Our TEFL certification courses
Our TEFL certification courses are certainly demanding; however, we do everything within our power to encourage TEFL students to pass the course and to promptly acquire a teaching job abroad.
We offer a world-renowned TEFL / TESOL certification course in Gran Canaria that equips you for the professional task of teaching English overseas, or in your home country. Our TEFL certification courses last for four weeks and have a very practical emphasis. There is no need to speak any language other than English, as our courses concentrate on training you to teach English with the international standard communicative approach – where English is the only language used in the classroom.
Our TEFL certification courses are certainly demanding; however, we do everything within our power to encourage TEFL students to pass the course and to promptly acquire a teaching job abroad.
This is the most practical and fundamental area of any TEFL training course. During the teaching practice sessions, trainees have the opportunity to teach real students of English and put into practice the skills learnt during the theoretical parts of the course.
2) Foreign Language Experience
During the course, trainees receive instruction in an unknown foreign language to help them reflect on the experience of being a learner. This session is extremely useful in creating empathy between the teacher and student and should help trainees to direct their own teaching.
3) Language Awareness
a) This area focuses on grammar and covers subjects such as parts of speech, the structure of tenses, conditionals and modals and other common grammar points. During these sessions trainees learn about these subjects as well as ways to teach them to their future students in the classroom.
b) This area also looks at the subject of phonology and covers phonemics, word and sentence stress, intonation and connected speech.
4) Student Profile
For this part of the course, each trainee is required to work with an individual student in order to work on things such as rapport building, error analysis, correction techniques and addressing individual student needs. Three meetings with the student are required to complete the profile, after which the trainee completes a one-to-one lesson with their student. The final stage is the completion of a written report regarding the lesson.
5) Teaching Techniques
This component of the course covers areas such as:
6) Materials Project
All trainees are required to create their own set of materials to be used during the teaching practice. These materials will be useful in future teaching environments and will help to instill the benefits of creativity and resourcefulness in relation to your lesson planning. The materials should be easily portable, durable and adaptable for different lesson points.
Once you have created your materials project you will present it to a course trainer and demonstrate how it will be used in the classroom. Your trainer will then provide advice and suggestions on how they can be improved and how they could be used in another context.
All applications from candidates aged 18 (younger ages may be considered in exceptional circumstances) and above will be considered for our English teaching courses. Our in-class TEFL courses are intensive, four-week programs; however, all trainees should still have sufficient time to explore the local area, experience the culture and to meet new people. Also, individual course organizers will often arrange leisure activities for our trainees so they can socialize in their spare time and make the most of their experience.
The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.
The deposit may be paid via a) credit card b) PayPal c) wire transfer d) Western Union.
The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center on the first day of the course.
At ITTT’s TEFL training centre in the Canary Islands you will have the opportunity to explore the world whilst you study and qualify for your TEFL certificate on our beautiful island of Gran Canaria, also known as The Little Continent!
You would be forgiven for thinking you are in the Sahara Desert as you travel across the sand dunes on a camel or in a dune buggy. Imagine you are in Peru, as you hike through rainforests. Soak up the history and culture in the cosmopolitan city of Las Palmas, one of the few cities in the world with its own beaches. Enjoy scuba diving in your free time and discover hundreds of dive sites and more than 700 marine species, some of which are unique to the Canary Islands. You can try windsurfing and surfing and enjoy the annual world championships held in Pozo Izquierdo, a short two minute drive away from the centre or maybe you would prefer sailing, fishing or body boarding.
If you are less energetic, then perhaps a game of golf on one of the many championship courses is your thing, or even just enjoying a spot of lunch beside one of the many lakes found amongst the beautiful mountain ranges. You can enjoy spectacular mountain views that visitors have called a mini Grand Canyon or Rocky Mountains.
In the 1960s NASA selected Gran Canaria as the site of one of its receiving stations for its space program due to the island having one of the cleanest atmospheres and best temperatures in the world. In 1969 NASA´s receiving station was the first in the world to receive the transmission from the Apollo crew and to hear the famous words of Neil Armstrong: “That´s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. To this day the clear skies at night are a delight for enthusiastic astronomers. The island is also a magnet for professional cyclists, many of whom train for the Tour de France during October to March.
Our centre is situated in Vecindario, the second largest town in Gran Canaria. Vecindario is on the south-east Coast of the island making it the perfect location for your stay. We are only ten minutes away from Las Palmas and ten minutes away from the most popular tourist areas. Pozo Izquierdo is a short two minute drive and Arinaga, known for its diving, is only a five minute drive away.
Not only will you shape your future as a professional teacher through obtaining your TEFL certificate with us in Gran Canaria, but you will also leave with memories which will last a lifetime.
TEFL Gran Canaria is a brand new modern training centre situated in a peaceful square in the town of Vecindario. Vecindario is a central town situated on the south-east coast of the island. The centre consists of a reception area, 3 large classrooms, 2 bathrooms, a kitchen and a chill out area available for trainees.
All classrooms are fully air conditioned and there is a state-of-the-art interactive board available for trainees to use. In addition we offer free internet and use of computers and projectors to all trainees.
The main kitchen is available to all trainees throughout the course and has a large fridge/freezer, sink, small oven, microwave, kettle, coffee machine and a dishwasher.
