CIES offers two paths towards getting your TEFL Certificate.  The traditional path is our in-person, synchronous TEFL Certificate that we have offered since 2010.  This course may be taken in-person or remotely via Zoom.  

Our new TEFL course is completely online and asynchronous.  It is designed for those who want or need to take the course in a way that fits their schedule. 

No matter which path you choose, you will be exposed to cutting-edge methods and approaches to teaching English. You will be provided with hands-on teaching opportunities and given ample feedback on your teaching.  The world awaits!  

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Course Description

The CIES-TEFL Online certificate is a 150-hour course designed to prepare individuals to teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) within one semester. The program is structured to provide an overview of the field of TEFL, teaching methodologies, and practical applications to teaching grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking, and culture in diverse EFL contexts.

The online environment allows students greater flexibility to fit their schedule and is accessible worldwide. In each course module, participants are provided with content, lectures, and guided activities to ensure maximum interaction, support, and exchange between course participants. One-to-one teacher support is available as needed, as well as weekly online video meetings with the class cohort to cultivate an engaging community of learning and teaching.

Additionally, students in the CIES-TEFL Online certificate course develop their teaching skills through real-world teaching practica with English language learners. Students complete the course with a lesson plan portfolio of teaching materials, resources, and lesson plans to utilize wherever they are in the world. 

​​CIES is known as the place "Where the world comes to learn English". This naturally makes CIES a great place "Where the world comes to learn how to teach English…online"!

Breakdown of CIES-TEFL Online Certificate Hours

• Course module activities: 50 hours (course readings, discussion boards, reflection activities)
• Lesson plan portfolio: 35 hours (15 for design + 10 for peer and instructor feedback)
• Tutoring (online and/or in-person): 50 hours (20 tutoring sessions + 20 for planning + 10 for journaling)  
• Online class observations: 9 hours (7 for observations + 2 for journaling)
• Teaching video: 6 hours (2 hours for planning + 1 for teaching + 3 for self, peer and teacher feedback)

Total: 150 hours 

Course Dates and Fees 2023 (14 weeks) 

Course Dates and Fees 2024 (14 weeks) 

Register  (Registration will not be available until Summer 2023)

To register for the CIES-TEFL Online certificate program, please complete our online registration form using the button below. 

Please carefully read all of the information below before registering. If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact CIES at cies@fsu.edu or (850) 644-4797.

English Language Proficiency Requirement for Non-Native English Speakers

Official English Language Proficiency results are required of all applicants whose native language is not English. A minimum score of 80 on the IBTOEFL (with 26 on the Speaking section), 6.5 on the IELTS, or equivalent score on another proficiency exam accepted by Florida State University is required. Please submit a copy of your proficiency exam scores in the Document Upload section of the online registration or scan and email a copy of your score report to the Center for Intensive English Studies. If you have any questions about the English Language Proficiency requirements, please contact CIES at (850) 644-4797 or cies@fsu.edu. 

Payment Information

Once you have submitted an online registration to the CIES-TEFL Online Certificate Program, a charge for the amount of the course registration fees will automatically be placed on your myFSU account. You can pay online by credit card or electronic check on the FSU Student Business Services website.

Full payment of the registration fees secures your spot in our TEFL courses. Registrations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Space in the course is limited and early registration and payment is strongly encouraged. If space is still available, the final deadline to register is prior to the first class for the session. Registrations may be denied even if submitted prior to the deadline if the class has reached capacity. Please familiarize yourself with the CIES-TEFL Refund Policy below.

Financial Aid

The Florida State University Office of Financial Aid offers various resources and information regarding grants, scholarships and loans for degree-seeking students. Past CIES-TEFL students have used student financial aid to pay for CIES-TEFL course fees in the form of loans, grants, the Bright Futures Scholarship, and the Florida Prepaid Tuition Program. Visit the Florida State University Office of Financial Aid for more information at http://financialaid.fsu.edu/. 

CIES-TEFL Online Refund Policy

After the first week of class, refunds of tuition fees may be granted only in instances of withdrawal from the CIES-TEFL Online certificate course under the following conditions: involuntary call to active military duty; death of the student or immediate family member (parent, spouse, child, sibling); illness of the student of such duration or severity, as confirmed in writing by a physician; cancellation of the course by the university; or exceptional circumstances that could not have been foreseen and were beyond the control of the student, as approved by the CIES-TEFL refund committee.

If you decide not to attend the session for which you paid and would like a refund before the first week of class, a $100 fee will be subtracted from your refund for administrative fees. After the first week of class, a partial refund of 25% of the fees paid can be issued, and only for the previously stated conditions. Students also have the option of transferring registration to a future session, as approved by the CIES-TEFL refund committee.

Faculty

Dr. Ramin Yazdanpanah serves as the coordinator and instructor of the CIES-TEFL Online certificate course. He holds a doctorate from Florida State University (FSU) for his research on developing intercultural competence between teachers and students. Dr. Yazdanpanah is the founder of Full Circle Language Learning and Teaching. He also currently serves as a consultant to the U.S. State Department’s English Language Programs, an EFL specialist with the Learning Systems Institute-FSU, a teacher educator with the TESOL International Association as well as the Florida Department of Education. Cultivating communities of learning and teaching that focus on fostering a growth mindset and overall well-being is central to Dr. Yazdanpanah’s professional practice.