The Trinity Certificate
in
Teaching English to
Speakers of Other Languages
(CertTESOL)
Information Booklet
January - July 2015
CITY COLLEGE PETERBOROUGH
The College, originally known as the Peterborough Adult Education Institute, was
founded in 1944. It became Peterborough College of Adult Education (PCAE) in
1970 when it moved to its current premises in Brook Street and then became City
College Peterborough in 2010, to better reflect the wide range of adults, young
people and businesses using its services. City College Peterborough is now a very
successful and expanding centre of learning for the city of Peterborough delivering
courses in over 60 centres, including schools, community centres, faith centres and
sites throughout the city. Our ESOL Team works closely with the Peterborough
Racial Equality Council (PREC) and has an excellent reputation for high quality
provision. ESOL learners who attend this college are from a wide range of
backgrounds, languages and abilities and this will provide excellent training
opportunities for course participants.
We are proud to be a Trinity College London validated provider of the The Trinity
Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL) and
are currently the only provider of this type of course in the Peterborough area. The
course will be delivered by a highly qualified and experienced team of teacher
trainers, all of whom have the required academic and professional qualifications and
extensive experience of teaching English stipulated by Trinity. These enthusiastic
trainers will carefully guide trainees throughout the course, providing them with all
the support, practical knowledge, skill and experience needed to successfully
achieve the Trinity CertTESOL.
THE TRINITY CERT TESOL
The Trinity CertTESOL is accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
at Level 5 of the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in England, being
comparable in difficulty to the second year of an undergraduate degree; EFL
employers worldwide recognise it as a professionally sound and well-regulated
qualification and it is one of only two accepted by the British Council as an initial
TESOL or TEFL qualification for teachers in its accredited teaching organisations in
the UK and its own international teaching operations. It equips candidates who have
little or no teaching experience with the initial skills and knowledge needed to take up
posts as ESOL teachers. It is, however, a pre-service training course and does not
confer the status of QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning & Skills). Course participants
must have a high level of competence in spoken and written English, whether
English is their first, second or a foreign language.
AIMS
The course gives an introduction to the theory and practice of contemporary English
language teaching, an insight into the challenges facing an English language learner
and the role of the teacher. It provides trainees with basic skills, teaching and
methodological skills as well as essential knowledge to confidently seek appropriate
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appointments at entry level to the TESOL profession. Additionally, this qualification
provides a firm foundation for self-evaluation and further professional development.
In particular, it equips trainees with:
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knowledge of the main phonological, lexical and syntactic features of
contemporary English
awareness of the learning needs of individuals or groups of learners, and
of the motivation of learners in a variety of cultures and environments
ability to establish rapport, create and maintain learners’ interest
ability to draw up a range of lesson plans with clear and achievable aims,
using appropriate methods for learners with various needs
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
ability to evaluate, use and adapt published material and create simple
teaching materials, which may include visual aids, audio, video and
information/ communications technology
broad understanding of the main advantages and disadvantages of
various language teaching approaches
ability to evaluate their own effectiveness as teachers
ability to work cooperatively as members of a teaching team or group
awareness of the need to continue their professional development as
ESOL teachers
awareness of the means of identifying a TESOL post after training
awareness that this is an initial training process and does not confer the
status of QTLS
WHAT DOES THE TRINITY CertTESOL COURSE INVOLVE?
The minimum course length is 90 timetabled hours (as part of a recommended 130
guided learning hours) and is designed around five mandatory units, as follows:
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Teaching skills: to include the development of appropriate methodology;
teaching practice (no less than 6 hours supervised and assessed) together
with the keeping of a related journal; guided observation of experienced
teachers (a minimum of 4 hours) and the keeping of a related journal;
coursebook and materials evaluation and methods of assessment & testing in
the classroom
Language Awareness covering grammar, vocabulary and phonology. This
unit is often challenging for trainees as most native English speakers are not
overly confident in the area of grammar and phonology. It will therefore
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provide trainees with the support and confidence to understand and explain
clearly to their students how English works
Learner Profile: compiling a learner profile based on meetings with an
individual ESOL learner in which a student needs analysis will be carried out
via written, oral, listening and reading tasks, a 1:1 remedial lesson conducted
to try to meet some of those needs and a study plan created for the future
Materials assignment: developing a teaching materials project which you
will have used in Teaching Practice, along with a written rationale for the
choice of materials and the way they were developed, plus an evaluation of
their effectiveness
Unknown Language: experience the learning of an unfamiliar foreign
language during four 1-hour sessions and compile a journal detailing the
experience and commenting on this aspect of the course
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
No prior experience of teaching is required. However, you should:
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be 18 years of age or over at the time of enrolment
have at least 2 A Level passes, or equivalent, or proven academic and study
potential. Applicants who do not meet these requirements may be accepted
onto the course at the discretion of the Course Director; in such instances,
professional vocational/qualifications as well as personal qualities and
experience will be taken into account such as: life experience; experience of
travel overseas; experience of continuing education; interests in other
languages; motivation and maturity; interpersonal skills
have a high level of competence in spoken and written English, evidenced in
the initial assessment process. However, Trinity’s CertTESOL course can be
taken by those for whom English is a first, second or foreign language and it
does not require that trainees conform linguistically to all features of British
Standard English or Received Pronunciation. However, language skills in all
areas must be of a standard appropriate to a qualified teacher of English, at
C1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
(CEFR).
