MyTEFL Review: Is This Online TEFL Course Worth It?
Back in 2010, I paid around $1,000 for an in-person TEFL in Thailand. The internet was chaotic, TEFL info was all over the place, and I didn’t know any better.
It did get me started teaching abroad (which changed my life), but I later realized… I massively overpaid.
Fast-forward: I went through myTEFL’s 120-hour online course so I could finally answer the big question I always get:
“Is there a cheap but legit TEFL I can take so I can get a job abroad?”
Short answer: Yes. This one.
Longer answer: keep reading.
Table of Contents
- myTEFL Review Quick Low Down:
- Quick Take: Is myTEFL Legit?
- What You Actually Get With the 120-Hour myTEFL Course
- Who This TEFL Is Perfect For
- What It Won’t Do For You (And What Actually Gets You Hired)
- Pros (a.k.a. Why I’d Pick This Over Another $1,000 Course)
- Who Might Need Something Else
- Final Thoughts: Should You Actually Buy It?
- Read More About Teaching Abroad:
myTEFL Review Quick Low Down:
Pros 🤩
- Much cheaper than the $1,000+ old-school TEFLs.
- Accredited and 120 hours (meets most job ad requirements).
- Beginner-friendly and easy to follow.
- Fully online and self-paced.
- Comes with job help, a recommendation letter, and extra resources.
Cons 😔
- Not a “prestige” cert like CELTA/Level 5.
- Competitive EU/international schools may want higher qualifications.
- Serious long-term teachers might want to upgrade later.
👉 GET IT: Grab myTEFL for 50% OFF
Quick Take: Is myTEFL Legit?
Here’s the nitty gritty people actually care about:
- Accredited: myTEFL’s courses are externally moderated and accredited by the International TEFL Accreditation Council (ITEFLAC), and the 120-hour course is also accredited by ICOES (International Council for Online Educational Standards).
- Meets the “120-hour” requirement: 120 hours is the standard minimum you’ll see in job ads and for work permits in a bunch of countries. Even myTEFL itself recommends this level for folks planning to teach abroad.
- Price point: The full price is listed at $299, but I have a hefty discount for you, so you’re paying way less than the $1k dinosaur courses some of us fell for (like me, ahhh!).
- Real-world feedback: They’ve got hundreds of reviews on TEFL review sites and platforms like GoAbroad/GoOverseas, averaging around 4.7–4.9/5 from past students.
So yes: myTEFL legit, recognized, and not scammy “pay $50 for a PDF in 3 hours” nonsense. But again, also not a BS $1,000 course (yes, I’m still mad about it over a decade later lol)
What You Actually Get With the 120-Hour myTEFL Course
The 120-hour online course is their main, professional-level option and it covers all the stuff a new teacher actually needs:
- How TEFL works (intro to EFL + teaching methods)
- Classroom management (aka: how not to get eaten alive by 30 teens)
- The four main skills: speaking, listening, reading, writing
- Grammar (verb tenses, modals, form/meaning/use – the stuff you think you know until you have to explain it)
- Teaching vocabulary and functions
- Phonology and pronunciation basics
- Lesson planning, materials, and testing
Plus the “online course perks” you actually want:
- Self-paced: study on your own time, from anywhere, on any device
- Tutor & tech support with feedback if you get stuck
- Letter of recommendation and a breakdown of your course to show employers
- Lifetime access to their resource library once you’re done, and ongoing job placement assistance (more on that in a sec).
It’s not flashy, but it covers what you need to not feel like a lost potato in front of a whiteboard.
Also, I know this doesn’t sound like much fun, but it’s just 120 hours, I promise, just get through it, and you’ll be fine once on the other end!
Who This TEFL Is Perfect For
This is the course I recommend for most of my readers who say things like:
- “I have zero teaching experience and I just want to get to Thailand/Vietnam/wherever without getting ripped off.”
- “I need something cheap but legit to show schools and online companies.”
- “I’m working full-time right now and need something self-paced and online.”
