Category Archives: Qualifications
Instructional Video of the Week: What makes the CELTA better than other teacher training courses?
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The CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) is widely regarded as one of the best qualifications an existing or prospective English as a Second Language Teacher can get. In this video produced by LSC Language Studies Canada the presenter outlines three of the main attributes that a CELTA has to offer which sets it apart from other courses. These attributes are;
- The Practicum
- Standardization
- Tutors
Watch the video to find out how these attributes set CELTA qualifications apart from many other available today.
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TEFL Certification – Five Easy Tips to Find a Great Course
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In the Teaching English as a Foreign Language Profession, a good TEFL course certificate is one of the best springboards to success. Finding an English teaching course is tough to do in a marketplace with dozens of competitors, no real international oversight, large marketing budgets, and internet forum shills. Luckily, you only need five tips to find a great course. These five tips will help you evaluate TEFL courses and come up with a suitable short list of courses that fit your needs and desires. Many new English teachers need significant grammar study.
Tip #1 is to check the grammar content of the course. Many of us didn’t study a lot of grammar back in high school or college. While we may be able to know the rights and wrongs concerning grammar rules, we don’t quite remember the rules or even the effect of the rules. English as a Foreign Language students need to learn these rules and you as a teacher need to know the rules well enough to teach them. A good course will have a grammar module and should provide you with specific methods for teaching grammar concepts.
One of the big reasons a lot of new teachers take a Teaching English as a Foreign Language course is to prepare themselves for teaching their first English classes.
Tip #2 is check how much observed teaching practice a course provides. A good course will have observed teaching practice. This is a chance for you to teach a class and be evaluated by your trainer. You receive constructive criticism, ideas for improvement, and confidence to teach classes solo. You get the practice you need to confidently conduct classes.
There is no international TEFL accreditation agency.
Tip #3 is to check out the recognition of a course. You need to see how long the provider has been in business, what qualifications the trainer has completed, and how many students have completed the course. It’s a good idea to ask for contact information of former students if in any doubt and see how well their course has been accepted in different teaching situations.
Paying a high training fee to get started in a generally low paying field of work never makes sense.
Tip #4 is know the real total cost of the TEFL Course When pricing a course, you need to keep several factors in mind. Of course you want to know the course pricing, but remember a typical course will require your full time attention for 4 weeks. During this time, you won’t be able to work elsewhere. If you take the course locally, you may not have to increase your living expenses, but if you have to take the course elsewhere, you need to add in the additional cost of living to the total price of the course, not to mention transportation costs (air, train or bus tickets) to the course center itself.
With just a few caveats, internet feedback is a great indicator of TEFL course quality.
Tip #5 is to get internet feedback about the courses you are interested in. You can get this feedback by simply Googling the school’s name or visiting internet teaching forums. Generally, if the feedback on internet teaching forums are positive about a course, then probably the course is a quality course and vice versa if the feedback is negative. One thing to keep in mind when getting information about a teaching course on the internet is to pay attention to who is paying for the advertising on the forum. Another thing to keep in mind is that some course providers are accused of posting incognito on internet expat teaching forums giving either positive feedback about their course or negative feedback about competitor courses.
If you follow these five steps, you’ll have a better chance at having a great TEFL course experience and you’ll be on your way to an adventurous career in teaching English as a foreign language.
Louis Maderas is a TEFL teacher with 8 years of experience in Latin America and Asia. He is an administrator on the TEFL News Network a leading provider of information, news and interviews about the TEFL profession. Louis is also the owner of Great TEFL Jobs Great TEFL Jobs offers a unique job seeking experience whereby the general public can comment on all job postings.
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What is a Trinity Course?
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So you’ve been surfing the net for hours looking for a TEFL course and you’ve come across something called a Trinity Course? No, it’s not a special place you can do a TEFL course; neither is it TEFL training as scary (or scarily bad) as the film ‘Blade Trinity’.
A Trinity course is simply a TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages) qualification that’s widely recognised because it’s validated by the oldest examinations board in the world – Trinity College London. It’s your passport to teaching across the world.
So what’s a Trinity CertTESOL?
You’ll often hear the Trinity course being referred to as a ‘Trinity CertTESOL’. This sounds more technical than it really is; it simply stands for The Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.
Why do a Trinity course?
