"If you are looking for a top-notch TESOL course to enhance your career in education, I strongly recommend EfA. It’s a comprehensive and informative program that equips you with the skills needed to succeed as an English teacher."

Carrie Chou / English Teacher

Achieve your English teaching certificate

The 120 Hour TEFL Certificate is our most comprehensive TEFL course, providing an in-depth foundation in teaching English as a foreign language. Adapted from the Level 5 Trinity CertTESOL qualification, it covers essential lesson planning, classroom management, and TESOL teaching techniques – alongside dedicated units on teaching young learners, online teaching, and exam preparation.

 

This broad scope equips you to teach in varied contexts worldwide. You’ll learn to design playful, exploratory lessons for children, create engaging sessions for older teenagers or adults, manage virtual classrooms, and guide students to success in major English exams, a valuable skill set for employers seeking well-rounded educators.

 

As an added bonus, all participants receive complimentary access to our 10-hour Teaching in Specific Contexts course, delving into specialised areas such as one-to-one teaching, English for Academic Purposes, and Business English.


With up to twelve months of flexible study, you’ll gain the expertise and confidence to support learners of all abilities – from foundational language skills to high-stakes exam readiness. Upon completion of the 120 Hour TEFL Certificate, often referred to as a TEFL license, you’ll be primed for rewarding, full-time teaching roles in schools, language centres, and online platforms worldwide. 

What you'll learn

Plan & deliver effective lessons

  • Apply essential TEFL approaches (e.g. PPP, TBL, ESA) for grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
  • Write clear, SMART lesson aims and incorporate authentic materials.
  • Design interactive activities that motivate and engage learners.

Master techniques for all ages

  • Use child development insights (Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner) to teach young learners.
  • Adapt strategies for teens, from managing the “teenage brain” to creating stimulating tasks.
  • Create lesson plans that resonate with different learner profiles.

Boost receptive & productive skills

  • Develop reading and listening lessons using top-down and bottom-up approaches.
  • Guide students to speak confidently via role-plays, discussions, and drama activities.
  • Teach process-based writing skills, from brainstorming ideas to structured drafting.

Manage classrooms in-person & online

  • Implement positive discipline and set up effective rules & routines.
  • Explore seating arrangements, group dynamics, and interaction patterns.
  • Use virtual teaching tools, manage live sessions, and keep young learners engaged online.

Prepare learners for exams

  • Understand the format and requirements of popular ESOL exams (e.g. Trinity, Cambridge, IELTS).
  • Use assessment tools to track learner progress and provide targeted feedback.
  • Build students’ test-taking strategies and confidence.

Grow your professional pathway

  • Explore opportunities for further development (CertTESOL, DipTESOL, and beyond).
  • Practise reflective teaching and peer observation.
  • Connect with our network of schools, trainers, and online teaching platforms.
Teach with confidence through Trinity CertTESOL-adapted training, providing the perfect foundation for future progression to the internationally recognised CertTESOL qualification.

Open up teaching opportunities with a credible TEFL course

Our 120 hour TEFL Certificate, adapted from the Trinity CertTESOL framework, goes beyond “paper-only” English teaching certificates. It offers rigorous, practitioner-driven training that language schools respect – equipping you to truly excel in any classroom setting.

Refine your teaching practice to

Bridge cultural divides by adapting to diverse learning traditions and creating inclusive learning spaces.

Balance structure with creativity through frameworks that encourage student autonomy.

Apply research-backed methodologies rather than shortcuts or outdated techniques.

Build lasting pedagogical skills that spark tangible results in the classroom and prepare you for further qualifications like the full Trinity CertTESOL.
Developed and delivered by renowned trainers who also deliver the Trinity CertTESOL and Trinity DipTESOL, and containing content adapted from our Trinity CertTESOL qualification.

Who should take this TEFL course?

Perfect for teachers who

Want a comprehensive introduction to teaching English in diverse global contexts.

Need a recognised 120-hour TEFL certificate for visa or employment requirements.

Seek versatile training for teaching both adults and young learners.