We also provide a chill out area for trainees with a sofa and a study area. There is also a smaller kitchen conveniently placed in this unique area consisting of a sink, a washing machine and a small fridge; all of which are available to trainees throughout the course. There are many supermarkets, cafes, bars and restaurants near to the centre.
During the course, trainees will have the opportunity to teach both small and large groups of students in the different classroom environments, thus ensuring that all trainees are prepared for teaching at all levels, for all ages and group sizes in the real world!
Gran Canaria offers
Optional Leisure Activities
The accommodation fees are not part of the course price and you are free to choose whichever accommodation option you prefer.
We work with several local establishments and rental agencies on the island. We can recommend rooms and apartments a short walk from our centre or, if trainees prefer to stay in different areas of the island we can recommend several rooms and apartments within a 10 mile radius. The prices are reasonable and public transport is easily accessible. We can also arrange travel cards so that trainees can travel the island freely using public transport. We can also arrange bike/car hire if required.
Further information on the available options will be sent once your place on the course has been confirmed by paying the course deposit.
If trainees wish to organise their own accommodation through independent sites we will gladly offer our advice and knowledge on those areas. Examples of such sites are as follows:
The accommodation fees are not part of the course price and you are free to choose whichever accommodation option you prefer.
You are not obliged to use the accommodation provided by the school and you are welcome to make your own accommodation arrangements. If you choose to use our accommodation, it should be paid for either by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the school at the start of the course.
Deposit payments for the TEFL course must be made to our administrative centre. The quickest and cheapest way to pay is by credit/debit card, but you can also make payments via Western Union, Pay Pal or bank transfer. While there are no deadlines for making the deposit payment, our courses can sell out quickly and you can only be sure your place is secured once the deposit has been paid.
Once you have made your deposit payment, we will send you an email with a booklet with information about the TEFL course and Gran Canaria itself.
The balance payment of the TEFL course fees is due on the first day of your course and can be paid in cash or by bank transfer.
The fees for your course are all inclusive and you will not be asked to make additional payments for any of your TEFL course related materials or services including course accreditation fees, lifetime job search help, welcome breakfast and daily refreshments.
TEFL course accommodation mostly comprises rental rooms and apartments a few minutes’ walk from or within a 10 mile radius of our TEFL school.
Students can arrange their own accommodation through independent websites if they prefer and we will happily offer advice on how to do this. Examples of such sites are as follows:
- Airbnb
- Piso compartido
- Idealist
This depends on your home country and we strongly recommend all TEFL trainees contact their nearest Spanish Embassy for the latest information regarding visas, work permits, health and travel insurance requirements etc.
TEFL classes are from Monday to Friday beginning at 9:00 a.m. with lunch at 12:30 p.m. After lunch, the information learned in the morning sessions will be put to use in preparation for classes to be given to students in the late afternoon and evening. TEFL students will receive immediate feedback on their teaching practice from our instructors.
The majority of students participating in our practice sessions are Spanish and are incredibly keen to learn. We offer adult and young learner lessons which will give you valuable experience teaching students of different levels and ages.
We have a limit of 12 TEFL trainees per course and we admit students from all over the world as long as they are highly proficient in English. All TEFL trainees must be over 18 years of age.
The TEFL course dress code is smart-casual. Due to Gran Canaria’s year-round warm climate, we recommend cool fabrics, but if your course is during the winter months, it is advisable to bring a jacket. Please note that while the island is a relaxed holiday destination, it is not appropriate for teachers to wear low cut tops and/or flip flops. We recommend shoes, sandals or smart trainers with regard to footwear.
Any tattoos should be covered whilst teaching.
Women – Low cut necklines or thin straps or tank tops are not appropriate. Short skirts and bare midriffs must not be visible, even when lifting arms up. Sandals and shoes must be worn at all times.
Men – Long pants, smart jeans or smart dress shorts (no ripped jeans), short or long sleeved shirts are acceptable (although as the weather is generally warm short sleeved shirts are more comfortable), loafers, dress shoes and smart trainers are acceptable whilst teaching. Long hair should be neatly tied back into a pony tail.
You should bring a pen and notebooks for taking notes during course lessons. All other relevant forms and instructions will be provided by us, as well as notes from the input sessions.
You can bring your laptop or mobile phone with you as we provide free Wi-Fi if you want to do any additional research on the internet.
The TEFL school has a large selection of books for use by trainees, but they cannot be removed from the classroom without permission from one of the trainers or the course director. During the TEFL course you will need to prepare materials for your teaching practice sessions. The training centre does keep a stock of supplies for use by trainees but if there are any extra materials needed, trainees are responsible for buying them at the nearby stationary store.
If you want to find work as a TEFL teacher in the Canaries or on the Spanish mainland you should bring original copies of your diplomas, degrees and grades from your college, high school or university. We also recommended bringing a police background check with you (ensuring that it is an original document and it is stamped). If you are married, please bring your original marriage certificate.
There plenty of opportunities for teaching work in the Canary Islands if you wish to stay here to work. However, each person is responsible for ensuring they bring all original documentation and visas with them as requirements will be different for each nationality. TEFL course attendees, who are EU citizens, will not require a visa but all students should visit on the Spanish embassy website.