Make Sure Your Coursework Meets WTEFLAC Codes Of Practice

TEFL Accrediting

Before the advent of the World TEFL Accrediting Commission (WTEFLAC), TEFL/TESOL coursework was designed according to the studies of academic researchers studying the effectiveness of teaching foreign language students. Many of the philosophies, strategies, and techniques were designed from the top down, implementing goals in assessment, involvement, and feedback. Others were a compilation of effective techniques invented by TEFL teachers from all parts of the world. The TEFL coursework was effective, yet individual programs differed in focus and content. For this reason, the WTEFLAC was established to standardize TEFL offerings, and create a benchmark for the quality of instruction.

One of the most important benefits of the establishment of the World TEFL Accrediting Commission is that those who employed TEFL teachers would also have a standard of judgment. Many school officials had no problem hiring a TEFL instructor as long as that teacher had some sort of TEFL accreditation. This was especially true when the demand for teachers grew, and some administrators were forced to accept any type of accreditation, and in some cases, pay for the coursework and accreditation themselves. However, the close government scrutiny and the administrators’ own desire for standards required them to pay more attention to the sources of their teachers’ accreditations. Now, with the framework designed by the WTEFLAC, administrators can check that the accreditations on their teachers’ resumes came from qualified facilities.

Now the onus for ensuring that institutions are qualified by the World TEFL Accrediting Commissions lies with the teachers themselves. Any institution offering TEFL instruction will prominently disclose that they are listed by the WTEFLAC. This guarantees two things to the teacher. First, that the TEFL accreditation that the teachers worked to achieve will carry the power and reputation of the WTEFLAC, and maximize their

employment and earning power. Second, that the quality of the coursework will ensure that they are receiving the instruction they need to be effective with their foreign language students.

The World TEFL Accrediting Commission ensures that their listed institutions comply with a specific framework called the Code of Practice, and audit this compliance each year. The Code of Practice includes requirements concerning the rigor of the selection and admission of students. The course delivery must follow well-documented and standardized procedures, determined by the institution. The course content must be well designed, self-integrated, and paced for optimal learning and information building. Perhaps most importantly, the students must subsequently demonstrate clear knowledge and proficiency with the TEFL principals and techniques. In addition, the teaching staff must meet the highest standards of quality, and participate in a continuous improvement program. This constitutes the TEFL Accreditation Organisation framework for quality assurance for their listed institutions.