| There is now a wealth of choice when choosing a | | | | experience, this is where trainee teachers learn the |
| location for English teacher training and TEFL | | | | local language: This is a very useful course component |
| certification. 4 week in-class courses can be taken in | | | | for trainee teachers as they are able to experience |
| countries such as Costa Rica, Argentina, China, | | | | learning a foreign language themselves and can |
| Vietnam, Spain, and France, the two most popular | | | | empathize and better understand the needs of their |
| countries for TEFL certification being Thailand and Italy. | | | | students who are learning English as a foreign |
| As the demand for English language knowledge and | | | | language. |
| ability grows, more and more countries have English | | | | Student profile: trainees work with individual students of |
| teacher training courses specific to the needs of that | | | | English on language error analysis and correction |
| particular country. One example of specific needs per | | | | techniques, rapport building and individual student needs. |
| country is that English language learners in Thailand | | | | Transcripts of student progress and problems are |
| face different obstacles than those in say Italy. This is | | | | produced and a final session with the student is |
| simply because the Thai language is so very different | | | | observed by an English teacher trainer. |
| to English while Italian is fairly similar. Thus when Thais | | | | Materials project: trainees produce 2 sets of materials |
| learn English, they have to learn a whole new alphabet | | | | which can be used during teaching practice to further |
| in addition to their own alphabet which has 72 | | | | the knowledge and ability of their students. Often |
| characters: 44 consonants and 28 vowels. Although | | | | these materials are game related as this is a fun way |
| there are specific needs in different countries, in-class | | | | to improve English language skills. The materials should |
| TEFL courses tend to follow a similar well developed | | | | be portable, durable and most importantly be multi |
| structure and cater to specifics where required. | | | | purpose so that they can easily be adapted for |
| Courses are available each month of the year in 20 | | | | different language contexts/purposes. |
| exotic and interesting locations and provide 140 hrs of | | | | Trainee teachers are assessed throughout the course |
| English teacher training. | | | | and complete a closed paper grammar and phonology |
| A typical day during a 4 week in-class TEFL course | | | | examination at the end of the course. Assessment |
| consists of a 3 hour input session in the morning; this is | | | | criterion is based on the following percentages: |
| where trainees are taught grammar, phonetics, | | | | Teaching Practice 45% |
| classroom teaching skills and classroom management. | | | | Material project 10% |
| During the afternoon trainees plan lessons and | | | | Foreign language experience journal 5% |
| produce materials which will be delivered to actual | | | | Student profile 5% |
| students of English in the evening. These teaching | | | | Grammar examination 25% |
| practice sessions are all observed by teacher trainers | | | | Phonology examination 10% |
| and feedback on each lesson is given. This daily | | | | Trainees successful in all areas of the TEFL course |
| pattern continues throughout the course with the | | | | receive full TEFL certification. |
| subject of the input session focusing on different | | | | In-class TEFL courses are offer in 20 international |
| areas of language awareness and teaching | | | | locations. Although course content and structure may |
| techniques. In line with this, the subject of the lesson | | | | vary slightly from location to location, English teacher |
| and level of the learner taught change each day so | | | | trainees attending any TEFL training centre will receive |
| that the trainee English teacher receives as wide a | | | | essentially the same course, teaching support and job |
| variety of teaching practice as possible. Input sessions | | | | guidance services. If you would like to become an |
| and teaching practice take up 80% of the entire | | | | English teacher teaching English as a foreign/second |
| course. | | | | language, TEFL certification is the industry standard |
| The other 20% of the TEFL certification course is | | | | qualification required by employers. |
| taken up with the following: Foreign language | | | | |