Are looking for a solid foundation before pursuing a Trinity CertTESOL qualification.

Need flexible, self-paced professional development that fits around existing commitments.

Typical participants include

New graduates considering teaching English while traveling abroad.

Career changers looking to enter the field of English language teaching.

Professionals seeking to teach online as a side career.

Teaching assistants and EFL tutors without formal qualifications wanting to enhance their employability.

Volunteer teachers preparing for educational projects in various countries.

Here's what some of our graduates are saying

120 Hour TEFL Certificate curriculum

This 120 hour online TEFL course is designed to equip you with the skills and confidence needed to teach English across diverse contexts. Whether you’re starting out or already have some classroom experience, this course covers a broad range of essential topics – from lesson planning and classroom management to teaching grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation for both adult and young learners.

What to expect

You’ll engage with interactive course materials, including

  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Online lesson observations
  • Practical tasks
  • Discussion forums

By the end of the programme, you’ll have a comprehensive toolkit of strategies, activities, and insights to effectively teach English in varied settings. The modules follow a logical sequence to guide your progress, and completing each one is required to access your digital credential

 

End of Module Quizzes

Each module concludes with a short consolidation quiz that reinforces the key concepts covered. Multiple attempts allow you to identify gaps in understanding and revisit course material as needed.

 

Final Quiz

The course culminates in a final comprehensive quiz, where you’ll demonstrate your overall mastery. Achieving a 50% pass mark – within up to three attempts – earns you your digital credential (complete with an e-certificate and credential badge) which can be showcased on professional platforms such as LinkedIn. 

Module 1: Skills, Approaches and Methods

In this module, you will

  • Explore essential TEFL skills, roles in the classroom, and ways to engage learners.
  • Compare key approaches, methods, and techniques used in language teaching.
  • Reflect on common assumptions about language learning.
  • Observe a listening lesson to analyse teaching in practice.

Key units/topics

  • Essential TEFL skills
  • Approaches and methods
  • Assumptions
  • Lesson observation
  • Consolidation

Module 2: Young Learners

In this module, you will

  • Define young learners, their characteristics, and how to communicate with parents.
  • Examine the basics of child development (Piaget, Vygotsky, Bruner) and implications for teaching.
  • Integrate play-based learning into lesson planning.
  • Explore strategies for teaching teens.
  • Observe a young learner lesson and reflect on key techniques.

Key units/topics

  • Teaching young learners
  • Child development
  • Play-based learning
  • Teaching teens
  • Lesson observation
  • Consolidation

Module 3: Preparing Lessons

In this module, you will

  • Analyse types of motivation and how teachers can inspire learners.
  • Learn how to plan lessons effectively, including writing SMART aims.
  • Explore lesson staging approaches (PPP, ESA, TBL).
  • Select, adapt, or create materials for different contexts.
  • Design communicative activities for both adults and young learners.

Key units/topics

  • Motivation
  • Lesson planning and staging
  • Using materials (course books, authentic materials)
  • Communicative activities
  • Consolidation

Module 4: Class Management

In this module, you will

  • Discover effective classroom management strategies for in-person and online settings.
  • Explore different interaction patterns and classroom layouts.
  • Understand rules, routines, and the importance of positive discipline, especially for young learners.
  • Learn about managing the learning environment, including a zoned classroom approach.

Key units/topics

  • Classroom management (in person & online)
  • Interaction patterns
  • Rules & routines with YLs
  • Staying positive
  • The YL learning environment
  • Consolidation

Module 5: Teaching Techniques

In this module, you will

  • Develop effective ways to give instructions and check learners’ understanding.
  • Learn how to elicit language and concept-check new structures.
  • Understand how to monitor learners and check answers strategically.
  • Practise giving balanced feedback and correcting errors (spoken and written).
  • Explore drilling techniques and when to use them.

