Do you love the idea of working from home in your favourite comfy pants, or while traversing paradisiacal lands armed with your arsenal of flashcards and finger puppets helping others from our global community to learn and grow in their quest for learning and improving English? 

Then you’re destined to be an online English teacher and join a digital world of opportunities ripe for the picking.

But what qualifications are needed to land this dream job teaching English online? There are three main prerequisites: 

C2 English Proficiency

Having an English level C2 is the highest level of English in the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This means that you have the English language ability of a native speaker and can understand speech, read and comprehend written text, and speak English fluently at a natural pace with appropriate expression. As an online English teacher, you’ll be teaching language learners ranging from beginner (A1-A2) to intermediate (B1-B2). Therefore, you need to be a native or non-native proficient C2 English speaker in order to be a responsible, prepared teacher in the online classroom.

Matric Certificate

It is essential to have a matric certificate or grade 12 equivalent high school diploma. This basic formal education qualification is your admission to entry-level job opportunities and further education. Having a foundation in knowledge is crucial for teaching others and proving to an employer that you are serious about working and growing in the online English teaching industry. 

Are you not yet finished school but want to get a head start? 

If you are currently in grades 11 or 12, you can take our TESOL course while you finish your schooling. Then, once matriculated, you can begin the process of submitting CVs and interviews right away, and soon be employed as an online English teacher! In the interim, you can also gain voluntary experience to boost your CV and skillset. 

TEFL/TESOL Certification

In this progressively competitive industry, many employers (which range from private to public schools) select only qualified TEFL teachers. These employers know that having a valid TEFL certificate indicates professional integrity and reliability. A TEFL certificate, therefore, helps you to be competitive and marketable in the hiring process.  

At iTTi South Africa, we offer a level 5 TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification, which is a combination of TEFL and TESL. This means that at the end of the course, you will be certified to teach both TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) students from toddlers to adults. 

We recommend obtaining our 120-hour TESOL certification, or our 220- hour Master TESOL certification, which includes two 50-hour specialisation courses. Our TESOL certification is internationally recognised and accredited by numerous independent, international bodies. 

Here is an example of what your TESOL certificate will look like:

Ready to ditch the regular 9-5 and embark on a life-changing journey as an online English teacher? If you have requirements 1 and 2, the next step is obtaining your TESOL certification. We give our course participants an education par excellence, with step by step guidance and attention many other institutes and trainers cannot offer. Check out testimonials from our students on our social platforms. what some of our students had to say about their course experience. Sign up for one of our courses today to begin your road to qualifying as an awesome online English teacher!