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.
Essential TEFL Tip!
Are you worried about being scammed? TEFL course scams are becoming more sophisticated.
Protect yourself from TEFL scams.
We strongly recommend choosing from one of the 5 Best Online TEFL/TESOL certification course programs in 2026:
The 5 Best Online TEFL/TESOL Courses in 2026
By choosing from one of the 5 Best Online TEFL/TESOL Certification Course Programs, you are guaranteed not to be scammed.
Choose a fully accredited and internationally recognized online TEFL/TESOL certification course that you can use for all online and abroad teaching English jobs.
Mia Williams – Trusted TEFL Reviews
Read more ESLinsider reviews: https://trustedteflreviews.com/category/eslinsider-tefl/
New! Click here for the online TEFL/TESOL international certification course Teachers’ Choice Award winner. International Online TEFL/TESOL course certification at its best.
Verified Online TEFL/TESOL certification course program reviews, ranked in order of customer satisfaction: TEFL Course Directory
TEFL Accreditation Guide | 6 TEFL Red Flags | TTR Home | TEFL Course Special Offers
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.