What Is The Difference Between A Tefl And Trinity Course?

If you’re muttering this question to yourself, the chances are you’re serious about teaching English abroad, but you’ve spent so much time scouting TEFL sites and eavesdropping on forums that you’re more baffled than ever about the training you need. All you want to do is find a decent course so you can get out there and teach, right?

The truth is, although TEFL and Trinity courses have their differences, their fundamental similarity is more important: they offer the same end result. Complete a reputable TEFL course or a Trinity course and you’ll gain a golden ticket to the best teaching jobs across the world – it’s that simple.

So what’s a TEFL course?

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses are designed to train you with all the skills you need to teach English to foreign students – both abroad and in your native country.

And what’s a Trinity course?

A Trinity course is a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) qualification that’s validated by the one of oldest examinations board in the world – Trinity College London. The Trinity TESOL course is often referred to as a Trinity CertTESOL, short for The Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.

So which course is for me?

Only you can decide which course is best for you. We understand that it’s hard to make the right choice without all the facts, so to help you make the decision that suits you, here’s a rundown of the most important considerations when choosing a course.
Course requirements

The good news is that neither course has ridiculous requirements. You do need to be 17 or 18 or older for TEFL courses and at least 18 to do a Trinity course, while both courses require you to speak English fluently. However, Trinity courses also ask that you prove you have qualifications for entry into higher education within the UK (or the equivalent if you're not from the UK).

A Trinity course provider will also invite you along for an interview to confirm that you meet the above criteria and to ultimately decide whether you’re suitable for the course. Unfortunately not all Trinity course applicants are successful, so if you’re looking for an easier application process, TEFL courses can be more lenient.
Course Content – the ‘nitty gritty’

Inevitably TEFL and Trinity courses do differ, but the handy thing is they’re both designed for all students, whether novice or expert, so whichever course you choose you’ll gain all the skills you need to ensure you breeze through teaching your first class.

Weekend TEFL courses

Most weekend courses include:

* Teaching practice
* In depth study of English teaching methods
* Experienced TEFL tutors
* Grammar training
* Job contacts
* Employers reference

Online course:

Most comprehensive online courses offer more in depth training than a 20 hour weekend course (but it s often better to combine the two):

* 40 hours of online TEFL training
* 20 hour online grammar module
* 40 hours of specialist training across 8 certificates
* Some offer free jobs abroad placement services

Trinity courses

The Trinity course consists of written assignments and at least six hours’ real teaching practice with students. You must complete the following five units successfully to pass the course:

* Unit 1: Teaching Skills
* Unit 2: Language Awareness
* Unit 3: The Learner Profile
* Unit 4: The Materials Assignment
* Unit 5: The Unknown Language