Key units/topics

  • Giving and checking instructions
  • Eliciting and concept checking
  • Monitoring and checking answers
  • Feedback and error correction
  • Drilling
  • Consolidation

Module 6: English Language and Skills

In this module, you will

  • Examine the fundamentals of grammar (parts of speech, tense, sentence structure).
  • Explore the nature of vocabulary (meaning, collocation, register).
  • Study phonology (phonemic chart, stress, intonation, connected speech).
  • Identify receptive and productive skills, and consider top-down vs bottom-up processing.

Key units/topics

  • Learning about grammar
  • Learning about vocabulary
  • Learning about phonology
  • Learning about receptive and productive skills
  • Consolidation

Module 7: Teaching Language

In this module, you will

  • Compare inductive vs deductive approaches to teaching grammar.
  • Observe a grammar lesson and discuss best practices.
  • Cover techniques for teaching vocabulary and pronunciation to both adults and YLs.
  • Plan meaningful learning experiences using timelines, flashcards, drilling, and more.

Key units/topics

  • Teaching grammar
  • Lesson observation
  • Teaching grammar to YLs
  • Teaching vocabulary (adults & YLs)
  • Teaching pronunciation (adults & YLs)
  • Consolidation

Module 8: Teaching Skills

In this module, you will

  • Structure receptive skills lessons for reading and listening, including tips for young learners.
  • Explore phonics and techniques for teaching reading to YLs.
  • Distinguish between accuracy and fluency when teaching speaking and writing.
  • Observe lessons focused on these skills and plan your own.

Key units/topics

  • Teaching receptive skills
  • Observe a lesson (reading)
  • Teaching listening & reading to YLs
  • Teaching phonics
  • Teaching productive skills (speaking & writing)
  • Observe a lesson (speaking)
  • Consolidation

Module 9: Online Teaching

In this module, you will

  • Identify the benefits and challenges of teaching online.
  • Explore key features of an online classroom, including tools and best practices.
  • Observe an online lesson for practical insights.
  • Discover strategies for keeping young learners engaged in a virtual environment.

Key units/topics

  • Introduction to module
  • Teaching online
  • Observe an online lesson
  • Teaching YLs online 
  • Consolidation

Module 10: Assessment and Exams

In this module, you will

  • Understand why and how to assess learners, considering various assessment tools.
  • ELearn about common ESOL exams for adults and children (Trinity, Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL).
  • Evaluate different exam requirements in line with learners’ needs.

Key units/topics

  • Assessing learning
  • Exams for adults and YLs 
  • Consolidation

Module 11: Teacher Pathways

In this module, you will

  • Explore teacher development options, including observation and reflective practice.
  • Consider alternative careers in TESOL.
  • Research further studies, such as CertTESOL, DipTESOL, TKT, or MA TESOL.

Key units/topics

  • Continuing development
  • Further studies 
  • Consolidation

Final quiz

In this module, you will

  • Review and consolidate the main concepts, strategies, and tools introduced throughout the course.  
  • Assess your knowledge and readiness to apply these teaching skills in real-world classrooms.
  • Reflect on your professional growth, recognising key insights gained during your learning journey.  
  • Access optional resources for further development and continued practice.

Verify your skills with a digital credential

Complete the course

After completing the course modules, you will need to take the final quiz. You will need to achieve a score of 50% or higher to complete the course and immediately receive your digital credential. You can retake the final quiz up to two times (three attempts in total), and you can revisit any sections of the course to study up on questions that you find challenging.

Instant, verifiable credential

Your digital credential includes an e-certificate, which can be downloaded and printed, and a credential badge which can be displayed on your social media and LinkedIn profiles, allowing you to showcase your achievements.
 

Our credentials are incorruptible digital certificates encoded on blockchain, to ensure they cannot be altered or copied by anyone and can be easily verified by institutions. We use the same credential issuing platform as leading universities including Harvard, Oxford, Berkeley, and Johns Hopkins.

Get to know our trainers

 Click thumbnail to view trainer details

Kevin Clare, Enjoys a good bottle of wine

Since 2009, Kevin has been involved in teaching English in a range of different settings, teaching adults, teenagers and notably young learners in Australia, Daqing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. He has worked in language centres as a Director of Studies and in various roles in international schools. At English for Asia, Kevin directs courses and conducts online training for teachers in Hong Kong and around the world.

