ESLinsider review (https://www.eslinsider.com/) submitted by Tanya.
I feel completely misled and extremely frustrated after enrolling in the ESLinsider TEFL course, run by Ian Patrick Leahy. I signed up hoping to begin a new chapter teaching in Europe, but instead, I’ve ended up with a certificate that no school will accept.
At the time, I didn’t know that Ian Leahy has a reputation for spreading misinformation and was reportedly banned from Facebook back in 2017 for such behavior. If I had known that, I never would have trusted his platform with my money or career plans.
The course itself was basic, lacked credibility, and didn’t include any real teaching practicum or recognized accreditation. Now I’m stuck in Europe, unable to secure a teaching job, because employers won’t recognize the certificate. I’ve contacted multiple language schools and agencies, and they’ve either never heard of ESLinsider or flat-out reject it as invalid.
To make matters worse, the tone and professionalism from Ian, when I reached out with concerns, were dismissive and arrogant. There’s no real student support, no oversight, and no way to recover the time and money I wasted.
I trusted ESLinsider to provide a legitimate TEFL education, but instead, I’ve been left with a useless piece of paper and a lot of regret. This program is not internationally accepted, and in my opinion, it does not meet even the most basic industry standards.
If you’re serious about teaching abroad or online, choose a TEFL provider that’s accredited, recognized, and run by professionals. Not someone banned from major platforms for spreading misinformation.
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Don’t get scammed by online TEFL/TESOL courses.
Some providers overstate accreditation, make false job promises, or fail to give internationally recognized certification.
Before you enroll, check out 10 Things to Know Before Enrolling in an Online TEFL/TESOL Course (2026 Guide) to spot red flags, verify accreditation, and avoid wasting time and money: https://trustedteflreviews.com/2026/01/31/online-tefl-tesol-courses-10-things-to-know-before-enrolling/
Once you know what to watch for, choose from the top programs in The 5 Best Online TEFL/TESOL Courses in 2026: https://trustedteflreviews.com/2026/01/31/best-online-tefl-courses-tesol-2020/. Picking a trusted, fully accredited course ensures your certification is accepted worldwide for online and overseas English teaching jobs — and keeps you safe from scams.
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I’m sorry this has happened to you, Tanya. ESLinsider is a poor choice for online TEFL certification.
As you correctly wrote, Ian Patrick Leahy is the one-man-show owner behind ESLinsider. He has a long criminal history, including the reckless act of recommending his graduates without college degrees to purchase fake ones from him. Because of this, several TEFL students were detained in China and later deported.
It’s also widely known that Ian has been banned from Facebook since 2017 for spreading false information on the platform.
His main form of course advertising involves writing disinformation articles about his competitors—portraying himself as a reliable provider while labeling them as scams—and then deceiving his own students.
The last I heard through the TEFL grapevine, Ian was traveling around the United States (living a van life) and continuing to scam the few new students who unfortunately fall for his misinformation.
ESLinsider is a bottom-of-the-barrel online TEFL program with a terrible worldwide reputation. I strongly recommend that everyone avoid his course and any employment offers associated with him.