have a strong professional commitment, demonstrated through the desire and
ability to learn new skills and acquire appropriate subject-specific knowledge.
be able to work in a team environment and accept constructive criticism.
be able to meet the demands of the course in terms of workload and
attendance (See Attendance Requirements below).
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS
Three-hour classes are scheduled to run weekly on Monday and Thursday evenings
during normal college terms, starting at 18:00. In addition to these two evenings,
trainees will need to attend College at other times on other occasions, such as for
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teaching practice and observations of qualified teachers. Full attendance for all
aspects of the course is a prerequisite of being admitted to this course and absences
will only be accepted under exceptional circumstances such as illness. If you are
offered a place on the course, you will be asked to confirm that you are both willing
and able to meet this requirement. In addition, any proposed holidays should be
planned to coincide with the College’s holiday periods. Applicants should also be
aware that they will be expected to do work at home, such as background reading
and assignments rising out of their tuition. (See Frequently Asked Questions). If
you have other commitments (e.g. family and/or work) you need to consider carefully
whether or not you are able to meet all of these attendance and workload
requirements.
Please note that the most common reason for participants to withdraw from
this type of course or not complete it has been the failure to realise the
demands in terms of attendance and workload. If you wish to clarify your
position in relation to these attendance and workload requirements, please
contact the Course Director.
COURSE DATES AND FEES
We are running the Trinity CertTESOL course as a part-time course from 12th
January to 2nd July 2015 (end date to be confirmed based on confirmation of the
external Moderator’s visit).
The course fee is £1295 which includes all tuition fees, moderation and certification
fees. On acceptance of an offer, a non-refundable deposit of £300 is required to
reserve a place on the course, with the balance being payable one week before the
course start date; however, there may be the facility to pay in instalments under
special circumstances. Refunds for early withdrawal will be solely at the discretion of
the college on a case-by-case basis in exceptional circumstances; should this be on
the grounds of ill health, a doctor’s certificate will be required. We would, however,
strongly recommend you consider a specialist course curtailment insurance policy
should you need to withdraw before the end of the course.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
All applicants will be expected to complete an application form, a pre-interview task
and attend an interview. You will also need to provide copies of your previous
qualifications.
You have already made an initial enquiry by phoning (01733) 761361 and been sent
this information booklet, an application form and a pre-course task. Closing date for
applications is 19th September 2014.
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Part 1:
Applications will be scrutinised to ensure that each applicant’s age and educational
background matches those of the entry requirements. Any applicant who does not
fulfil these criteria will be informed why they have not been successful and given
advice on what needs to be done should they wish to submit an application in the
future.
Part 2:
When your application has passed this scrutiny, you will be invited to attend a
grammar awareness and reading assessment and a general writing task. After
this has been marked, successful applicants at this stage of the process will be
invited for an interview. The nature of this interview will be to discuss:
i.
your educational background
ii.
your current employment
iii.
your reasons for wanting to become an ESOL teacher
iv.
what you expect to gain from the course
v.
confirmation that you will conform to the strict attendance requirements of this
course
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the demonstration of appropriate oral / interpersonal skills
vii.
your interest in and awareness of language and its use; reference will be
made to your pre-interview task at this stage
viii.
your motivation and maturity
ix.
experience of continuing education
Part 3:
Successful applicants will then receive written confirmation of their acceptance and
further details of the course, as well as a Reading List of books that they will need to
buy and start studying before the start of the course and a detailed pre-course task.
A course enrolment form will be sent, and details of the enrolment procedure.
Applicants who fail to meet the standards outlined in Part 2 will be informed in writing
why their applications have not been successful and given advice on what they need
to do should they wish to submit applications in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
What is the status of the Trinity CertTESOL course validated
by Trinity College, London?
Many employers in the state and private sectors in the UK and overseas, including
the British Council accept Trinity’s Certificate qualification as evidence of teachers
having followed sound initial training in the basic theory and practice of teaching
English. In the UK, it is seen as the minimum qualification a new teacher of ESOL
should have. Abroad, however, the CertTESOL is recognised as a full qualification.
