TEFL and Eire has a law unto its own when it comes to taking
a TEFL course. Cambridge CELTA and Trinity CertTESOL courses
are just as recognised but probably not as well known as
they are in the U.K. To teach English in a recognised language
school in Ireland you would need a university degree and
a teaching qualification accredited by ACELS (The Advisory
Council of English Language Schools)
ACELS controls standards in EFL schools and organisations
through an inspection/recognition scheme. ACELS' remit also
includes recognition of teacher training (TEFL) courses.
In order to gain recognition, award bodies are required
to comply with the ACELS minimum Key Standards and Guidelines,
that state that course programmes should normally be no
less than four weeks duration and include no less than 115
hours of study for each trainee. If your course is accredited
by ACELS and you have a university degree you can start
your teaching career in Ireland
If you want to go abroad with your teaching qualification,
the need for an ACELS recognised certificate is probably
not as imminent. A TEFL course certificate from a shorter
course or an online equivalent will provide you with a ‘ticket
to ride’ and will certainly enable you to get work
in countries where there is a great demand for teachers
or to use to support your income whilst travelling as opposed
to fully financing your teaching career. The Cambridge and
Trinity Certificate qualifications are still be the most
prestigious but any equivalent qualification will give you
an invaluable head start for your teaching career abroad!
There are a handful of providers of the Trinity and Cambridge
qualifications in Ireland - one of these in the stunningly
picturesque region of South West Ireland, in Schull. In
Dublin you can find a course combining the contents of the
Cambridge with the school’s own TEFL Certificate.
Teaching English in Ireland is a popular option, but to
ensure a certain level of authenticity for the international
students coming into the country each year, most of the
teachers there tend to be local.
