Celebrating The TEFL Org’s 18th Birthday

October 9th marks the 18th birthday of The TEFL Org, when two experienced TEFL teachers – Jennifer & Joe – set out to create something that would help others have the same opportunities they'd had teaching abroad.

Having taught around the world from Greece, France, China, and beyond, Jennifer & Joe used their experience as TEFL teachers to create a company that could inspire others to have similar life changing experiences. And what started as a small company in a shed near Inverness grew into an international team that has trained over 205,000+ teachers.

18 years on, the goal remains the same – The TEFL Org continues to grow and equip aspiring teachers with the skills to teach around the world! 

A brief history of The TEFL Org 

From humble beginnings in northern Scotland to an award-winning international company, here’s a brief history of The TEFL Org. 

🚀 2008 – Jennifer & Joe launch TEFL Scotland :

Jennifer and Joe draw on their experience teaching English around the world to launch what was then called TEFL Scotland from a garden shed near Inverness. Their first graduate, Fraser Duff , went on to teach English in France!

🎓 2011 – 10,000 teachers trained and certified :

A major milestone showing how quickly the idea was reaching aspiring teachers.

🎓 2017 – 50,000 teachers trained and certified

✨ 2019 – TEFL Scotland, TEFL England, and TEFL Wales rebrand as The TEFL Org

🎯 2020 – 100,000 teachers trained and certified 

The pandemic created plenty of challenges, and education moved online – creating a huge opportunity for teachers and professionals in other lines of work.

🏅 2024 – The TEFL Org receives its B-Corp status 

The TEFL Org achieves B-Corp certification for meeting high social and environmental standards.

🎉2025 – 200,000+ teachers trained and certified! 

By 2025, The TEFL Org had trained and certified over 205,000 teachers to teach English as a foreign language. From remote workers to teachers in China, Japan, Spain, and beyond, The TEFL Org has not only empowered teachers but also students across the globe. 

🎈 October 2026 – TEFL Org’s 18th birthday 

So what does 18 years look like today? 18 years after being an ambitious idea in a shed in northern Scotland, The TEFL Org is the most accredited teach abroad course provider in the world. 

But these achievements and goals never came at the cost of employee wellbeing or service quality. From accolades in the Queen’s Award for Enterprise (2022) , The Sunday Times Best Places to Work (2026) , UK’s Best Workplaces in Education and Training (2026) , and more, The TEFL Org has received recognition for consistently high standards not just for its customers but also its employees. 

Meet Jennifer & Joe – Founders of The TEFL Org! 

Want to hear it from the founders themselves? Here’s what Jennifer & Joe had to say about their TEFL Org journey.

Q: What did you want The TEFL Org to achieve when you first started?

Jennifer : We were looking to make the best courses on the market and offer the best customer service. We came to it as TEFL teachers, so we really knew our market and also our students – we wanted to give them the best opportunity to go out into the world.

Q: After 18 years, what has stayed the same about The TEFL Org?

Jennifer : “I cannot believe it! We’ve created an organisation that’s really focused on the original ideas with a clear ethos. The values of the company and our real purpose is still what it was 18 years ago – best courses, best customer service, and clear accreditation that will help people get jobs.”

Q. Then vs. Now: How has The TEFL Org changed since 2008?

Joe : Looking back 18 years ago when we first started in a shed in the back garden, it feels like an age… It has obviously grown a lot from serving people in Scotland – we now have a huge international customer base.

Jennifer : We were online from day one – selling and training online – so we were probably quite ahead of the curve there. COVID really moved teaching languages (particularly English) online and that's been a real change. Teaching abroad is still the aim of the majority but it's a close run thing! 

Q. Has the goal ever changed?

Jennifer : The goal has only changed in that it continued and continues to get bigger! But the aim of great courses, great customer service and fully accredited courses never changed. 

Joe : “Even though TEFL Org has grown and we’re training more people than we have ever done, one thing still remains the same throughout. We started because we wanted to pass on the best advice , training and support. We wanted to enthuse other people to do what we did – teaching English abroad. 

That ethos still remains the same 18 years on. We’re still passionate about people going abroad and having life changing experiences.”

Meet Thomas: Head of Education and 18 Years spent at The TEFL Org

A company can’t achieve its goals without its workers! Meet Thomas , Head of Education at The TEFL Org with decades of teaching abroad experience. 

Thomas joined The TEFL Org in its early days – around a month or so after it was established by Jennifer & Joe. And 18 years isn’t just a testament to Thomas’ value and work ethic as a professional but also an employee-focused culture at The TEFL Org.

“ Having been part of The TEFL Org’s journey from its very early days, it’s incredibly special to look back and see just how far the company has come. 

What started as a small organisation with a clear purpose has grown into a world leader in TEFL, and I feel very fortunate to have witnessed that journey and played a part in it.

Over the years, I’ve seen so much change and growth, but what has always stayed with me is the genuine care at the heart of the organisation. Despite everything The TEFL Org has achieved, it has never lost sight of what matters most: supporting teachers, helping students, and making a real difference through education.”

