You’ve done the hard work. You’ve earned your PGCE, spent hours planning lessons, wrangling timetables, and guiding students through national curriculum standards. Now you’re ready for a new kind of challenge — one that takes you beyond your home country and into a world of cultural exchange, new languages, and the kind of freedom that comes from teaching abroad.
But as you scroll through job boards and international teaching forums, you keep seeing the same acronym pop up: TEFL. You might be wondering why a seasoned, qualified teacher would need yet another certificate — especially one that seems aimed at people just starting out.
It’s a fair question. After all, a PGCE proves you can teach. But teaching English as a foreign language isn’t quite the same as teaching Science to Year 8s in Manchester. Different goals, different learners, different contexts. So the real question is: does your PGCE cover what matters in the world of TEFL?
Understanding the Role of a PGCE
A PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) is one of the UK’s most respected teaching credentials. It prepares teachers to work in national curriculum schools — typically in the UK, but also in structured education systems around the world, especially those offering British or IB programs.
During your PGCE, you learn how to manage a classroom, plan for progression, assess learning outcomes, and deliver subject content aligned with official standards. It’s rigorous, academically intense, and focused on delivering education within a formal system.
When it comes to teaching abroad, a PGCE opens the door to international schools — especially those that follow a British or international curriculum. These schools often hire teachers to deliver subjects like Maths, Science, or English Literature to students who speak English fluently or as an academic medium. If that’s your lane, the PGCE may be all you need.
But outside of that niche? Things start to look different.
How TEFL Teaching Is Different
TEFL — Teaching English as a Foreign Language — is its own universe. It’s not about teaching grammar rules to high-level essay writers. It’s about helping people learn the basics of communication, often from zero.
Your students might be six years old, staring at you wide-eyed without understanding a word of English. Or they might be adults hoping to pass an English proficiency exam for work or immigration. In many cases, you won’t share a common language — meaning your gestures, visuals, and tone do just as much work as your words.
The goals are also different. TEFL isn’t about content mastery, but language acquisition. You’ll be focusing on real-world skills: speaking, listening, pronunciation, and basic functional grammar. Classrooms can range from online Zoom sessions to chalkboard huts in rural villages, to slick corporate boardrooms.
So while your PGCE prepared you for structured curricula and subject-based education, TEFL puts you in dynamic, learner-centered environments where flexibility and cross-cultural communication matter more than test scores.
Why a TEFL Can Still Be Necessary
Even if you’re a fully qualified teacher, most ESL employers will still expect a TEFL certification. Why? Because they want to know you’re equipped to teach English specifically — not just any subject.
TEFL training covers methodologies that are rarely addressed in a PGCE: things like total physical response (TPR), scaffolding second-language learning, controlled speaking practice, or the communicative approach. These aren't just buzzwords — they’re tools that help your students actually use English in the real world.
It’s also worth noting that many hiring managers abroad may not be familiar with the UK education system. A PGCE might be impressive, but if the school or recruiter is used to looking for “TEFL certified” teachers, your application could get skipped over.
Even in countries with more formal school systems — like Thailand, Vietnam, or the UAE — many schools still list a TEFL as a baseline requirement, even if you also bring a PGCE and teaching experience. It’s not that one is better than the other. It’s that they serve different purposes — and often complement each other.
What a TEFL Course Actually Adds (Even for Experienced Teachers)
It’s easy to assume that if you’ve already been through a PGCE, a TEFL course won’t teach you anything new. But teaching English to non-native speakers brings unique challenges — and that’s where TEFL training shines.
First, it gives you practical tools for second-language classrooms. You’ll learn how to teach grammar without overloading students with terminology, how to run speaking activities with shy learners, and how to handle classrooms with wide ability ranges. TEFL methods are highly interactive and built for environments where comprehension isn’t guaranteed — which is a big shift from the assumption-heavy style of national curricula.
In fact, many PGCE-trained teachers find that TEFL helps them unlearn habits that don’t translate well to ESL settings. Lecturing, rushing through instructions, or assigning dense reading exercises might have worked back home, but with beginner learners, these tactics often fall flat. TEFL retrains you to focus on communication, simplicity, and student-centered learning.
Beyond the classroom, a TEFL certificate also adds a layer of credibility that can be crucial for online teaching platforms, visa applications, and unfamiliar hiring systems. And since many TEFL programs include cultural orientation and real-world classroom strategies, it’s a valuable way to prepare for the rhythm and quirks of working abroad.