You’re probably itching to teach English abroad or even develop a career in TESOL, right? Either way, you’ll want your pick of the best teaching jobs in the world and will need to know at least the basics of how to teach a class (unless you fancy standing there like a gibbering mess not knowing what you’re doing!).
Do I really need a Trinity course or any other TEFL course to teach abroad?
Although it may be true that you can get a teaching job in some countries without a TEFL certificate, these schools are unlikely to be reputable. And as for paying well..! If you want the best choice of well-paid teaching jobs and all you the preparation you need for teaching English abroad, taking quality training before you go is your best bet.
Who can do a Trinity course?
If you’re over the age of 18, can speak English and have, at the very least, qualifications for entry into higher education in the UK (or equivalent in your own country), then you can take a Trinity course. Unfortunately, not everyone who applies for a Trinity course is successful; all course providers hold selection interviews which boil down to you meeting the above criteria and your overall suitability for a TESOL career.
What if I don’t have any teaching experience?
Don’t worry. Although the Trinity course is one of the best of its breed, this doesn’t mean you’re expected to be a teaching genius from the start! A Trinity CertTESOL is actually designed for students with little or no experience of teaching English.
So go on, tell me more about the Trinity course…
As it’s ready-mixed for teaching novices, a Trinity course will prepare you for your first teaching job by providing you with all the basic skills and knowledge you need to teach, while cementing the foundations for your career in TESOL.
The Trinity course includes various written assignments and a minimum of six hours’ teaching practice with real students. To pass the course, you’ll need to complete all of these modules successfully.
The Trinity CertTESOL course is assessed across the following five units:
- Unit 1: Teaching Skills
- Unit 2: Language Awareness
- Unit 3: The Learner Profile
- Unit 5: The Unknown Language
To find out more about what each of these units covers, check out the Trinity website.
Are there different types of Trinity course?
Yes. You can take a range of TESOL qualifications, including:
- Trinity CertTESOL
- Trinity DipTESOL
- Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (ESOL)- DTLLS
- Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners (CertTEYL)
- Fellowship Diploma in TESOL Education Studies (FTCL)
- Trinity Certificate in Teaching English to Young Learners (CertTEYL)
- SKOLA Trinity Young Learners Extension course (STYLE)(CertTEYL)
Read more about Trinity’s TESOL qualifications by downloading the free brochure from their website.
How long is a Trinity course?
Courses last for a minimum of 130 hours and can be completed in as few as four weeks with the full-time course, while the part time course can be taken in any amount of time up to a year. You’ll probably need to do at least 15 hours’ private study on top of this.
Where can I do a Trinity course?
Over 110 training private and state institutions all over the world are validated to run the Trinity course. Find a CertTESOL course near you.
Is a Trinity course internationally accredited?
When it comes to job hunting you’ll want a decent teaching qualification to wave at potential employers. A Trinity CertTESOL attracts as much respect globally as the Cambridge CELTA, as it’s accredited in England by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and accepted by the British Council as a sound foundation TESOL qualification, so it’s a great certificate to have.
But so too is having a reputable TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certification which is internationally-accredited by the ODLQC (Open and Distance Learning Quality Council), guaranteeing worldwide recognition.
What can I do after a Trinity course?
You’re ready to pass on your skills to a class full of eager students in Costa Rica or whichever exotic destination you desire! With such an internationally respected qualification, you’ll have the chance to gain some of the best (and best-paid) teaching jobs on the planet.
Seeing as the Trinity CertTESOL is designed as a preliminary qualification for TESOL, if you want to develop your teaching career further, you can take a higher level teaching qualification such as the DELTA (Diploma in English Language teaching to Adults).
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How Should You Take Your TEFL Course – Online Or in the Classroom?
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To study online or in the classroom – that’s the question. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so a little bit of research is required before you make a decision. The choice you make should be as much about you and how you learn as anything else. So have a read and see which one’s the best fit.
Your lifestyle
First things first, ask yourself a couple of questions:
• How much spare time do you have?
• Will you have to fit your TEFL course around work?
• Are your weekends free?
• Does your spare time vary from week to week?
The answers to these questions will help you decide if you should study online or in the classroom. You see a weekend course is intensive but short. You’ll need to free up a whole weekend; in fact, you’ll probably want to keep your evenings free too. Its fun work, but its hard work, so you really should make sure you’re awake and alert.
