard that some schools accept as many students as they can.

A: ITTP accepts a maximum of just 10 trainees per Onsite course date. We think this is a sensible number and ITTP’s small class numbers reflects its commitment to education.

Q: Is any dress code required whilst training?

A: No dress code is required. We respect people for who they are and how they want to dress.

Q: How busy will I be?

A: During the week you will be very busy but you will have time over the weekends to unwind a little and enjoy your first steps abroad in this wonderful country.

Q: Is your program mostly for native English speakers? (I am from Norway and am not a native speaker).

A: ITTP international TEFL/TESOL courses are designed for both Native English and Non-Native speakers of English.

Q: Is it advantageous to have an American/British/Australian/etc. citizenship over countries where English isn't the native language?

A: It definitely is an advantage being a Native English speaker. However, the global demand for English is so much that it outstretches by far the number of Native English teachers available and this gap has been filled by qualified Non-Native teachers of English. Non-Native English speakers have needed to learn a second language and are seen as bringing to the classroom a particular understanding of the needs and requirements of foreign language students.

Q: What is the difference between TESOL, TEFL, ESL, EFL, and CELTA?

A: TESOL, is Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. (more commonly used term in Britain). TEFL, is Teaching English as a Foreign Language. (more commonly used term in U.S.A.). ESOL is the learning of English for speakers of other languages. EFL is the learning of English as a Foreign Language. CELTA, is the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. Please note: there is no practical difference between having a TEFL or TESOL qualification. TEFL/TESOL and CELTA/Trinity carry the same weight in the global job market.

Q: Can I prepare myself for the course in any way?

A: Please refer to ITTP’s Recommended Reading link. ESOL Teacher Essentials will provide you with the most essential knowledge base for getting started. Every dedicated TEFL/TESOL English teacher has these books on their EFL/ESOL bookshelf. Please remember though that you are not obligated to purchase any of these titles and that the course is a course within itself - all necessary study aids are included in all Online and Onsite ITTP international TEFL/TESOL certification courses, and covered within the inclusive course fee.

Q: What are the possible final grades?

A: The final grades are decided on by your ITTP teaching staff/ITTP Director Of Studies/Onsite course coordinator, and approved by external moderator on the submission of the final completed Module of the course. The grade is based on your performance in all aspects of the course.
Grades awarded by ITTP are:
Grade A = Outstanding
Grade B = Good
Grade C = Satisfactory
Grade D = Fail
Grade E = Clear failure
The use of ‘+’ or ‘-‘ is permitted to enable examiners to differentiate between the better and poorer answers within each major alphabetical category and in this context C- will represent a bare pass and D+ a bare fail.
(Grades D and E: rarely awarded, but a potential grade for those who don't take the course seriously, or for those who blatantly plagiarize).

Please note: the overall average ITTP Onsite pass rate is B+, and this reflects our very high standards of Onsite international TEFL/TESOL training.

Q: Does your TEFL/TESOL certificate state that the certificate is obtained onsite?

A: Yes. ITTP Onsite international TEFL/TESOL certificates indicate the amount of hours of TEFL/TESOL study (130 hours), level of grade attained, and that study took place onsite. The Prague Online/Onsite international TEFL/TESOL certificate indicates the amount of hours of TEFL/TESOL study (130 hour), level of grade attained, and Onsite teaching practice hours stipulated.

Q: How much will my course cost be in a currency other than USD/EUR/GBP?

For daily currency exchange rates, please refer to: Czech National Bank

Q: How should I go about finding accommodation and is the price of accommodation the same if you want to room with another person?

A: When you have secured your place on your chosen course date with ITTP you will then be provided with the option of securing your accommodation space. Prices quoted are per person and ITTP also provides the option of shared accommodation for which ITTP makes a minimal additional charge to cover bills, calculated on 2 people sharing. You will not be charged any additional rent. The ITTP team will happily offer trainees the additional option of conducting an independent accommodation search for offers which fit their specific needs. With extensive knowledge of Prague ITTP assists in accommodation searches for its trainees for accommodation options beginning at just 3,500 CZK per month – although monthly rents do usually begin at approx 5,000 CZK. For this service we charge no extra fee and accept no commission from any accommodation service. This service is part of ITTP’s ongoing commitment to you. So, if you are looking for a single room in a shared apartment or a penthouse suite on the main square or something somewhere in between, ITTP can help you find the right place for you and at an honest and local price. ITTP also assists in assisting trainees with finding longer term accommodation.

Q: How do you get health insurance while going through training?