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The British Council accepts the qualification for teachers in its accredited schools
and colleges both in the private and state sector in the UK, and abroad.
Trinity College, London certificates over 2,000 trainees annually; but it is expected
that holders of Trinity Certificates will continue to undertake professional
development if they wish to pursue a career as a teacher of English in the UK.
2.
What’s the difference between the CELTA and Trinity
CertTESOL?
CELTA is a similar teacher training qualification to the CertTESOL, offered by
Cambridge ESOL. Although similar in length, content, mode of delivery and status,
the two courses differ in terms of specific components and types of moderation and
assessment. Trinity lays greater emphasis on reflective journal writing, professional
development and self-evaluation for trainees.
Both courses are accepted by the British Council as initial TESOL qualifications for
teachers in its accredited institutions in the UK and in its own teaching operations
abroad.
3.
What types of people apply for this course?
Applicants come from a wide age range, from a variety of backgrounds and a variety
of motivations. Typical applicants for the Trinity CertTESOL course are: university or
college graduates; teachers of other subjects; professionals looking for a career
change; individuals interested in living and working abroad; gap year students.
Regardless of any such differences, however, the course is organised to encourage
collaborative working and peer support.
4.
How many hours per week will I need to devote to the course?
A difficult question to answer precisely because this will not only very much depend
on each individual and how they work, but also the amount of work will vary
throughout the course. As a guide, on average you should allow at least 10 – 12
hours each week, which includes both the twice-weekly evening sessions at college
and study and preparation at home for things such as the following: preparing for
input sessions (homework, reading); preparing for TP session; working on required
course assignments; keeping journals relating to several components of the course;
observing experienced tutors; meeting, interviewing and teaching an ESOL learner
for Unit 3.
5.
Does the course cater for trainees with special needs?
The same standards of assessment apply to all trainees regardless of disability;
however, allowances for special needs may be made in the conduct of assessment
where appropriate. Prospective trainees with special needs are encouraged to
discuss their requirements with us.
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6.
How is the course assessed?
You are continually assessed on all aspects of the course and there is an end of
course external appraisal. Assessment includes the teaching practice, written
assignments, language awareness exam and professional awareness and
development. You will need to pass the teaching practice and the assignments to
pass the course. An outside assessor will also come to the centre to assess each
course so you can be assured of the quality. Trainers recommend a pass, a referral,
or a fail based on the assessment criteria set out by Trinity.
7.
How do I prepare for the course?
We will give you a preparation pack – the 'pre-course task' - to complete at home
which will raise your language awareness in readiness for the course. There is also a
list of essential resources for pre-course reading which will help you with the precourse task.
8.
How much English grammar do I need to know?
If you are a native speaker, you will instinctively know what is right or wrong but you
probably won't be able to put a label on things unless you have studied grammar at
school. You will learn a lot about grammar on the course (although be aware that
good teaching isn't just about knowing grammar!) The grammar books in the
Essential Resources list will help you lay a good foundation even before you start the
course, as will the pre-course task.
9.
Do I need to speak a foreign language?
No. You may have experience of studying another language at school which will be
useful and you may surprise yourself by how much passive knowledge you have.
The course is about teaching using solely English in the classroom.
10. How do I know if I am suitable and what are the chances of
successfully completing the course?
A prerequisite of being a teacher of English is a very high standard of both spoken
and written English. In addition, previous experience of teaching or training may be
an advantage, but this kind of experience is not a prerequisite for admittance to the
course.
We would not accept you onto the course if we were not convinced that you had the
ability to pass. There are tutorials throughout the course when we will keep you fully
informed of your progress and what you need to do to pass the course. However, it
is inevitable that some people will not be successful on this type of course for a
variety of reasons which include the inability to devote the time that is required, the
failure to complete assignments and/or poor attendance. In order to identify any
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possible problems before they occur, we have strict attendance requirements and a
comprehensive selection procedure. However, a teaching assessment is not part of
the selection procedure. Therefore you must decide for yourself if you have the
confidence and personality to face a class of learners and teach them for 45 minutes
or more. Only when participants have had the opportunity to teach on the course
can any really accurate and professional judgement be made about their likelihood of
success as ESOL teachers.
11.
Can I wear my face veil while teaching?
Trinity College guidelines require trainees to remove their face veils whilst teaching.
However, during theory sessions it may be permissible to wear veils. It is at the
trainer’s discretion, and will be determined by the nature of the task.
12.
What if I have a complaint?
There are clear reporting lines for trainees to follow with respect to complaints or
grievances against the college. Full details of Trinity’s Appeals and Complaints
procedures are available on its website www.trinitycollegelondon.co.uk
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