180-Hour Level 5 TEFL Diploma
- Level 5 qualification on the Ofqual register
- Ten modules, 180 guided learning hours
- Covers both adult and young learners
- Valid for life
The Level 5 Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language is our core programme. It brings together everything an English language teacher needs: the structure of the language — grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation — and the classroom skills that turn that knowledge into teaching, from lesson planning to classroom management and assessment.
The qualification is awarded by Highfield Qualifications in the United Kingdom, which operates under the supervision of Ofqual, the government regulator for qualifications in England. That is why the diploma carries a number on the Ofqual register and can be verified independently at any time.
Level 5 sits at the same level as CELTA. For an employer this is not simply a certificate — it is a qualification that can be measured and checked.
- guided learning hours
- 180
- Course modules
- 10
- Qualification number
- 610/5386/7
What this course gives you
You master the grammar first
To teach grammar you have to be confident with it yourself. The first module gives you a full picture of English grammar — and it is the largest module in the course, at 30 guided learning hours.
All four skills are covered
Listening and reading — the receptive skills; speaking and writing — the productive ones. Each gets its own module, with its own techniques and activities.
Two learner age groups
Teaching adults and teaching young learners — typically ages 6 to 13 — are taught as separate modules. That noticeably widens the range of jobs open to you.
Every module is measured
Each module carries credit points and guided learning hours, and the assessment criteria are published in advance. The final grade is set by Highfield Qualifications.
Who this course is for
- You have English at B2 or above, evidenced by a certificate
- You want to teach English as a profession
- You are 17 or older
- You want a qualification that is recognised internationally
Course modules
1The principles of teaching English grammar6 credits · 30 hours
A comprehensive overview of English grammar. You cannot teach what you are unsure of yourself — this module removes that gap before you reach the classroom.
2The principles of teaching English vocabulary3 credits · 15 hours
How vocabulary groups together, the conditions under which learners retain new words best, and the techniques that work when introducing them in class.
3Learners' needs and teaching methodologies3 credits · 15 hours
The main TEFL methodologies and lesson structures: how each one works and when to choose it. Employers generally expect you to be able to work with these.
4The principles of teaching receptive skills3 credits · 18 hours
Listening and reading: the tasks and activities that get learners using these skills as much as possible.
5The principles of teaching productive skills3 credits · 18 hours
Speaking and writing: how to move learners towards fluency and towards writing that a reader can follow.
6The principles of teaching pronunciation and phonology2 credits · 14 hours
Pronunciation is central to language learning: if a learner cannot be understood, the other skills stop paying off. This module covers how to teach it in class.
7Using teaching aids and materials2 credits · 17 hours
Choosing coursebooks, visual aids and digital tools, and adapting them to the aim of your lesson — including how to rework material that does not fit as published.
8Lesson planning and classroom management2 credits · 15 hours
Teaching is more than grammar and skills. This module covers building an efficient lesson and managing the learning environment around it.
9Teaching adults English as a foreign language3 credits · 19 hours
What motivates adult learners and how lessons adapt to them. You will also learn to evaluate your own lesson plans critically.
10Teaching young learners English as a foreign language3 credits · 19 hours
Working with learners typically aged 6 to 13: holding attention, managing the class, and planning lessons for this age group.
Other programmes
- 300 guided learning hours
300-Hour Level 5 Advanced TEFL Diploma
The highest level of TEFL certification. For experienced teachers, or anyone building a long-term teaching career.
Course details - 60 guided learning hours
Teaching English for exams
A specialist qualification for teachers preparing learners for IELTS, TOEIC, FCE and similar exams.
Course details - 60 guided learning hours
Teaching Business English
A specialist qualification for corporate clients and workplace communication.
Course details - 60 guided learning hours
Teaching English online and one-to-one
A specialist qualification in teaching remotely and working with a single learner.
Course details - 60 guided learning hours
Teaching other subjects in English (CLIL)
A specialist qualification in delivering subject content through English — the CLIL approach.
Course details
Take the next step in your professional development.
Get a free consultation about the TEFL program, qualification, study format and payment options.