When a PGCE Alone Might Be Enough
There are situations where a TEFL isn’t strictly required — especially if you’re targeting structured school roles in academic environments.
PGCE-qualified teachers are often hired by international schools that follow the British curriculum, International Baccalaureate (IB), or American programs. These schools aren’t focused on language acquisition — they’re hiring you to teach your subject area in English, just as you would at home. In these contexts, your PGCE is exactly the credential they’re looking for.
Similarly, public school systems in countries like the UAE, Singapore, or Malaysia may accept PGCE holders for full-time teaching positions, especially when there’s a demand for STEM or core subject teachers. However, these positions tend to be highly competitive. Many require several years of full-time teaching experience post-PGCE, and the hiring process can be rigorous.
In short: if you want to teach English as a subject, a TEFL is usually expected. But if you're teaching through English — say, Science or Maths — then a PGCE might be sufficient. Just be prepared for longer applications, more qualifications screening, and possibly fewer job openings than the TEFL route offers.
TEFL as a Strategic Add-On
Here’s where things get interesting: when you hold both a PGCE and a TEFL certificate, you open up nearly every door in the global teaching market.
Use your PGCE to land salaried, stable jobs in international schools or government-backed programs with strong benefits and long-term career potential. Then tap into your TEFL when you want something lighter — like remote work, a teaching stint in a new country for a year, summer camps, or online income streams.
You don’t always need both at the same time. But having both means you can pivot depending on your lifestyle, your financial goals, or simply what kind of teaching you feel like doing next. Many teachers who start in the public system eventually shift toward online tutoring or freelance work with their TEFL — and vice versa.
Think of TEFL as a passport to flexibility, and PGCE as your entry into formal career paths. Together, they offer the kind of versatility that makes teaching abroad a long-term, sustainable option rather than just a gap-year detour.
Real-Life Examples and Scenarios
Imagine a newly qualified teacher with a PGCE, sent to a rural school in Vietnam. There’s no textbook, no projector, no common language — just a class of curious teenagers and a chalkboard. Despite their training, they’re overwhelmed. The lesson plan they used back in London doesn’t apply here. That’s when they realize: TEFL isn’t just a piece of paper — it’s a different toolkit.
Now picture a graphic designer from Canada who decides to take a TEFL course and try teaching in Spain. A few years in, they love it — and decide to stay long-term. They return home, get their PGCE, and go on to land a job in an international school in the Middle East. TEFL gave them the taste of teaching and travel. The PGCE turned it into a full career.
Or take a PGCE-qualified teacher in Thailand, working at a top-tier international school. They want to make extra money during holidays — so they add a TEFL to qualify for online teaching platforms. Within weeks, they’re tutoring students in Korea, Italy, and Brazil — from their hammock in Chiang Mai.
Everyone’s path is different. But what’s consistent? The added freedom, confidence, and opportunity that comes from having both credentials.
What Kind of TEFL Should You Do (If You Have a PGCE)?
If you already have a PGCE, you don’t need a generic intro-level course — but you do need one that teaches TEFL-specific methodology and classroom practice.
Go for a well-recognized TEFL course, ideally one that includes a teaching practicum or real observed lessons. This proves to employers that you can apply language-teaching methods, not just academic theory.
Skip the courses that are 100% online with no interaction or feedback. Look for something focused on practical skills: how to teach speaking and listening, how to simplify grammar, how to run engaging lessons for mixed-level groups.
If you have a specific niche in mind — such as teaching Business English to adults, working with young learners, or teaching online — look for add-on modules or specialist TEFL tracks. These give you an edge in competitive markets and show employers that you’re serious.
Final Thoughts: Don't Limit Your Options
You’ve already done the hard work of earning a PGCE — that gives you a solid foundation in education. But don’t assume it’s a one-size-fits-all solution, especially when it comes to teaching English around the world.
A TEFL certificate doesn’t compete with your PGCE — it complements it. It fills in the gaps, adapts your skills to new environments, and signals to global employers that you’re ready for the unique demands of ESL teaching.
Whether you want to spend a few months teaching online from Bali, volunteer in Latin America, or launch a long-term career in international education, adding TEFL to your toolkit gives you more choice, more confidence, and more control over where your teaching takes you.
The world is big. There’s no reason to keep your options small.
Helping teachers find jobs they will love.