If you can’t free up a whole weekend and need to fit your course around your life, online TEFL courses will be a much better choice. You can do it in small doses or in a couple of long sessions, the choice is yours. And because you’ve got a good few months to complete your course, you can take your time.
So basically, if your time is short, but your weekends are free – a weekend course might be the thing for you. And if you’ve got a flexible timetable or want to spread your course over a couple of month – an online course might be a better choice.
Your learning style
Here’s another set of questions for you:
• Do you need to read things for yourself to take them in?
• Do you enjoy working in groups or by yourself?
• Do you like to in-depth study with lots of information to get your teeth into?
• Do you revise in short sharp bursts or have one long session before the exam?
• Do you learn more when you’re tested or when you do practical activities?
Right then, if you’re one of those people who likes to get involved, have a go and generally get your hands dirty, you might want to consider a classroom course. You’ll be in a group of about twenty people, which means you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make new friends and have a laugh. What’s more, you’ll learn something then try it out in practice. So not only will you know you’ve learnt it, but you’ll get some hands-on teaching experience too.
On the other hand, if you like to take your time, read everything for yourself and work alone, an online course might suit you better. You’ll have plenty of time to take in all the information and you’ll be working with an online tutor, which will make it much easier to identify the areas you need to work on.
Other considerations
There’s one more option you might want to consider – doing both. It’s the best of both worlds. You’ll get the practical experience of a classroom course and the in-depth study of an online course. The initial investment will be a little higher but there are bonuses. Most combined courses come with an extra grammar module, so you can give this tricky topic a little bit of extra attention. And of course, combined courses look absolutely great on your CV.
So those are your options. Ask yourself some questions, answer them honestly and decide which course suits you best.
Catherine Luff – Online TEFL courses with over 20,000 course graduates each year, international accreditation and certification recognised by schools worldwide.
To Teach English abroad is the perfect opportunity for any English speaker to explore the world and immerse themselves in new cultures. Whether you’re a trained teacher or a complete beginner, a TEFL qualification is your ticket for the journey of your life.
Contacts
For interviews, images or comments contact:
Catherine Luff
Marketing & PR
Email: catherine.luff@i-to-i.com
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CELTA Courses – FAQs
If you’re interested in teaching English as a second language to adults, you’ll probably have heard of CELTA as you’ve been researching, but what is it and is it for you? These FAQs should answer some of the common questions about CELTA.
What is CELTA?
CELTA stands for Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. The Certificate is an internationally recognised qualification which will help you to get an English-teaching job either in England or Wales or abroad.
Why do I need a CELTA qualification?
In actual fact you don’t necessarily need a CELTA qualification; there are some places you can teach without one. However, having the qualification will give you far greater access to higher paying jobs and much more choice about where you teach.
Additionally, studying for a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults will help you be a better teacher, especially if you have no previous experience. You’ll feel more confident planning and delivering lessons after the in-depth training.
How long will a CELTA course take?
A full-time course will normally take around four weeks. There are also some courses where you can study the qualification part-time. In order to achieve the qualification you need to complete 120 hours of study/teaching.
The courses are intensive and you should be prepared for that. Even studying part-time will require a lot of hard work.
How much will it cost?
A four-week CELTA course usually costs in the region on £1,000. This is considered an investment because the qualification enables access to higher paying teaching jobs.
What will I learn?
On a CELTA course you will:
o Learn about the principles of effective teaching
o Develop practical planning and classroom skills for teaching English to adult learners
o Gain hands-on teaching experience
o Gain confidence about your teaching skills
Will I need to sit an exam?
There is no sit-down exam as such but you will be assessed through monitored teaching practice and written assignments. External assessors appointed by Cambridge ESOL moderate each course.
Who can apply?
In order to qualify for a place on a CELTA course, ideally you should:
o Be educated to the level required for entry to higher education, for example A-level or equivalent
o Be aged 20 or over
o Be fluent in English – you should be a native English speaker or be able to use English to that standard.
Where could I teach with a CELTA qualification?
The Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults is the most widely recognised and accepted qualification throughout the world by organisations which employ English Language teachers. You can also use it to teach English as a second language in England and Wales.
Concorde International is a Canterbury-based organisation offering Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults courses.
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