The 120-hour myTEFL is solid for:
- Teaching in places like Thailand, Vietnam, parts of Europe, and Latin America, where a 120-hour accredited TEFL is often enough to get your foot in the door.
- Getting started teaching online, then using your experience + TEFL to hop abroad later.
If your dream is teaching English in a typical language center, public school, or online platform, this level of TEFL is usually all you need.
👉 GET IT: Grab myTEFL for 50% OFF
What It Won’t Do For You (And What Actually Gets You Hired)
Here’s where I’m going to be honest:
- A TEFL course does not magically hand you a dream job.
- It won’t guarantee high salaries or a glamorous life abroad.
- Many countries also want you to have a 4-year degree (in literally anything, doesn’t matter)
myTEFL offers job placement assistance, which is nice, but I personally don’t love relying on “placements” for life decisions. I’d rather you:
- Get your TEFL
- Go to the country you want to live in (like I did in Thailand)
- Use local job boards (e.g., Ajarn in Thailand), Facebook groups, and literally walking into schools and agencies
- Talk to other teachers on the ground and feel the vibe of the town before you commit
That’s how you avoid sketchy schools and find a job that actually fits you.
As for salaries: TEFL wages are usually “comfortable local life” money, not “I’m retiring at 35” money. You’ll generally see:
- Lower salaries in places like Thailand and Vietnam (but affordable cost of living)
- Higher salaries in Korea, Japan, the Middle East, etc. (but often with higher expectations and competition)
So: myTEFL gives you the cert and skills. You still need to show up, apply smart, and choose your country and job carefully.
Pros (a.k.a. Why I’d Pick This Over Another $1,000 Course)
What sold me on myTEFL’s 120-hour, and why I recommend it:
- Price vs value: It does what my $1,000 course did… for a fraction of the price.
- Accredited + 120 hours: It ticks the boxes most employers are scanning for in job ads.
- Beginner-friendly: The modules are structured in a clear, logical order and people consistently say it boosted their confidence to actually teach.
- Flexible: No set schedule, study at your own pace around your current job or school.
- Extras: Lifetime job assistance, letter of recommendation, and ongoing resource access don’t hurt.
Is it the fanciest, most elite course on the planet? No.
Is it a solid, affordable, legit TEFL that gets you where you need to go? Yes.
Who Might Need Something Else
You might want to look at higher-level or in-person options if:
- You’re chasing international schools or very competitive EU roles.
- You want something like a CELTA or Level 5 qualification because you already know you want to stay in teaching long-term and climb the ladder.
For most “I just want to move abroad, teach for a bit, and see what happens” humans, that’s overkill. Start with a 120-hour myTEFL, then upgrade later if you fall in love with teaching and want to get fancy.
RELATED: 5 Best Online TEFL Courses to Teach English (UNDER $200)
Final Thoughts: Should You Actually Buy It?
If you’re sitting there thinking:
“I just need a legit TEFL so I can stop overthinking and start applying for jobs…”
Then yes, this is exactly the type of course I’d buy if I were starting now.
I did the overpriced, old-school, $1k route so you don’t have to.
If you want a cheap, recognized, beginner-friendly 120-hour TEFL to kick off your life abroad, myTEFL is an easy yes from me.
You can pair it with my other guides on where to teach, how to find jobs, and what salaries look like, and you’re basically set to go start your “new life abroad” era.
👉 GET IT: Grab myTEFL for 50% OFF
Read More About Teaching Abroad:
- Teaching English Abroad and Online – Check out all my guides!
- How to Teach English Abroad, Anywhere!
- How to Teach English Abroad Without a Degree
- How to Teach English Online + 29 Schools to Apply To
- 5 Best Online TEFL Courses to Teach English (UNDER $200)
This guide gives you the *exact* steps, visa options, and decision tools to pick the best country for *you*.
GRAB THE GUIDENo fluff. No BS. Just straight-up ✨virtual hand holding✨ so you can stop dreaming and get out of the US!