NTT vs TEFL for young learners: which should I take?
Take NTT if you want to teach nursery and kindergarten children as a class teacher. Take a TEFL course with a young learners specialism if you want to teach English as a foreign language to children, often abroad or online. NTT covers all-round early development; TEFL focuses on language teaching. Some teachers combine them.
What this means in practice
In countries where English is a foreign language, kindergartens hire both class teachers and English teachers. APTTI offers both NTT and TEFL courses, including Teaching Young Learners.
Comparison
- Focus: whole child vs English language
- Jobs: preschool class teacher vs English teacher for children
- Countries: anywhere vs mainly non-English-speaking countries and online
Combining them
A nursery teacher with TEFL skills is well placed for bilingual and international kindergartens in Asia and the Gulf.
Where each is in demand
NTT is in demand wherever there are preschools: India, the Gulf, Africa and Asia. TEFL for young learners is most in demand in non-English-speaking countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, China and parts of the Middle East, and in online English teaching.
What to do next
- Decide whether you want to teach English or teach the whole curriculum.
- Check job adverts in target countries.
- Choose or combine courses.
What to keep in mind
Country visa rules for English teachers often require a degree.
Common follow-up questions
Is TEFL useful for nursery teachers?
Yes, especially for English-medium and international settings.
Does APTTI offer TEFL?
Yes; see APTTI's TEFL courses including Teaching Young Learners.
Sources
Course facts come from APTTI's published course pages. Examples use made-up names. How these answers are prepared.