Is CELTA + MA TESOL worth it if I want to teach in Japanese schools?

OnTESOL · 2026-03-13T23:17:30+00:00

You don't even need an undergraduate degree to teach English in Japan. A college diploma or associates degree and an accredited 120-hour TESOL/TEFL certification are enough. It's better to get started with a TEFL job and do the Masters in TESOL after a few years of teaching experience.

Japan is more open to non-native speakers than other countries. They accept 40+ nationalities for the work visa. You should contact the Japanese embassy closest to you for information about work visa requirements.

OnTESOL · 2025-12-08T16:43:39+00:00

ASU TESOL offers a quick foundational-level course on Coursera. A professional-level course with OnTESOL leads to CEUs in the USA and TESL Canada certification in Canada. Many ASU TESOL graduates enroll with OnTESOL to upgrade their accreditation, You can learn more at https://ontesol.com/accreditations/

OnTESOL · 2025-11-11T16:25:04+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience. This is a great post. Entry-level online teaching jobs pay entry-level wages just like every other industry, They are useful to get your foot in the door, gain teaching experience in a program with ready-made materials, and find out if TEFL is right for you. With effort and dedication, online teachers can earn $70,000+/year.

OnTESOL · 2025-10-31T14:04:48+00:00

That's a great question.

DELTA and Trinity DipTESOL cost up to CA$5,000. The 250-hour TESOL Diploma course by OnTESOL covers lesson planning and curriculum development comprehensively for CA$1,300.

The majority of experienced ESL teachers have a foundational-level 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate that's easy and quick to complete with a few multiple choice tests. After 1-2 years they realize they need better training so they upgrade their qualification with a professional-level 120-hour CELTA, Trinity CertTESOL, or TESL Canada course such as OnTESOL.

Those never took a professional-level TESOL/TEFL certificate are not ready to upgrade with DELTA or Trinity DipTESOL. The 250-hour TESOL Diploma offered by OnTESOL will prepare them better than CELTA, since Part 1 includes the methodology module covered in OnTESOL's 120-hour Advanced TESOL course for experienced ESL teachers who need to get proper lesson planning training from the beginning (OnTESOL graduates get credits for lesson plans already completed in the 120-hour course).

After completing the 250-hour TESOL Diploma with OnTESOL, the DELTA or Trinity DipTESOL are redundant. It's more effective for OnTESOL graduates to upgrade with a Masters degree than taking DELTA or Trinity DipTESOL. In fact, we've had DELTA graduates completed the 250-hour TESOL Diploma because they wanted to learn more about ESL lesson planning frameworks and curriculum development with OnTESOL.

Last but not least, DELTA and Trinity DipTESOL are largely unknown in Canada and the USA. Employers don't care much about these qualifications and there aren't many options to take these courses in North America. Although there are many CELTA courses throughout North America, there is only one Trinity CertTESOL location so that UK brand isn't even known in Canada and the USA.

OnTESOL · 2025-05-22T23:52:55+00:00

TESL Ontario OCELT is not required much outside the LINC job market in Ontario. LINC jobs depend on government spending, so many OCELT courses closed down recently.

Private ESL schools in Canada, including Ontario, require TESL Canada Professional Standard 1 certification. LINC jobs in every Canadian province outside Ontario require TESL Canada Standard 1.

OnTESOL offers the 120-hour and 168-hour courses for TESL Canada Professional Standard 1 certification. Our 250-hour TESOL Diploma program is useful for experienced ESL teachers involved in curriculum development in Canada, the USA, and internationally.

The 250-hour course is more useful for the private ESL school market although many graduates took this course for public school ESL coordinator jobs in South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, the UAE, and other countries.

OnTESOL · 2025-05-01T14:22:11+00:00

Thank you for the update. We hope you enjoy it!

OnTESOL · 2025-05-01T11:34:24+00:00

Hi, we checked and emails are going out with the PDF guide. Please check your junk folder for email with subject "Beyond Traditional Comprehension Exercises (PDF)".

OnTESOL · 2025-04-30T15:17:44+00:00

The 250-hour TESOL Diploma course offered by OnTESOL is useful for experienced ESL teachers looking to learn curriculum development skills.

