What programs and certification programs are out there for people to get certified as a teacher of English? How long does each specific course take?
What involved in the course? Which one more widely accepted in the world?
How do I know which company Im getting certified and buying courses from is legitimate or shady?

Trinity and Cambridge are the two main companies that provide TEFL all over the world and are fully recognised teaching qualifications. In most cases, you can do a TEFL course in as little as four weeks intensively. If you use google, you will find information for Cambridge and Trinity.

I got my Trinity Certificate in London 12 years ago, but I took the course over ten months. If you do a short course, you really need to give up your life because it is very intensive.

Good luck

Michelle

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www.mar-del-plata-argentina.net

A wonderful place to live

There is a course offered in Paris that is based on the TEFL program at Rutgers. Take a look at this site: TEFL Certificate Program (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) at WICE in Paris, France

Obviously, you're not going to go to Paris just to take a TEFL course, but the website has quite a bit of information to explain how it works. They also compare the full length course and the accelerated (4 week) course.

You might find it interesting.
Cheers,
Bev

There are several programs that offer TEFL courses in really great locations, like on the beach in Thailand. Many people decide what country they want to work in first and do the four week program there, because the schools generally help with placement. You'll have to be careful if you don't have a university degree to choose countries that will allow you to teach without one.