CELTA, PGCE, BA

Clare Voke, Enjoys learning Mandarin

Clare began began her teaching career in 2008 and has experience in various roles in the UK, Mainland China and Hong Kong. She lived and worked in the south of China as a Regional Trainer for Education First and is particularly interested in Chinese learners of English. Clare has written online teaching courses and content, as well as presenting at conferences all over Asia.

Trinity DipTESOL, MA in TESOL

Sean Martin, His ancestor signed the Death Warrant of Charles I

For over a decade, Sean has worked in a variety of TESOL settings in Hong Kong and Europe. He has taught professional adults of various nationalities to develop their English in a variety of commercial sectors and academic settings. Sean has worked with the university of Sunderland on their English for Academic Purposes programme. He has academic interests in sociolinguistics and it's applications in and out of the classroom.

Jennie Fung, Enjoys yoga and learning languages

Jennie is a dedicated and highly experienced CertTESOL trainer with over a decade of expertise in English language teaching and teacher development. She has worked in a wide array of educational settings, including primary and secondary international schools, special needs education, and adult learning environments. This diverse background allows Jennie to bring invaluable practical knowledge and a nuanced understanding of the unique needs of both learners and educators.

Trinity DipTESOL, CELTA, BA

Eve Conway, Speaks fluent Spanish

Eve has worked in Spain, Vietnam and Mexico as both a teacher and TYLEC trainer as well as having worked on shorter projects in the UK, Italy, Azerbaijan and Peru. She worked for over six years for the British Council, where she discovered a love for working with children, particularly Early Years learners. Eve is a keen conference speaker and occasional writer for ELT magazines and publications.

Trinity DipTESOL, MA Applied Linguistics, BA English language

Laura Wilkes, Enjoys podcasting

Laura has worked in a range of TESOL settings for over eight years, from teaching students of all ages in China and training teachers in Russia, to developing and facilitating online courses for TESOL staff across the world. Having graduated with a distinction for her PGCE in Learning Technologies, she continues to research ways in which teaching and training can be enhanced through technology.

Cambridge CELTA, Diploma in TESOL, PGCE Learning Technologies

Maria Björning-Gyde, Dedicated to animal welfare

Maria is an examiner, moderator and marker on all Trinity TESOL panels, including the DipTESOL, CertTESOL, TYLEC, CertPT and CertOT. She has more than 25 years’ experience in New Zealand, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. Maria also dedicates her time to education and projects related to animal welfare issues and behavioural change for a One Health approach in Bali.

Ross Thorburn, Runs the TEFL Training Institute Podcast

Ross started his teaching journey in 2006, teaching students of all ages in central China. Ross is passionate about using technology to improve education. He’s run online training programs for teachers in over fifty countries and used AI to evaluate the teaching quality of over 10,000 teachers. In 2020, Ross published his first book, Inside Online Language Teaching. Ross’s more recent book, Unlocking Success on the Duolingo English Test, covers strategies for success in the world’s first fully online AI powered high stakes language assessment.

Trinity DipTESOL, Trinity FTCL TESOL, IDLTM, MA Language Education

Bryan Holmes, 

Bryan worked as a teacher trainer and part time course director for the Trinity CertTESOL at English for Asia.  With over 10 years teaching experience, he has a special interest in phonetics and phonology.

Trinity CertTESOL, MATESOL, Cambridge DELTA

Customer Reviews

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A
Anonymous
Well organised and clear instructed course

Well organised and clear instructed course.

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Singh Baljit
Getting knowledge

I’m learning new words and getting more knowledge each day.

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120 Hour TEFL Certificate

120 hours total study
Access for 12 months
Materials adapted from the Trinity CertTESOL qualification
Digital credential Digital credential
Also covers: teaching young learners, teaching online, exam preparation
Complete TEFL training to teach English confidently and effectively across all age groups and levels.
$3,600
- % OFF
$3,600
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