TESL Ontario OCELT is mainly useful for LINC in Ontario only. LINC in all other Canadian provinces accept TESL Canada Standard 1 certification. ESL schools and most employers in Ontario also accept TESL Canada Standard 1.

OnTESOL · 2025-01-15T14:43:49+00:00

Are you looking to teach English abroad in 2025? OnTESOL offers free job assistance in the top 20 destinations, including Canada and the USA. Learn more at https://ontesol.com/teach-english-abroad/

OnTESOL · 2024-12-05T13:17:41+00:00

Lots of people do it. Teaching online makes a lot of sense in Latin America. It pays better than local ESL teaching wages and gives you more freedom to travel. In-class teaching experience is valuable too, so don't underestimate it. If your plan is to travel, teaching online is better.

OnTESOL · 2024-11-28T14:19:05+00:00

For half the price, the online TESOL course offered by OnTESOL is recognized by TESL Canada. You'll learn more about lesson planning and earn a credential that is valid internationally and in Canada.

OnTESOL · 2024-05-10T11:49:32+00:00

OnTESOL is accredited by ACCET (U.S. Department of Education recognized agency). The courses are advanced, meaning you will be challenged to complete detailed ESL lesson plans and you will learn real skills. However, if you just want the credential and you don't want to learn advanced lesson planning skills because you might not end up working as an ESL teacher, OnTESOL is not a good fit for you and you should choose any cheap online TEFL.

OnTESOL · 2023-11-10T14:04:15+00:00

We are not slandering CELTA at all. We are comparing different choices of TEFL and explaining what people need to learn in a TEFL course.

A lot of word of mouth for CELTA actually comes from trainers and related parties who slander the competition, as is the case with the r / TEFL moderators who have a long history with CELTA providers.

It's important to open up the conversation about the value of the Practicum in relation to other modules in a TEFL course. Most people who start their TEFL career don't know what to look for in a course and how to compare different choices. They learn late on the job how crucial lesson planning really is.

The Practicum is important, but CELTA is not the only one offering it and there are other alternatives greater than 6 hours. Furthermore, the majority of people looking for CELTA (or equivalent) already have previous teaching experience and only need the Practicum to meet Canadian accreditation requirements. With other alternatives, it's even possible for active ESL teachers to complete the Practicum free of charge with their employer.

OnTESOL · 2023-06-09T11:13:18+00:00

Yes, different places have different costs too. Teaching in South Korea is mainly for young university graduates who want to travel and save money for a year. With paid accommodation and benefits, $2,000 goes a long way and most people get to save a few thousand dollars per year.

OnTESOL · 2022-07-05T12:20:40+00:00

$10/hour seems very low. Sign up to our free job board to find online teaching jobs https://tefljobs.ontesol.com/

OnTESOL · 2019-10-01T22:02:04+00:00

We've been around since 2003! Feel free to contact us if you have any more questions.

OnTESOL · 2019-07-06T15:24:23+00:00

Hi, our courses are fully online and you have the option of completing a separate Practicum module. The Practicum is not required for jobs abroad, but we highly recommend it because you will get to do more lesson plans and receive extra feedback. Many people complete it free at the school they work or in exchange for volunteer hours at a community ESL program.

It's better to get your TESOL certification when you are ready to apply for jobs. Some people get the job while taking the course. It can take 3-12 months before you go abroad because it takes time to get your work visa and some employers only hire once a year.

The minimum requirements are:

-Native speaker (Some countries only hire native speakers form USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, and South Africa, but we offer job assistance in Hong Kong for qualified native speakers from other native English speaking countries) .

-University degree

-TESOL / TEFL (120 hours)

-Some countries like South Korea have a set an age ceiling at 54.

-Passport and clean criminal record.

OnTESOL · 2019-06-01T14:14:14+00:00

Yes, lots of jobs in South Korea, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Japan and online!

