Choosing the right program for you

TESL Canada and Provincial Accreditation

One of the most common concerns students have is the credibility and usefulness of the various TESL / TEFL TESOL programs offered. It can be extremely difficult to find which program is best for you. One of the most important things to consider when deciding to take an ESL teacher-training program (commonly referred to as a TESL program in Canada) is where you want to teach. Most ESL schools and programs in Canada belong to Languages Canada. Languages Canada is a national organization whose main purpose is to set and maintain the quality of English and French as a Second Language programs across Canada. One of the standards that has been accepted by all member schools of Languages Canada is the requirement that every teacher in a member school be TESL Canada-certified. It is also important to keep in mind that programs that are not accredited by TESL Canada will limit career opportunities in Canada. Some TESL certificate holders that initially take a TESL program to travel and teach abroad, find that when they return to Canada they want to keep teaching, but can’t because they are not certified. Something to keep in mind when researching a TESL program.

Other things to consider are provincial bylaws and regulations. In BC all career-training programs must be registered with the PCTIA (Private Career Training Institutions Agency). PCTIA is a provincial agency that ensures educational, academic, and professional standards are maintained. Registered programs and schools work with the province to maintain an insurance fund to to be used to reimburse students enrolled in failed institutes. This means that if a student enrolls in a program at a school that goes out of business or stops offering that program, PCTIA will reimburse the student from this fund. If a program is not registered, students in that program are not covered. Registered schools can be found on the PCTIA website.

Online or Full-time?

Online programs have matured and are overcoming the image and reputation of being inferior to in-class programs. The mind-set that you can’t learn how to teach without being in a classroom has shifted to reflect the introduction of superior curriculum development for online teaching programs. In addition, the technology to support these programs has reached the stage of reliability and flexibility that wasn’t possible before. Now online programs have grown in stature and TESL Canada-approved online TESL programs are considered to be equal to their in-class counterparts. Part of this rationale is that the ultimate test for a teacher is in the classroom, and therefore, the practicum serves a very important role in these programs.

The benefits of the VIA Online TESL Diploma Programs (Pro 120 Online and Pro 270 Online) are that they are self-paced, removing the stress and pressure to meet assignment deadlines. They can be done in remote areas where TESL programs are not offered in-class. Online programs are well-suited to busy people because the program can be done after work or when there is free time, allowing for a more flexible study environment.

By comparison, full-time programs offer different advantages. Full-time, or in-class, programs have set start and end dates which give more structure to the programs than the online versions, and are usually completed quicker. Students in full-time programs tend to appreciate the opportunities to share ideas with fellow students and the social aspect of going to school. Full-time students are immersed in the ESL world and have frequent exchanges with ESL teachers and students in the school, giving the students a real-world teaching environment. This, and the school facilities, reference materials, and the opportunities for peer-teaching, makes full-time programs an excellent choice for people living in Victoria with the time to devote to a full-time program.

120 hour vs 270 hour programs

TESL Canada has three distinct levels of certification. These certificates are typically called TESL Canada Professional Certificates, and they are denoted by the Standard One Certificate (120 hours), the Standard Two Certificate (270 hours), and the Standard Three Certificate (an MA in applied Linguistics). The most common of these certificates is Standard One (VIA Pro 120 TESL Diploma). This is the minimum requirement to teach ESL in Canada in a Languages Canada member school or program. This program is 100 hours in the classroom and 20 practicum hours. It takes approximately 7 weeks to complete the entire program. Credits from this program can be applied to a Standard Two program.

VIA Training Centre also offers the only Standard Two program on Vancouver Island, the VIA Pro 270 TESL Diploma. This is a professional development program for career educators in both private and public schools. This program is 250 hours in the classroom and covers all of the Pro 120 curriculum plus many additional areas, such as socio- and psycho-linguisitics. The Pro 270 program provides professional training and insights that university ESL, K-12, ESL, and TESL programs’ teachers can all benefit. This program is 10 weeks in the classroom and has a 20-hour practicum.