Question 1

What is a TESOL course?

Accepted Answer

A TESOL course prepares you to teach English to speakers of other languages. You cover the principles of language acquisition, teaching techniques, and classroom management. Most TESOL qualifications are designed to build on an existing teaching qualification, which is why you may require a Bachelor of Education or Bachelor of Teaching before you can enrol.

If you want to understand the difference between TESOL and TEFL or if TESOL teachers are in demand, you can read more in our blog: What is TESOL?

Question 2

Why should I study TESOL?

Accepted Answer

Studying a TESOL degree opens doors to teaching opportunities worldwide. It helps you develop skills in communication, cultural awareness, and education delivery. It’s the kind of degree that sets you on the path to a career that transforms peoples’ lives.

A TESOL degree prepares you to support people from all backgrounds who need help navigating Australian life. Under your guidance, they’ll learn how to become more fluid English speakers so they can apply for jobs, build new relationships and settle into their community.

Question 3

Why study TESOL online?

Accepted Answer

It’s worth studying your TESOL course online if you already work full-time as a teacher, tutor or other educational professional. You can complete your coursework when it suits you, instead of taking time off to attend lectures and tutorials. You also have the flexibility to study your course a subject at a time, which makes your workload more manageable.

Question 4

Which TESOL qualification is best for me?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what your goals are. If you’d like to upskill quickly for a position at an English language teaching centre, then a Graduate Certificate in TESOL could be a good choice for you. You only need to complete 4 subjects to earn this qualification, and you can graduate within 6 months if you take on a full-time study load.

On the other hand, if you'd like to teach TESOL at a government school or university, work in language education policy, or pursue a leadership position at a language school, you may want to consider a Master of TESOL. This more advanced qualification dives deeper into the theory behind teaching English and can be more appealing to certain employers.

You can also enrol in a short online TESOL course if you'd prefer to upskill in a single area only.

Like the idea of teaching but not sure if TESOL is where your passion lies? Explore secondary education, tertiary eduction, and language courses to get an idea of other careers in teaching. You could also consider becoming a leader in education with an education leadership course.

Question 5

What career opportunities can I explore after studying TESOL?

Accepted Answer

A TESOL qualification can lead to job opportunities both here in Australia and overseas. Graduates typically end up working at English language centres, private colleges, TAFEs, universities and government schools in roles such as:

TESOL teacher
ESL/EFL language instructor
ESL/EFL curriculum developer
Academic advisor
Tutor
Researcher in language learning/teaching
Language education policy adviser

Some graduates even go on to work in international business, international relations or diplomacy.

Question 6

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Accepted Answer

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you gain entry through prior study or work experience. Chat with us to find out more.

Question 7

How do I enrol?

Accepted Answer

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

TESOL courses

Introduction to TESOL