International TEFL Academy

Making a Difference at Home
& Abroad, Together.

International TEFL Academy believes it is our responsibility to leave the world a better place than how we found it. Our staff, instructors, and students are Global Citizens, and we realize how fortunate we are to travel and live abroad. We have a commitment to make an impact on the world, both large and small, by direct involvement or by simply spreading the word on what each one of us can do.

When you enroll with International TEFL Academy, you choose a TEFL Certification Provider that commits a portion of its profits to international and local charities every year, and provide free ESL lessons to our local community in Chicago. We also hope to offer guidance and suggestions to others on how they can make a difference in the lives of others around the world.

ITA's Teach Abroad Film Festival

ITA's Teach Abroad Film Festival celebrates the work of incredible English teachers online & overseas who help make a difference through cultural exchange and international education. 100% of ticket proceeds are donated to charity!

ITA 's Teach Abroad Film Festival

ITA's Teach Abroad Film Festival celebrates English teachers online & overseas who help make a difference through international education. 100% of ticket proceeds are donated to charity!

We Provide Free ESL Classes

We offer free English classes. This enables us to give back to the community while also providing students the opportunity to gain live classroom experience for their practice teaching.

We Provide Free ESL Classes

This enables us to give back to the community while also providing students the opportunity to gain live classroom experience for their practice teaching.

Getting our Hands Dirty For a Good Cause

As Chicagoans, we love Lake Michigan, and we spend quite a bit of time with it. Starting in 2018, we've teamed up with Alliance for the Great Lakes, and so far have cleaned up over 100 pounds of garbage from Lake Michigan's Foster Beach!

Getting our Hands Dirty For a Good Cause

As Chicagoans, we love Lake Michigan! We've teamed up with Alliance for the Great Lakes & have cleaned up over 100 pounds of garbage from Lake Michigan's Foster Beach so far!

Continuous Support to 'Reading in Motion '

We are proud to maintain an active and ongoing role in supporting Reading in Motion, a Chicago-based organization that implements cutting edge reading programs in Chicago area schools that promote literacy.

Continuous Support to 'Reading in Motion'

We maintain an active and ongoing role in supporting Chicago-based organization, Reading in Motion, implement cutting edge reading programs in Chicago area schools that promote literacy.

2021 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS -DRIVING PHILANTHROPY THROUGH STAFF ENGAGEMENT

In 2021, the ITA Charity Committee focused on developing innovative ways to drive staff participation in our company matching program, through which all staff can have $200 of their charitable donations matched by ITA.

With these efforts - ranging from athletic challenges to a virtual Halloween Pet Parade - ITA achieved the most participation in company history with their staff matching, totaling over $8000! It also brought us together as a team, created a ton of fun and excitement, and strengthened our company culture during the challenges of COVID-19.

Just some of the organizations receiving donations from ITA staff and the organization in 2021 included:

2020 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

2020. Where do we start, honestly? In light of the Coronavirus pandemic, we've dedicated a great portion of our 2020 donations towards supporting COVID-19-focused relief funds & organizations. So far, we've helped the following organizations:

World Central Kitchen | Chicago COVID Response Fund | Environmental Defense Fund | Navajo Nation Relief Fund

Following the tragic events of George Floyd's death, we've decided to do our part to stand against racism and fight racial injustice & inequality in Chicago, in the U.S. and worldwide. In addition to donating to several organizations, ITA also matched any donations made by our employees to support equality, diversity, acceptance and love. So far, and altogether, we've supported the following institutions:

Finally, after almost a decade of being involved in charitable causes, it is worth noting that we have finally reached a major milestone in 2020: over $100,000 in total donations made by International TEFL Academy.

Other Organizations we've supported this year:

2019 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

In 2019, The Bahamas were hit by Hurricane Dorian and we donated to Chef José Andrés' World Central Kitchen as a result. We also supported major organizations that inspire our staff members every day. For instance, we supported Out Our Front Door, a Chicago-based organization that was founded by Student Affairs Advisor Glenn Schneider. Its mission is to immerse, educate, and preserve the history, culture, trails, and native habitats of the Lower Lake Michigan Basin Area through exploratory adventures. Finally, we supported a mix of international and local organizations:

2018 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

In 2018, we supported two organizations that promote travel opportunities, HI Chicago travel scholarship and Now Boarding. We also launched our first Pride month and partnered with our alumni to support organizations focused on the LGBTQ+ community both locally (Project Fierce and Equality Illinois) and internationally (ILGA). Additionally, we donated to another mix of international and local organizations - whether it was to help fight against bushfires in California, help Syrian refugees, or preserve The U.S. wilderness:

2017 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

In 2017, we started working with Refugee One. This local organization works with our online practicum students in the Chicago area and supports new refugees in Chicago. Several of our staff members went on to volunteer with them as well! Additionally, we reiterated our support and ongoing partnerships with the following international and local organizations in the field of education, environment, and local and international aid:

2016 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

In 2016, we were able to support a cause with a personal connection as Hurricane Matthew spread all the way to Houston, TX, where ITA Admission Advisor Felicia's family is from.

