Top 5 TEFL Courses

In recent years English has become a desirable language to learn in a variety of industries across the world. As a result, TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language) courses have sprung up around the globe, providing expats with a great way to earn some much needed money during their travels. Buenos Aires is no exception and hosts a plethora of such courses, making it hard to know where to begin. Here is your guide to the TEFL courses in BA that promise to get you off to the best start in teaching English abroad.

1. TEFL International Buenos Aires, Recoleta

Situated in the stunning former presidential manor of former president Carlos Pellegrini who presided over Argentina during Buenos Aires’ Golden Era at the end of the 19th century, TEFL International Buenos Aires is undoubtedly a tip-top place to start your career in English Language teaching.

What is now part of the Recoleta Institute, the manor has been completely transformed into a state-of-the-art setting to complete your studies. As well as retaining the beauty of the building that exemplifies the rich heritage that Buenos Aires has to boast, the school is fully kitted out with the latest resources to make the most of your time on the TEFL course. With a modern café, a multifunctional event space, technologically equipped classrooms and a relaxing lounge space that all open up to striking, mature courtyard style garden, TEFL International Buenos Aires is the perfect place to start honing your skills.

The course itself is just as impressive as the setting. No stone is left uncovered, offering students a variety of pathways to the successful completion of their qualification. To ease students into the TEFL course, a preparatory course is available as well as training in a foreign language, which helps to assist them on their time abroad, all culminating in creating a confident English language teacher.

With a focus on grammar, phonology and teaching techniques, which range from using theatre and reading activities to teaching young learners and classroom management, TEFL International Buenos Aires provide the student with a firm foundation.

Founded in 1998, TEFL International is now the largest course provider for teaching English as a foreign language in the world. Their qualifications are recognised all over the world and with schools in 27 locations in 18 different countries, alumni of are exposed to a wealth of opportunities across the world with their new qualification.

For more information on TEFL International Buenos Aires’ course, click here.

2. Expanish, Centro

A highly comprehensive course offered by Expanish, a leading Spanish language school that strives to make your experience in Argentina as smooth as possible. Now, the school offers a TEFL course that is completely to the same standard of their Spanish learning and study abroad programmes.

With a 150 hour course that is carried out over four weeks, the Expanish course provides students with thorough training that well exceeds the international requirements for certification, ensuring that students’ confidence is at a peak before they start teaching in a classroom.

Expanish also have the capability to organise accommodation with other TEFL students, making it a firm favourite amongst students that want to meet like-minded people in a sociable environment. Also, there is the option to be placed with a homestay family, allowing students to have an authentic experience in Argentina, learning the customs and culture of Buenos Aires and helping them to pick up some Spanish in an informal setting.

The school also offers travel excursions and offers courses in Tango in order to make the most of your time in Argentina. Expanish comes highly recommended for its organisation, breadth and sociable aspects.

Expanish School is located at Tte Gral D Perón 700. More information on their TEFL course can be found on their website www.expanish.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE: AS OF MARCH 2011 EXPANISH NO LONGER OFFER TEFL COURSES, BUT REMAIN A LEADING SPANISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE IN THE CAPITAL.

3. EBC, Recoleta

EBC, also accredited by the British Council, provides a competitive course to those wishing to teach English abroad. Dedicated to producing superb teachers, EBC celebrates the variations of the English language and advertises their course accordingly by stating that students are trained to teach in whichever dialect they feel most comfortable.

Situated in the fashionable barrio of Recoleta, EBC also has a marvellous location on its side, which is continually attractive to students wanting to experience Buenos Aires at its best.

Providing training in techniques that help to teach an abundance of topics from vocabulary, grammar and classroom management, EBC’s TEFL course is aimed at making students feel comfortable in leading classes for a range of audiences. Group work and individual tasks are employed by professors in order to hone all of the skills developed on the course.

The course also has a brilliant practical side with at least eight, one hour practice lessons that students will lead themselves. Peer assessed, these are made to easily to iron out any flaws in teaching technique with friendly feedback.

The EBC TEFL also introduces students to ESP (Business English), which proves invaluable to those wishing to teach English in multinational companies. EBC also provides students with support in realising their potential in roles that their TEFL qualification can lead to with workshops that explore their different pathways and interview techniques, teaching students how to best take advantage of their new skills.

For more information on EBC’s TEFL course, click here.

4. Íbero School Argentina, Centro

Situated a stone’s throw from Buenos Aires’ famous Obelisk monument in San Nicolás, Íbero School Argentina is fully capable of providing a fun, interesting and original TEFL course for students that want to be in the thick of the city.

With a constant attitude aimed at improving their courses and ensuring that their resources are of the highest calibre, Íbero certainly is a brilliant place to receive your TEFL certification as they strive to expose students to the latest techniques in language teaching. Having trained a whole host of alumni and worked for various companies such as CNN, British Airways, the BBC and The Washington Post, Íbero has unbeatable experience in its TEFL training.

The TEFL is taught in a practical way with many games and activities that help the students engage with the course. It has also been designed by leading linguists in their fields and is accredited internationally by a variety of bodies including the British Council.

Another option which Íbero offers is a combined TEFL and Spanish Language course, which helps students to grasp the Spanish language as well as gain their teacher training qualification, allowing them to hit the ground running in whilst living in Buenos Aires. This is also a great opportunity for those that wish to travel around Latin America to teach in various locations.

With a brilliant ethic that continually focuses on the needs of students, international accreditation, competitive rates and an innovative course, Íbero comes highly recommended.

For more information on the Íbero School Argentina’s TEFL course, click here.

5. Mente Argentina, Recoleta

Mente Argentina provides a programme that is completely all inclusive, providing accommodation, a mobile phone for your time in Argentina, excursions, tango lessons and of course, an internationally recognised TEFL certificate.

With a detailed TEFL course that starts every month, Mente Argentina has flourished as one of the city’s leading TEFL providers for people that want to study towards new qualifications in Buenos Aires. The course covers the essentials in teaching English from grammar and vocabulary and the institute even offers supplementary classes in photography, tango, cooking and bar tendering, allowing students to hone several skills and explore new interests all under the same roof.

According to their website, their TEFL course is certified by the University of Cambridge, highlighting its stature as a qualification in the eyes of future employers.

With friendly staff that endeavour to help each and every student, Mente Argentina is a great place to gain the TEFL passport to working and living abroad!

For more information on Mente Argentina’s TEFL course, click here.