Teaching English Online - FAQ

Find out more about Trinity Teach English Online in the frequently asked questions below.

1. How do I access the course?

Once you have made a purchase, you’ll receive an email asking you to activate your account. This will take you to the homepage where you can access each unit/module that you’ve bought. The email will be sent shortly after you’ve completed your purchase. Please check the ‘Technology requirements’ in the unit/module description page to ensure you have the right resources to study the course.

2. I haven’t received my email with login details. What do I do?

Check that the email hasn’t gone into your ‘junk’ mail. If it’s not there, contact us for assistance.

3. I cannot find the log-in page? Where can I log in?

You can log in with your password at trinity-college.northpass.com/learners/sign_in

4. What happens the first time I log in?

You will go to the course ‘welcome screen’, where you will need to add your first and last name – this will be the name that will appear on each unit's e-certificate of completion. You can also can personalise your profile with a photo, if you choose. Finally, you will need to add a ‘display name’ (the name you will see in the unit pages) and choose a new password.

5. When can I start the course?

You can start the course whenever you’d like to. As an interactive self-study course, Teach English Online is designed to be accessed at any time that’s convenient to you. You have 12 months from your date of purchase to complete the course.

6. I’ve forgotten my password/need to change my password. What can I do?

You can reset your password at trinity-college.northpass.com/learners/sign_in

7. How much does each unit cost?

See the unit descriptions for details.

8. Are there any discounts?

You can get a discount on the cost per unit if you buy modules, or when buying the whole course (all 10 units). See the module and whole course descriptions for pricing details.

9. Can I get a refund if I don't do a unit?

Yes, you can get a refund on all the units you haven’t fully accessed if you apply for a refund within 14 days of buying them. For further details, see our Terms and conditions.

10. What language level do I need to study the course and to study the Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT)?

We recommend a minimum language level of CEFR B2 for both the course (eg the full 10 units) and the CertOT qualification.  However, you can study for these with a lower language level, but it may take you longer to complete the units and CertOT assessment tasks.

11. Is there a time limit to do the units/course?

You have 12 months from when you purchase the units to complete them. You will lose access 12 months after your date of purchase. Many of the units have downloadable documents such as lesson plans and checklists which, once downloaded, are yours to keep and use for ever.

12. How long does the Teach English Online programme take to complete?

Each unit takes approximately three hours to complete. You don’t have to complete each unit in one attempt; you can access the unit as many times as you need to. If your language level is below CEFR B2, it may take you a little longer to complete each unit.

13. Can the Teach English Online course and Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT) be completed in one week?

It is possible, but we don’t recommend it. There is a minimum of 30 hours of study in the Teach English Online course and completing the assessment tasks for the CertOT takes approximately 20 hours. We recommend spreading your learning over several weeks or more to give you time to use the ideas in the course and reflect more deeply on your learning and online teaching practice.

14. Is there any face-to-face interaction?

No. The Teach English Online course and CertOT qualification are 100% self-study, allowing you the flexibility to undertake the learning at your own pace.

15. Is there a minimum number of units I have to take?

There is no minimum number of units – you can build a course to meet your needs. However, if you want to progress to the Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT), we recommend completing all 10 units.

16. Are there any assessments in the Teach English Online course?

There are no assessments in the course, but there are interactive tasks to help build your learning and there are also end-of-unit portfolio tasks to help consolidate and evidence your learning. These portfolio tasks are not submitted to Trinity. They are for your own records only. If you progress to the Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT), you will need to submit four different assessment tasks to Trinity for external marking.

17. What will I study on the Teach English Online course?

There are 10 units of study, grouped into three modules. Each module looks at a specific area, with each unit within the module looking at a particular aspect of online learning and teaching. Module 1 looks at the different success criteria used to facilitate a successful online class, Module 2 looks at how we can teach the four language skills online, and Module 3 looks at ways we can choose, adapt and create resources for our online classes. The unit and module descriptions give more details.

18. Will I study with other people on the Teach English Online course?

The course is designed to be completed in your own time at a time convenient to you. This means that you won’t be interacting with peers in the online course itself.

19. Do I get an e-certificate of completion after each Teach English Online unit?

Yes, an e-certificate of unit completion will be available in your online account for each Teach English Online unit you complete (10 in total). The certificate shows your name, the unit title and the length of the unit (3 hours). This will help with CPD recognition in your local context. The name on the certificate is the name you entered when you activated your account.

20. How do I get my e-certificate of completion?

You need to complete the whole unit. Your completion status is indicated in the 'progress bar'. When it reaches 100%, you will be able to access your certificate in your account area.

21. I can’t see some of the content (eg videos or interactive tasks). Why is this?

This could be because your web browser needs to be updated or does not support the Teach English Online course. Please check the system requirements in the unit description page to ensure you have the right resources to study the course.

22. What’s the difference between the Teach English Online course and the Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT) qualification?

The Teach English Online course provides you with the learning content to develop your practice as an online teacher.

The Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT) is an externally assessed, Level 4 Ofqual regulated qualification which allows you to demonstrate your learning and show your commitment to further professional development through an internationally recognised qualification. 

23. Can I do the Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT) qualification without doing the course?

As the 10 units of the Teach English Online course are directly linked with the CertOT assessment tasks, we strongly recommend that all 10 course units are completed before doing the CertOT tasks. This will increase the likelihood of you passing the qualification. This a strong recommendation, not a requirement

24. How many assessments are there in the Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT) qualification?

There are four assessments reflecting the content across the three Teach English Online modules. You can sign up for more information about the CertOT assessments and the submission process on the CertOT page.   

Assessments are marked by independent, third-party teaching experts.  There is also an assessment moderation process, conducted by a separate panel of independent, third-party teaching experts.  This ensures the highest levels of quality assurance.

25. What can I study after the Teach English online units?

This depends on where you are in your professional teaching journey. Trinity offers a range of qualifications for teachers, offered by our validated course providers around the world. Go to trinitycollege.com/TESOL to review all our TESOL qualifications to find the one that meets your needs.

26. Can I give Trinity feedback on the course?

Yes, there is a feedback form at the end of each unit.

27. Who do I contact if I have problems with any aspect of the Teach English Online course?

Contact us here.

28. If I fail the CertOT qualification, can I resubmit?

Yes. If you fail the qualification and wish to re-submit your entry, you will need to purchase a ‘Resubmission’ unit to upload updated versions of the tasks you failed so that they can be marked again. Candidates are required to do this within 12 months of purchasing their original CertOT Assessment Unit.

29. Is an e-certificate of unit completion a Trinity qualification?

No. The downloadable e-certificates available at the end of each unit recognise that you have completed a 3 hour study unit. You may find these useful as evidence of your continuous professional development (CPD). Upon completion of the 10 unit course, you become eligible to enter for the regulated Level 4 Certificate in Online Teaching (CertOT), where you will be required to submit four written tasks for assessment.

30. What countries are the course and qualification available in?

Trinity Teach English Online is currently available in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom.

Visit Trinity Teach English Online for more information.