18 Graduate Stories to Celebrate 18 Years of the TEFL Org

To celebrate 18 years in the TEFL industry, we’ve gathered 18 inspirational graduate stories! From young adults to professionals leaving corporate fields to become English teachers, here are just some of our graduates teaching English as a foreign language:

1. Fraser Duff (Scotland), The TEFL Org’s first graduate taking on teaching in France : “After taking a year out from work in Scotland, I decided to pursue my goal of travelling around the world. I had heard of TEFL on my recent travels and decided to give it a go. The adventure began when I headed for Normandy, France to start the summer season as an activity outdoor instructor. This was a fantastic experience and not your usual first job when seeking a TEFL position; however it still involved teaching and high levels of interaction with children from all ages. This job made me realise how much I enjoy working in this environment and what benefits it can give to anyone seeking to change career.

2. Amy Snagg (UK), turning down university and choosing the world instead : "I decided to get TEFL certified because I realised I wasn't truly happy living in England and felt stuck in a routine that didn't inspire me. Life is short and the world is huge, and I don't want to look back with regrets." 

3. Amina Ignateva (Luxembourg) : "After years of studying linguistics, translation studies, and international management in the field of information technology – and years of self-discovery through therapy – I came to an important realization: teaching English brings me true fulfillment. Earning my TEFL certification opened doors for me almost immediately."

4. Elaine Ridgway (UK) : “I taught English in the mountainous area of Cusco, Peru in a place called Ticatica. The school was very basic and in a very deprived area of Peru. That said, the students, which aged between 5 years and 11 years of age, were warm , friendly  and were some of the brightest  and most  keen students that I have ever taught. It was this experience that led me back to Peru to teach for a second summer and it is where I found my calling to become a teacher."

5. Antonella Scibetta (UK): Leaving a corporate job to find purpose abroad : "I was feeling stuck, and wanted to feel I had a true purpose in life, I was not fulfilled in my corporate job, and knew I wanted and needed something different. Having a purpose and helping others in something I call 'work' gives me the fulfilment and longing I desire." 

6. Kristen Langelier (USA): 17 years in preschool and psychotherapy, now teaching abroad in Southeast Asia : "I got TEFL certified during a big life shift. I had been running a preschool for years and wanted something more flexible and meaningful. TEFL gives me a way to earn, connect, and build something meaningful while still living a flexible, global life."

7. Armanda Vidalo (Portugal), from Mozambican war refugee to becoming "Miss Smith" to orphans : "I had become their Miss Smith. The little girl who had once struggled to speak English was now teaching English to children facing similar challenges." 

8. Frances Fraser-Reid (UK) : "I moved to Vietnam in 2016 to start my TEFL career and haven't looked back. I had few expectations of Vietnam before I moved to Saigon but it is safe to say that I am head-over-heels in love with life here.”

9. Tiany Sampilahy Heriniavo (Madagascar) : "Teaching English represents more than a career shift for me, it's a chance to open doors for others the way education opened doors for me.

10. Alice Goudie (UK) : "I can tell that a lot of effort was put into making . It's so detailed and really does give you everything you need to know to begin your career teaching English abroad. I also want to thank my tutor, Alex, who supported me through my assignments, providing me with quality feedback.”

11. Charlie Sangster (UK) : "What really confirmed my decision was how The TEFL Org didn't treat teaching English as a stopgap, but as a professional, life-changing pathway. Thanks to my TEFL Org training, I feel equipped to step into the classroom with confidence and creativity."

12. Myoungjung Lee (Netherlands) : "I now feel even more confident and excited to inspire and help students achieve their goals. It's been an incredible experience, and I'm grateful to have gained such practical tools and meaningful insights along the way!"

13. Judith Sowerby (France) : "The course gave me valuable training in grammar teaching, spoken communication, classroom methodology and adapting lessons to different learners and learning styles. I especially enjoyed the sections on Business English, exam preparation and creating engaging lessons." 

14. Aylin Didem Caglar (Canada) : "The course helped me transform my academic background into practical teaching skills while introducing me to effective teaching methodologies that focus on communication, student engagement, and creating supportive learning environments."

15. Jin Yong Shin (South Korea) : "Being fluent in English is not enough to teach it well, so I wanted proper training to understand teaching methods, lesson planning, and how to support students in the classroom.

16. Min Lu Aye Chan (Myanmar) : “My immediate career goal is to relocate to Thailand and secure a full-time, professional English teaching position within a reputable academic institution. Pursuing a TEFL certification represents the bridge between my existing experience and the professional standards required to thrive as an educator in Thailand." 

17. Wong Duy Tru (UK) : "Now that I'm TEFL certified, I feel like an exciting new chapter of my life has truly begun.”

18. Daniel Gillard (UK): "Training to be a TEFL teacher has changed my life massively. I never ever imagined I'd be the kind of person to end up living in South East Asia, but here I am. And the experiences I've had out here are enough to fill a book — one which I will get round to writing soon! Life here is intense. Every day is an experience."

18 years on, and 205,000+ teachers certified 

The TEFL Org has helped thousands of aspiring teachers get the right certification to teach abroad and online, and it continues to do so! If you have your eyes set on teaching in China, Spain, Japan, elsewhere, or online, you can get started today from the comfort of your own home. 

Enrol in our 120 hour TEFL course to launch your teaching abroad career today!