We also connected with Mujarave, a charity based out of Guatemala that focuses on empowering and improving the lives of Guatemalan women. Our donations helped install new stoves in homes that improved hygiene and cut down on illness in the home, as well as toward building a greenhouse to help the community grow more food to support themselves and to sell at the local markets.

Additionally, we supported a mix of international and local organizations:

2015 CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

In 2015, we worked to support local Chicago organizations focusing on refugee support (Heartland Alliance) and homelessness (The Night Ministry). We also supported relief efforts after the disaster in Nepal, where ITA Student Affairs Advisor Christie volunteered a few years ago. Additionally, we donated to a mix of international and local organizations:

2014 & BEFORE

ITA was founded in 2010. It was clear from the beginning that giving back was at the core of our company. Between 2010 and 2014, despite being busy starting a company off the ground, we made a point to donate to the following international and local organizations:

It's also worth mentioning that Mama Hope Project was our first Charity suggested by an ITA alumn, Annemarie Catenzaro. They were raising money to build a school in Tanzania, and we chimed in as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting our alumni in giving back globally.

3rd Annual Alumni Giving Campaign

Giving back is a major part of who we are as a company and as an Alumni Community. Therefore, each year, ITA puts a call out to alumni for charities that mean a lot to them. After receiving a number of heartfelt & compelling submissions this year, 3 finalists had the chance to pitch their charities live to the ITA staff to receive respectively $1500, $1000, and $500. We invite you to learn more about the organizations they are involved with, and to donate to their causes as well. And keep you eyes out for next year's Alumni Giving Campaign so you can submit your charity of choice for consideration.

🥇 Soy Oportunidad

"Located in Columbia, Soy Oportunidad is a non-profit organization with a single mission in the world: To offer productive opportunities for mothers who are heads of households in vulnerable situations, through a life project that allows them to generate decent income, while continuing to care for their children."

ITA Alumni: Carolina Correa

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🥈Yo'on Ixim

"Yo’on Ixim is a Mexican non-profit that seeks to end extreme poverty through democratic development. We work with Tsotsil Maya families in their communities of origin and in urban migrant communities through our community center and school, artisan cooperative, health campaign, and personal development workshop series"

ITA Alumni: Gloria McIntush

Donate

🥉 Kiona Foundation

"The Kiona Foundation offers many services tailored to assist the cancer survivor through treatment and beyond. Our financial and in-kind assistance programs are by far the most widely requested. In 2011, The Kiona Foundation added alternative health treatments for cancer survivors to our list of services. We provide access to low to no cost medicinal herbs and supplements to cancer survivors to help assist them with enhancing their quality of life by helping to alleviate the symptoms related to a cancer diagnosis."

ITA Alumni: Jordalin Jenkins

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More Initiatives From Our Students

Jack Ross

ITA alumnus, Jack Ross, talks about how he's committed a portion of his earnings as a teacher towards One Tree Planted - a non-profit that aims to fight climate change “one tree” at a time.

"I find it extremely gratifying to help in any way possible with whatever amount I can contribute. After all, it’s the least we can do to save Earth."

Check out Jack's amazing story in his article.

MaryAlice Skidmore & Katie Gettys

MaryAlice & Katie are best friends. After getting TEFL certified with ITA, they took their friendship to the next level and now volunteer teaching at the Wildflower Home in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Watch their video & see what their daily lives in Thailand look like!

Magda Ksiazak

Magda Ksiazak is an International TEFL Academy graduate who, after getting her TEFL certification in Chicago, went on to volunteer teaching in Dharamsala, India.

"I met some truly amazing people and learned SO much from my students, many of whom I keep in touch with."

Check out Magda's amazing story in her Q&A.

Dignity Diner

On February 4, 2020, a few of us at ITA volunteered with our neighbors at the Holy Covenant United Methodist Church to provide a free dinner for the hungry, homeless, and people seeking community in the neighborhood. Guests are served a three-course, sit-down dinner. The church has been doing this every Tuesday since 1992.

TOGETHER, WE CARE.

Making a Difference at Home
& Abroad, Together.

ITA's Teach Abroad Film Festival

ITA 's Teach Abroad Film Festival

We Provide Free ESL Classes

We Provide Free ESL Classes

Getting our Hands Dirty For a Good Cause

Getting our Hands Dirty For a Good Cause

Continuous Support to 'Reading in Motion '

Continuous Support to 'Reading in Motion'