Cert TESOL
Applicants’ Handbook
2015-2016
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Cert TESOL
So, you’re thinking of applying for a place on the course…..
General information about the course:
The British Council Valencia runs the London Trinity College Licentiate Certificate in
TESOL (LTCL Cert TESOL) course twice a year. In the academic year 2015-2016,
we are offering two courses, part-time and full-time:
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Part-time: 8th January- 17th June 2016
Full-time (intensive): 4th July-29th July 2016
What is Trinity College?
Trinity College London is an independent awarding body and examinations board.
Trinity does not run TESOL training courses itself but validates certificate courses in
TESOL which are offered by organisations in the state and independent sectors in
the UK and worldwide.
Trinity’s procedures and qualifications are scrutinised and approved by the
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) which is the accrediting body for all
educational and vocational awards in England that are not full university degrees.
Trinity is also accredited by ACCA and CEA in Wales and Northern Ireland.
(Taken from Trinity Cert TESOL Validation Requirements page 4)
What is Cert TESOL?
Trinity’s Certificate in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages
(CertTESOL) is accredited by the QCA, ACCA and CEA at level 5 of the (UK)
National Qualifications Framework (NQF). It is equivalent in status and similar in
content to other teaching training qualifications such as Cambridge CELTA.
It is an initial teaching qualification and assumes no previous teaching experience.
However, it is also suitable for teachers with some experience but without formal
qualifications. It is primarily a practical course in classroom methodology.
It recognised by The British Council as an initial qualification for teachers in its
accredited organisations in the UK and in its own teaching centres overseas. The
CertTESOL is also widely recognised by many other employers and thousands of
successful trainees have used their CertTESOL to gain employment in schools and
colleges all over the world.
What does the course involve?
Trainees will do the following:
 participate in seminars and workshops
 be observed teaching for 6 hours
 observe trained teachers in the classroom
 complete four assignments
 keep a teaching journal
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The course consists of 130 timetabled hours. In addition, trainees will have to do
extra study and lesson preparation in their own time. It’s a very demanding course.
The Cert TESOL is divided into 5 units:
Unit 1: Teaching skills (including methodology, teaching skills, teaching practice and
related journal, guided observation and related journal, coursebook and materials
evaluation, and methods of assessment and testing in the classroom
Unit 2: Language awareness (grammar and phonology)
Unit 3: The learner profile
Unit 4: The materials assignment
Unit 5: Unknown language
Trainees must pass all five units to pass the course.
How are trainees assessed?
Unit 1: by continuous internal assessment throughout the course
Unit 2: by a language awareness assignment which will be internally assessed
Unit 3: the profile will be internally assessed
Unit 4: the materials assignment is externally assessed by oral interview
Unit 5: by a journal which will be internally assessed
What will the timetable be?
Part-time course
The course will run on Fridays mornings and Saturday afternoons. Input and
teaching practice feedback will be on Fridays and teaching practice lessons on
Saturday. The timetable is as follows:
Fridays
9.00-10.30 Seminar 1
11.00-12.30 Seminar 2
TP feedback 12.45-13.45
Saturdays
16.00-18.00 Teaching practice
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There will be teaching practice preparation sessions after TP in month 1 of the
course, and some occasional input sessions.
Full-time course
Monday to Friday (4 weeks)
A typical daily time table will be as follows:
09.30 – 10.30 Teaching Practice Feedback (from the previous day)
10.30 – 11.00 Teaching Practice Preparation
11.00 – 13.00 Teaching Practice
13.00 – 13.15 Break
13.15 – 14.45 Seminar 1
14.45 – 15.45 Lunch break
15.45 – 17.15 Seminar 2
Attendance at seminar input is a compulsory part of the course and a register will be
kept. Should a candidate’s attendance fall below 100%, s/he may not be eligible to
receive a certificate.
Candidates are expected to treat the course as they would a job. Indeed, showing a
professional approach to the course is part of the assessment.