A: If you require health insurance for the duration of your course date ITTP will recommend reputable local companies who don’t necessarily cater specifically for the expat market, and so won’t have those high expat fees which are sometimes charged. ITTP has health insurance agreements with one of the leading Czech health insurance providers and the level of service and very affordable fees are significant.

Q: Does your certificate expire after a certain amount of time therefore requiring me to get re-certified?

A: No. Once you are certified with ITTP, you are certified for your full TEFL/TESOL career. There is therefore no need to become re-certified after a certain amount of years.

Q: I have been having problems submitting the application form - I simply don't get an email sent to me.

A: To make sure our email reaches you we suggest adding our email address to your address book to ensure that you receive our emails and also suggest that you check in your email settings options that you don't have spam/junk mail automatically deleted upon delivery, particularly if you are using a Hotmail or Yahoo email account.

Q: Do you need to have a university degree already to take the TEFL course?

A: Having a degree is not a requirement of the course. Although many of our Trainees do have university degrees we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Q: Do you have to pass a final examination?

A: Trainees are continually assessed throughout the course and there isn't a final examination dictating an overall final grade.

Q: I am a US citizen. Will obtaining a visa to study and then work in Prague be difficult for me to arrange?

A: A: The biggest surprise for the vast majority of our trainees is the ease in which they pass through Czech passport control. Upon arrival in the Czech Republic you will be given a (free) 3-month tourist visa and this will cover you for the duration of your course date and also for the period while your work permit is being processed (this may vary from country to country and we suggest contacting your local Czech embassy for current visa info) – it is perfectly acceptable to begin teaching on a tourist visa whilst your work permit is in process. Should you wish to extend this tourist visa you will just need to cross the country border and return again and you will be re-issued with the same visa. ITTP assists grads in all visa matters - obtaining your work permit can be a Kafkaesque experience and so that is why ITTP provides trainees upon request any visa information which they require and this helps to clarify everything for you.

Q: Are there any additional course costs?

A: No. There are no additional/hidden costs. Course fees are inclusive of VAT and are inclusive of all materials and external moderation/certification fees.

FAQ - teaching English abroad/in Prague

Q: Do I need a TEFL/TESOL certificate to teach English overseas?

A: In some countries it may still be possible to teach English without any formal teaching qualifications, but these positions are usually low paid and illegal. The global TEFL/TESOL job market has become increasingly more sophisticated and it is nearly impossible now to find teaching work without an internationally recognized TEFL/TESOL certificate. Simply being a Native Speaker of English is not enough anymore - an Internationally recognized TEFL/TESOL certificate verifies that you have the knowledge and necessary expertise to effectively teach English in a foreign country.

Q: Where can I teach English with the Onsite ITTP TEFL/TESOL certificate?

A: Perhaps the question would better be answered if it were reversed. Where can’t I teach? There is such a huge demand for TEFL/TESOL qualified English teachers globally that you can teach virtually anywhere. ITTP has listings for teaching jobs and educational contacts/partners in Arab Emirates, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, Vietnam and many more teaching English global locations. In fact, there is also a high demand for TEFL/TESOL qualified English teachers even in English speaking countries, such as Australia, the U.S. and Britain, where many foreign language students choose to travel to learn English as a foreign language. Recently there have been noticeable trends of ITTP Online and Onsite TEFL/TESOL grads teaching for a period in Central and Eastern Europe/Central Asia/Central America, and then moving to South and North East Asia/Middle East, where salaries are amongst the best in the world for qualified TEFL/TESOL English teachers.

Q: You say you guarantee your newly qualified TEFL/TESOL English teachers will find a job at the end of the course. Is this true for everybody who passes the course - even those without a degree?

A: Yes. This also applies to grads who don’t have a degree. Please note: a University/College degree, as well as international TEFL/TESOL certification, is necessary for the work permit/visa process of some Asian and Middle East countries (including: Japan/S.Korea/Taiwan/Vietnam/Thailand/U.A.E./Saudi Arabia).

Q: I plan on staying in Prague to teach. Once hired... how do we go about setting up a bank account to get paid?

A: Throughout your training the ITTP Teacher-Trainee Support Person will assist you with any assistance which you may require and this assistance extends to helping trainees set up a bank account. Setting up an account in Prague is surprisingly an easy process and ITTP will advise you which banks are the most reliable ones.

Q: What is the average teaching salary in Prague?

