What Makes a Good TEFL Course?

The original mission of the World TEFL Accrediting Commission was to raise overall standards in the TEFL and TESOL sectors. To do that they first set down a definition of the qualities they believed m

Author's Note

The WTFEL code of practice was the foundation of the company’s accreditation process. It also serves as a good guide for what makes a good TEFL or TESOL provider.

The original mission of the World TEFL Accrediting Commission was to raise overall standards in the TEFL and TESOL sectors. To do that they first set down a definition of the qualities they believed make a good provider. These laid down the basis of the code of practice on which all decisions would be made.

The WTEFLAC code of practice

The code of practice included the following requirements:

• Course content: Courses would need to follow a clear process. It would have to include a significant proportion of peer-to-peer learning with processes in place to make sure course structures were regularly reviewed and improved. Students should be given clear expectations of what they are expected to achieve and, if they complete the course, they should expect a universally recognised qualification at the end of it all.  


• Marketing material: Misleading marketing claims is one of the biggest issues in the TEFL sector. As part of the WTEFLAC accreditation process, the board would assess the content of course material and make sure it was reflected in the marketing material. Whenever you see the WTEFLAC logo on a website, therefore, you can be confident that it represents an accurate reflection of the course content.


• Experience of the tutors: All tutors would need to be highly experienced in their fields and have at least three years of teaching experience. That practical experience would help them provide better and more effective tuition.


• Company ethos: All companies would have to maintain a clear equal opportunities policy. Staff would need to be given plenty of opportunities for training and ongoing development and the company would have to show a commitment to ongoing improvement. That meant regularly reviewing the content of their courses, identifying where it needed improvement, and making sure it continued to meet the standards expected.

How decisions were reached?

Any company that wanted to be accredited by the WTEFLAC would submit their application to the company. This would be reviewed by the accreditation board which would review all material and course content to see how it stacked up against the code of practice. Once they were satisfied it met the necessary standards it would be approved for use. The course provider would then be able to display the WTEFLAC logo on its website and marketing materials.

Choosing your course

A WTEFLAC logo on a website demonstrates that the provider can achieve a minimum standard. You can also use it as a guide to ensure your chosen provider can deliver the service you need. You’ll see if you can expect practical tuition if the tutors have practical experience and whether the course material meets minimum expectations.

It serves as the basis of due diligence to make sure the provider you choose is trusted and will help you achieve your career aspirations.