CertTESOL Entry Requirements

Learn about the qualifications and skills needed to join our Trinity-accredited teacher training courses.

At Shane Training Centre, we are committed to helping aspiring and experienced ESL teachers achieve their goals. Applicants are welcome from any background, with or without any prior teaching experience.

The Trinity CertTESOL is designed for individuals who want to begin their careers as ESL teachers. To enroll, you must meet the following criteria:

Age Requirement
- You must be at least 18 years old by the start of the course.
Educational Background
- A standard of education equivalent to that required for entry into higher education (e.g., high school diploma or equivalent).
English Proficiency
- Native or near-native proficiency in English (minimum CEFR Level C1).
- Non-native speakers may be asked to provide evidence of their proficiency (e.g., IELTS 7.0 or equivalent).
Personal Qualities
- A willingness to learn and engage in a challenging, practical training environment.
- Strong communication skills and an interest in working with people.
Application Process
- Submit a completed application form.
- Attend an interview (in-person or online) to assess your suitability and motivation for the course.

Along with these, some of the other qualities that a trainee teacher should possess are:

Be willing to learn:

Demonstrate an ability to learn how to teach communicatively, showing relevant features of English and ensuring understanding.

Be a team player:

Willingness to work cooperatively as a member of the training group, supporting colleagues and respond constructively to feedback on personal performance.

Ability to evaluate yourself:

Willing to reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses, as well as analyse other peers, and a desire to improve.

Ability to take feedback positively:

Able to respond constructively to feedback and suggestions, implementing it in practice and show willingness to work as a team.

Be committed:

Willing to put in the hard work and dedication required to improve and develop with understanding and practice.

All applicants need to show evidence of good speaking and writing skills in English, whether English is their first language or not.

All applicants are required to complete a pre-interview task, attend an interview before they are accepted on the CertTESOL course. Click here to request the pre-interview task document.

Visa requirement for trainees arriving from outside Japan

There is no specific visa requirement (or restrictions) on the type of visa required to take our CertTESOL course. A 90 day tourist visa is more than enough to complete the full-time course. As for the part-time course, it depends on whether you are working while completing the course, which means you already have a valid visa. If not, you would need to have a valid visa that allows you to be in the country for 6 months.