A: Teaching privately grads can expect to earn up to 1,000 CZK per teaching hour (1 teaching hour = 45 minutes). However, this does represent the top level and usually private students will pay from 250 CZK-600 CZK per teaching hour. The difficulty with private students is that they do tend to cancel quite frequently and this means that you won’t be paid for cancelled lessons. Most ITTP grads choose to work for language schools and these schools will generally pay you if a student cancels less than 48/24 hours in advance of your class. Language school lessons will pay around 200 CZK – 350 CZK per teaching hour. This figure may or may not include taxes deducted.

Q: What’s the best time of year to come? Is there a \'hiring season\' for EFL teachers?

A: The absolute best time to come to Prague is August/September/October - it is in these months that you will receive the most job offers upon completion of the course because the course dates coincide with the start of the new *school year - September/October (*school year semester dates may vary from country to country). ITTP assists trainees in finding teaching jobs throughout the year and this is an indication of the level of demand for qualified English teachers year-round. As an example, ITTP’s March Onsite course is always very popular and even though this is scheduled outside of the boom months, grads always walk right into well-paid teaching positions in the first 2 weeks of April. This rule doesn’t just apply to Prague and is indicative of a global trend.

Q: How likely are two people taking a course together to be placed in a job together afterwards?

A: Most schools welcome teaching couples and from the school's point of view couples represent stability. This of course depends also on availability of 2 same teaching positions within a school – the ITTP International Job Assistance Team have a lot of experience in finding couples teaching positions in same schools and, as a second option, teaching positions in different schools but schools which are close to each other.

Q: Are teaching jobs on a contract basis, say, for a year, like most I've seen? Are there also 6-month jobs?

A: Schools will generally require a commitment of 1 year with the possibility of shortening the contract with a month's notice. However, if a school has paid for your airfare out then they will expect you to teach until the balance is paid off. (ITTP doesn't always recommend accepting the offer of free airfare to your teaching destination as this limits your options and nothing is ever for 'free'). We know the global market extremely well and will advise you of all your options. ITTP always puts you in touch with a whole list of reputable schools in your first choice country/countries and schools will always require of you to sign a contract; this covers you and the school and is a sign that the school is serious about professionalism. Most contracts are arranged for 1 year but ITTP will also assist you in finding shorter term positions, such as teaching at summer camps or school teaching positions for just a few months. In Prague, for example, schools are always acquiring new student clients and many teachers also finish their contracts early and this has produced a year-round teaching opportunity for teachers and also the availability of shorter term teaching contracts.

Q: What about age discrimination? As a mature person, I obviously don't want to waste my time and money if I'm going to have a hard time getting a job after.

A: Students tend to value the experience which mature teachers bring to the classroom and you will enjoy the same employment opportunities and benefits as your younger teacher peers.

Q: Will there be a dress code?

A: In France, for example, teachers are expected to arrive looking the part. This means shirt/blouse and smart trousers or skirt. On the other hand in Bulgaria, for example, the emphasis is on the teacher being on time and conducting a good lesson and you can wear casual clothes (shorts in summer). No matter where you are teaching ITTP always recommends dressing smart and representing yourself in a professional manner. Remember: those first impressions count!

Q: What would a typical monthly salary be for a newly qualified teacher in American dollars?

A: Salaries vary from location to location. In Bolivia, for example, expect to earn around $5 per teaching hour. At the other extreme, in Japan, that figure can multiply by 10+.

Q: Can I save money?

A: Again, this really depends on where you are teaching. Still, even in China (where an average teacher's weekly salary might be just $100), it is possible to pick up well-paid private lessons which makes saving a definite possibility. Generally speaking, if you need to save money then ITTP will recommend you teach in a country which pays high and where local costs won't eat too much into your budget (such as Taiwan). You can save money teaching in Prague but the amount of money saved will depend largely on how much your accommodation costs are.

Q: Is Prague expensive?

A: TThe Czech Republic is an inexpensive country to live in and Prague can also be inexpensive. The following menu from a restaurant close to ITTP’s Prague 1 training center demonstrates just how affordable food is, for example: http://www.ujindrisskeveze.cz/listek_tisk.php . A month transport pass which covers all forms of public transport and which covers the entirety of the city is just 480 CZK and travelling from the furthest 2 points of the country by train or bus will set you back under 500 CZK. The exception is accommodation, which can be along the lines of costs in Brussels. The general rule is that if you spend how the tourists do then Prague can be expensive. If you spend how the locals do then Prague is an inexpensive city to live in.

Q: Do I need to know the language of the country I want to be teaching in?

A: You don’t have to. The idea of the TEFL/TESOL profession is that students are exposed to an immersion course in English-only during their tuition. Our courses teach you how to achieve understanding without translation.