Are you an Australian or New Zealander wanting to study a TESOL or TEFL course online for free? If so, I’ve compiled a list of over 50 online courses that you can study from home below.
When to study a free TESOL / TEFL course?
A free TESOL or TEFL course is great for new teachers looking to learn more about the industry or an experienced teachers searching for professional development. I’ve found courses on teaching fundamentals, English grammar, assessment and even AI.
Even better, these courses and certifications below are completely free*.
Yet, these are not government funded, accredited by a teaching authority like ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority), nor provide certification to teach. I recommend that you check out an accredited TESOL / TEFL course of 120+ hours if you want to teach English online or in a physical classroom in the future.
A 120 hour TEFL certificate can be completed online in as little as three weeks and will prepare you to be the best teacher that you can be from your very first class. Accredited TESOL / TEFL qualifications open up job opportunities for you in Australia and abroad.
*Note that some courses require payment to issue a certificate (ALWAYS OPTIONAL).
**While TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) are technically different, terms will be used here interchangeably. TESOL is more common in Australasia and TEFL in other English-speaking countries.
Introduction to Teaching
- Foundations of Teaching for Learning: Being a Teacher
Commonwealth Education Trust - Introduction to Applied Linguistics and TESOL
University of Leicester - Understanding Language: Learning and Teaching
British Council/University of Southhampton - TESOL Certificate, Part 1: Teach English Now! Specialization
Arizona State University - TESOL Certificate, Part 2: Teach English Now! Specialization
Arizona State University - TESOL Professional Certificate
Arizona State University
Teaching Online
- Learning to Teach Online
UNSW (University of New South Wales) - Teaching English Online
Cambridge Assessment English - Teaching English Online: China and Beyond
Cambridge Assessment English - Get Interactive: Practical Teaching with Technology
University of London - The Online Educator: People and Pedagogy
The Open University - Teach English Now! Teaching Language Online
Arizona State University - Approaches to Resource Design in Online English Language Teaching
English Australia - How to Create an Online Course
The University of Edinburgh - Blended and Online Learning Design
UCL (University College London)
Grammar & English Language
- English Grammar and Style
University of Queensland - English Grammar for Teachers
UCL (University College London) - Grammar and Punctuation
University of California, Irvine
- Teaching English Grammar in Context
UCL (University College London) - Teaching Tips for Tricky English Grammar
University of California, Irvine
Teaching (General)
- Teaching for Success: Lessons and Teaching
British Council - TESOL Strategies: Supporting ESL Students in Mainstream Classrooms
University of Glasgow - Teaching EFL/ESL Reading: A Task Based Approach
University of London
- English in Early Childhood: Language Learning and Development
British Council - Understanding Multilingual Children’s Language Development
University of Reading - A Better Start to Reading
University of Canterbury
- Understanding Classroom Interaction
University of Pennsylvania - New Learning: Principles and Patterns of Pedagogy
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Blended Language Learning: Design and Practice for Teachers
University of Colorado-Boulder
- Dyslexia and Foreign Language Teaching
Lancaster University - Learning and memory in the brain: a guide for teachers
University of Cambridge - Intercultural Competency in Education
University of Iceland
Professional Development (CPD)
- Introduction to HyFlex Learning and Teaching (CPD)
UniSQ (University of Southern Queensland) - Learning and Learners (CPD)
British Council - Teaching Phonics in Early Childhood (CPD)
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) - Professional Development Package for Teachers
UNSW (University of New South Wales)
IELTS & Assessment
- The IELTS Teacher Training Program
IDP Australia - Language Assessment in the Classroom
British Council - Teaching and Assessing Core Skills
British Council
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
TAFE NSW - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education for Teachers
Macquarie University - Teaching AI in the Classroom
University of Adelaide
Phew, that’s a lot of free courses isn’t it!? There can’t possibly be any more to learn! Well, there is one more thing…
Learning the basics of your student’s language can help you begin your own freelance teaching business and charge up to A$100/hr. Want to learn more? I now offer 1:1 coaching. Plus, it can help you to get better paying online teaching job. Find out more.
Languages
- Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics
Universiteit Leiden
- Arabic for Beginners
Khalifa University - Learn Chinese: Introduction to Chinese Conversation
Shanghai International Studies University - Get ready for beginners’ French
The Open University - Starting Korean: Language and Culture for Beginners Ⅰ
Sungkyunkwan University - Portugese for Beginners
Alison - Learn Spanish 1
Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana - Let’s Learn Thai Language: Basic Conversation Skills
Universiti Malaya
Kate (GradCertEd TESOL) studied a TESOL certificate in 2010 and has been teaching English ever since. Tutoring ‘freelance’ for many years before starting an independent teaching business, she began Teach English Online to support Australians and New Zealanders to do the same. Just starting out, want to apply to one of the 300+ global companies or build your own small independent teaching business? She can help.
Thank you so much Kate for your advice and viewpoints and I shall take everything we have discussed together onboard. Over the next few days, I shall be focusing on how to approach my niche market as per your suggestion.
Your site is wonderful – very interesting, very informative, factual, and formatted in a simple but yet detailed outlay.
I would have no hesitation to refer this website to anyone interested in teaching English as a second/other languages.
Hi Irene, Thank you so much for your comment! Good luck with your teaching. Kate