WTEFLAC - The World TEFL Accrediting Commission

  Having an accreditation body is crucial to the health of all participants in the TEFL and TESOL sectors.   The TEFL and TESOL sectors have grown rapidly in the last couple of years. New training providers have flooded the market, giving customers a huge amount of choice. However, while that can be beneficial in many ways, the number of providers can make it difficult to ensure you get a good quality tuition that leads to a valuable qualification. Without a trusted accreditation body, the online world can be a bit of a wild west environment with no easy way to guarantee quality and safety.   How WTEFLAC accreditation works   The purpose of accreditation is to provide transparency and restore trust in the system by ensuring clear oversight of the sector. An accreditation company, such as the WTEFLAC , for example, would assess applicant companies against a standard criterion. In the WTEFLAC’s case, that was the code of practice, which was published on the websit...

The internet makes it easier than ever to start a TEFL course. Unfortunately, it’s often hard to be sure the provider you’ve chosen is legitimate. The World Wide Web brings choice and risk. Choice because it puts a whole world of services at your fingertips and risk because it’s hard to tell the good from the bad and the ugly. Unfortunately, due to a lack of regulation, the TEFL and TESOL sectors can be a perfect case in point, which is why companies such as the World TEFL Accrediting Commission were so important. What to watch out for Almost anyone can set up a TEFL course or a legitimate company. All you need is a website and you’re ready to go. Thanks to this the recent surge in TEFL providers also led to a surge in the number of poor-quality providers out there. They could talk a good game but not deliver. At the same time, the last few years have also seen a rise in scams. Fraudsters can set up legitimate providers claiming to offer a service. When you pay your deposit, you ne...

  Although it has not ceased operations, the World TEFL Accrediting Commission played an important role in raising standards of transparency and accountability in the TEFL and TESOL sectors. The WTEFLAC has closed its doors for the final time. Even so, its legacy lives on in the form of the companies it accredited and the code of conduct which can still be used as a yardstick against which to assess any potential TEFL provider. Going forward, it can still be used for any student looking to make their own decisions. What the code of conduct contained The WTEFLAC’s code of conduct contained the following provisions. Marketing material must be accurate. The accrediting board would review all promotional material to make sure it provided an accurate portrait of the course content. Courses should meet best practice standards. Students should be given a clear structure to follow and sufficient time to complete all the work. It should contain a significant proportion of peer-to...

Although the WTEFLAC has now closed its code of practice remains relevant as a template by which all students can judge TEFL and TESOL courses. From its earliest inception, the WTEFLAC had committed itself to improving standards within Teaching English as a Foreign Language education and providing prospective students with all the information and support they needed to make the right decision. Key to that was its landmark code of conduct and despite its closure, this serves as a valuable template for anyone looking for a course. What the code of conduct says The WTEFLAC was a private accreditation agency providing verification of TEFL and TESOL providers. Any provider of TEFL or TESOL providers could apply for accreditation. Their applications were reviewed by an accreditation board and, if successful, they would be able to display the WTEFL logo on their site. The code of conduct provided a framework against which any assessment could be made. It covered all of the key factors th...

  As the WTEFLAC ceases operations, we explain what the organization set out to do, how it worked, and where this leaves the industry. The World TEFL Accrediting Commission has ceased operations. Since its inception it had been a leading accrediting company seeking to raise standards in TEFL and TESOL education. However, its logo continues to be displayed on the marketing literature of many of the companies it regulated. So what does that mark mean and can it still be used as a guide for quality? Who were they? The WTEFLAC was a private accrediting organization that provided accreditation of TEFL and TESOL courses. These qualifications should be recognized the world over for anyone looking to teach English as a foreign language. However, quality varies and not all providers give customers value for money. An accreditation mark is crucial for anyone researching potential providers. It offers verification that this provider can back up its claims and that courses are delivered b...