Course Content

The length of the course is approximately 130 hours. It is conducted as a full time intensive course, on average 8 hours per day, Monday to Friday, for four weeks. There may also be some teaching practice on Saturday mornings.

Input sessions comprise lesson observation, methodology, grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, error correction and skills teaching. Lesson preparation, teaching practice and feedback constitute the practical component of the course. Trainees are also taught how to effectively use resources such as textbooks, supplementary materials and audio visual aids.

Learning objectives

Successful trainees will be able to demonstrate the following on completion of the course:

  1. knowledge of the main phonological, lexical and syntactic features of contemporary English
  2. awareness of the learning needs of individuals or groups of learners, and of the motivation of learners in a variety of cultures and environments
  3. ability to establish rapport, create and maintain learners' interest
  4. ability to draw up a range of lesson plans with clear and achievable aims, using appropriate methods for learners with various needs
  5. ability to manage and stimulate active participation among a class of learners and provide a relevant learning context and learning opportunities in relation to their learning objectives
  6. ability to evaluate, use and adapt published material and create simple teaching material, which may include visual aids, audio, video and information / communications technology
  7. broad understanding of the main advantages and disadvantages of various language teaching approaches
  8. ability to evaluate their own effectiveness as teachers and to work cooperatively as members of a teaching team or group
  9. awareness of the need to continue their professional development as ESOL teachers after training in a teaching post and through private study, further training or participation in professional networking events
  10. awareness of the means of identifying a TESOL post after training, including using the media and professional associations, and of the main issues relating to employment in this area that may affect their future security and further professional development

Areas of Assessment:

Teaching Practice and Teaching Experience Log:

The most important feature of the course is the emphasis on the development of specialist teaching skills through practice with classes of foreign language students. This will be as varied as possible, thus on leaving the course you will be able to inform potential employers that you have taught full classes, adults of different levels, and have experienced one-to-one remedial teaching.

Professional Development:

You will be expected to show a professional awareness of other colleagues in the team, as well as demonstrate pertinent self-evaluation and improvement as you progress through the course. Good personal organisation is essential.

Learner Profile:

This is a piece of writing based on one-to-one meetings with a student. It will consist of a biographical sketch of your assigned student with a description of his/her problems in the spoken and written language, and information about a follow-up lesson in which you try to help your student overcome selected problems.

Unknown Language Journal:

At the beginning of the course, you will have a short course in learning an unknown language. You will be put in the position of a beginner learning a new language. Your language tutor will use the methodology that you will be expected to utilise in your English classes. You will record your reactions to the teaching and learning on a daily basis and then consider the implications derived from the experience for teaching complete beginners.

Teaching Materials Assignment:

You will be required to present, discuss and evaluate materials you have used during your teaching practice on the course.

Language Awareness Tests:

You will be tested on the grammar and phonology taught on the course. The knowledge you will need is based on your ability to analyse the English you already use in every day communication.

It is important to note that attendance alone is not a guarantee of success. In order to pass you will be required to successfully complete all the written assignments, and in your teaching practice, demonstrate the techniques of communicative language teaching that are taught on the course.