Training Courses
Did you know? The typical EFL teacher used to be a new graduate who was looking for a simple way to earn some money and travel the world. Today this has changed and the average age is 35. One of the reasons is the far more professional approach that is needed in order to teach adults, especially those in business. A newly qualified 22 year old graduate in his t-shirt and trainers is no longer acceptable.
If you are thinking of becoming a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) there are several things to bear in mind when choosing which qualification would suit you best. A good training course is essential. It is important to chose a qualification that will be recognised and accepted by most English language schools in the world as this will help you get a good job with a reputable employer. Some course centres offer guaranteed jobs after your course whilst others leave you to be totally independent.
ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS
English Language teaching has many abbreviations and Acronyms, but what do they all mean?
ELT - English Language Teaching
EFL - English as a Foreign Language
ESL- English as a Second Language
EAL - English as an Additional Language
ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages
TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language
TEAL - Teaching English as an Additional Language
TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Many of these mean the same thing and don't have any official significance, for more info click on Wikipedia
Although various TEFL courses exist, there is no single, standard international qualification. However, the most commonly accepted qualifications are the Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) awarded by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) and the Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Cert.TESOL) awarded by Trinity College London.
CELTA and Cert.TESOL can be taken full-time or part-time in centres around the world. These courses include a substantial amount of observed teaching practice on real students which is essential. Full-time courses are intensive 120 hours and take 4 to 5 weeks. Part time courses can be taken over several months.
There are many courses that have a similar syllabus and the same duration as CELTA/Cert.TESOL and even though they don't have the same prestige there are many different English Language schools around the world needing teachers. However, if you are looking for work in countries where the competition is high, CELTA/Cert.TESOL qualifications are preferred.
Online or distance TEFL courses offer a flexible way of learning about TEFL. You can do them in your own time and at your own pace. 2 day intensive weekend courses can also be a good introduction to TEFL, a good starting point for further training. If you decide to do the short weekend course, you can always do extra modules to increase your knowledge, such as the English Language Awareness Course. It is important to realise that face to face teaching practice with real students is an essential part of teacher training. On-line teaching may or may not offer this and you might not get the full range of training such as teaching methodology, classroom management and language analysis. One question to ask yourself, "is the qualification recognised by the school or institution where I want to teach?" Some countries have a shortage of teachers and so may not be so restrictive in the qualifications they require.
TEFLWORLD.ORG is not associated with any training body. Individuals are strongly advised to satisfy themselves about the suitability of any particular course before enrolling.