Who are the tutors?
There will be a team of British Council tutors working on the course, all of whom
have extensive teacher training experience.
Who much does the course cost?
The course fee is 1595 euros. A non-refundable deposit of 250 euros will be payable
upon the acceptance of a place on the course. Places cannot be guaranteed until
receipt of fees, for which the deadline is 11th December 2015 (part-time course)
and 24th June 2016 (full-time course). Fees can be paid by credit card on 96
3392980 or by cheque or credit card at Avda Cataluña 9.
The course fee does not include travel or accommodation.
On the part-time course, trainees may pay in instalments:
1.
2.
3.
4.
250 euro deposit upon acceptance on the course
675 euros by 11th December 2016.
335 euros by 1st February 2016
335 euros by 1st April 2016
How do I apply for a place on the course?
The maximum number of trainees on the course is 15. Applicants must be over 18
years old on the first day of the course
There is a two stage selection procedure to gain a place on the course. You have to:
(1) fill in an application form (see below),
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Cert TESOL
(2) be interviewed by the course director – it may be possible to arrange to do this by
telephone
Deadline for applications is two weeks before the start of the course. Early
application is advised. Interviews will be held all year round at our centre in Avda
Cataluña. We advise you to read the Trinity College Cert syllabus before applying. It
can be downloaded from the Trinity website (www.trinitycollege.co.uk). You are
expected to familiarise yourself with it, as it contains all the crucial information
regarding regulations, course content & examinations.
During the interview you will be asked to complete a short written task in order to
assess your level of written English and discuss some language analysis tasks.
In the interview you will be given the chance to ask questions about the course and
the syllabus.
Requirements
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Minimum age: 18
C1 level of English. This will be ascertained through a relevant certificate of
language proficiency (Cambridge CAE or CPE, IELTS 7.0+) or at interview.
A school leaving certificate- A levels, Bachillerato or equivalent. Candidates
with proof of equivalent academic experience will also be considered.
If you would to apply for a place on the course, please fill in the application form and
return it to Nelson Arditto at nelson.arditto@britishcouncil.es.
Applications can also be sent to:
Cert TESOL
British Council
Avenida Cataluña 9
46020 Valencia
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Cert TESOL
What do I need to do if I am offered a place on the course?
If you are accepted on the course, you will have to bring in the original of your
educational qualifications (e.g. school leaving certificates/A Levels/degree
certificate). The course tutor will make copies, signing them to attest that he has
seen the original.
Accommodation
Unfortunately, we are unable to arrange accommodation for course participants, so if
you’re travelling from outside Valencia, you will need to make your own
arrangements. However, in the past, we have tried to help trainees find
accommodation through members of staff at the teaching centre.
Facilities
 Trainees will be given a code to have free access to a photocopier and printer
 Interactive whiteboards in all rooms
 Use of premises and classrooms until closing time
 Café where hot meals are served
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Cert TESOL
LTCL Cert TESOL
Application Form
Please complete all sections. You may also attach a CV if you wish.
Name........................................................................................................................
Contact Address
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E-mail........................................................................................................................
Telephone (s): ..........................................................................................................
Place & Date of birth: ……………………………………………………………………
First language: ……………………………………………………………………………
Which course are you applying for? Please tick
Full-time _____
Part-time _____
Do you have any special requirements to help you access the course?
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Educational Qualifications (with awarding body & grade, including any ELT
qualifications )
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Languages spoken (How well?)
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Do you have any experience of English language teaching?
(Please include the number of years, information re: schools you have worked in,
types of classes & levels, & age ranges if you have taught young learners).
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Do you have any experience of other sorts of teaching?
(Please include the number of years, information re: schools you have worked in,
types of classes & age ranges).
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Other work experience (please include current position):
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I hereby declare that the information in this form is correct
Signed: ………………………………………………………..
Date:…………………….
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