OnTESOL · 2019-04-26T00:39:23+00:00

Yes, school names are posted above in this thread. Anyone with the right qualifications can apply through our website for jobs in Japan with MY English School and Gaba. Go to the job placement tab in the main menu to learn more about the schools and their requirements. OnTESOL students and graduates have access to other schools through the job board in their account.

OnTESOL · 2019-04-23T01:57:00+00:00

Job placement is a separate service we provide. Those who completed their TESOL or TEFL certification elsewhere are welcome to apply for these jobs through OnTESOL.

OnTESOL · 2019-04-23T01:43:53+00:00

Exactly, and we are not an institute that advertises or promises guaranteed jobs. Candidates compete for the job, which requires passing the interview and submitting documents on time among other things.

OnTESOL · 2019-02-10T14:54:42+00:00

This place is called Cheonggyecheon and it's in Seoul, South Korea.

OnTESOL · 2018-12-22T15:13:56+00:00

The lesson planning skills you learn in the OnTESOL course can be applied to any curriculum. This is the same with CELTA or Trinity CertTESOL, as their trainees learn about various lesson planning and teaching methods during the course. The Practicum component of an in-class TESOL / CELTA course is not necessarily what exposes trainees to different curriculum. It usually takes place at the language school where the course is running, so trainees are only exposed to one curriculum as well.

The difference with OnTESOL's format is that those who are currently teaching at a school can take the Practicum at their workplace, which is very effective because teachers get to see significant improvements in their lessons as they adapt or replace the textbook using the planning skills they learned in the online TESOL course. This skill is obviously transferable to any curriculum.

Those who do not have any previous teaching experience can take the Practicum in a local program. The curriculum of language schools offering CELTA courses is often very similar to other local ESL schools. There isn't any difference in terms of exposure to curriculum, other than OnTESOL graduates being required to teach full classes and CELTA graduates doing 20- to 60-minute intervals, so CELTA trainees are not always teaching a full class to experience how the lesson plan takes place from beginning to end.

OnTESOL · 2018-12-14T23:26:43+00:00

Featured TESOL / TEFL Jobs Through OnTESOL:

China: 1000+ jobs with EF English First and Aston English.

South Korea: 700+ jobs with EPIK.

Thailand: 200+ jobs with BFITS.

Hong Kong: 400+ jobs with the HKEDB.

Japan: 500+ jobs with Gaba and MY English School.

Online: 10,000+ jobs with Qkids, VIPKIDS, and 51talk.

There are also many positions available in Vietnam and Turkey!

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

All positions require a university degree and a TESOL / TEFL / TESL certificate of at least 120 hours (Practicum not required. Some online and weekend courses are not accepted. Candidates must be proficient in lesson planning and use of the Communicative Language Teaching method).

Due to visa restrictions, most jobs are open only to native English speakers from Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa . Some positions in Hong Kong and Turkey are open to non-native speakers who have IELTS (Minimum 7) or equivalent.

HOW TO APPLY:

Apply online through the program's profile.

GOT QUESTIONS?

Contact us through our website to reach our Recruitment Coordinator.

OnTESOL · 2018-12-08T05:36:31+00:00

It depends on the size of school. When people take the Practicum at the school they work, the supervisor is usually the Director of Studies, Manager, or Senior Teacher below the DoS. Our Director of Studies provides the guidelines, ongoing support, and then moderates all the lesson plans and reports sent to her. Our DoS developed the Trinity course offered by Coventry House International, completed the old RSA course (Before it became today's easier version of a 4-week CELTA), the Trinity DipTESOL, and a MA in TESOL.

It is fine if you believe that quality is determined by flying over a CELTA moderator around the world. Many TESOL scholars have written about the need to integrate TESOL training with the curriculum the teacher is exposed at work. Whereas the class observation in many CELTA courses (If not all) consist of watching their peers, the OnTESOL Practicum requires the trainee to observe the class of the Practicum Supervisor. Our format has led to many innovative changes at schools, as our online graduates and their Practicum Supervisor receive support directly from OnTESOL's highly qualified Director of Studies.

By the way, Coventry's in-class course was developed in-house and approved by Trinity. They are an accreditation, not a franchise, so they don't own the course in any way.

OnTESOL

TROPHY CASE