Certificate in the Theory & Methodology of TESOL

Course description

The course is a highly practical distance education programme allowing you to develop the skills and techniques needed in classroom teaching. It examines in some detail the theoretical issues behind the practice and principles of teaching and reflects current methodologies and research into TESOL. The testing of English and the preparation of teaching materials are explored in some depth. The course is intended for both native speakers and non-native speakers of English.

What's the difference between a Tefl / Tesol certificate and a diploma?

The wide range of different titles of Tefl / Tesol qualifications that you might come across can be confusing. Some courses carry the title Certificate, while others are called Diploma courses. A certificate-level course is the initial teaching qualification, while entry on to a diploma course usually requires a minimum of a certificate-level qualification plus two years' teaching experience.

In terms of course length, a distance-learning certificate course should cover no fewer than 150 hours of study, and a taught course 100 hours. A diploma normally requires a minimum of 450 hours. Some Tesl or Tefl courses offer the chance to get a diploma in 80 hours or 100 hours but these will never be accredited by a professional body and will frequently be rejected by employers.

Certificates

On successful completion of the course, in addition to the certificate issued by the English Training Centre, you will be entitled to a certificate from the independent accreditation body ACTDEC for which an additional £25 fee is payable directly to ACTDEC.

The CTM course materials consist of 600 pages in four modules, each containing four study units. The first three modules are similar to those of the CES (Certificate in Educational Studies in TESOL) course. The fourth module is specific to this CTM (Certificate in Theory and Methodology of TESOL) course. This course takes around 250 hours of study, including completion of the tasks and the assignments.

Course features

• This Tefl / Tesol course has been prepared by a team of English language trainers with many years of experience in teaching English to speakers of other languages and the training of Tefl / Tesol teachers. It is regularly updated to reflect changing trends in teaching English. The course includes tasks and assignments to help to reinforce your learning.
• The free English Grammar Guide will be an invaluable resource and boost your confidence in the classroom.
• You can learn at your own pace, free from travel demands and the limitations of timed, classroom-based lessons. You can take time to read and absorb the material thoroughly - and the opportunity for revision is always there.
• Trainees on classroom-based courses often feel pressured by teacher observation. With our course you are free to experiment with the ideas and techniques in your own classroom without feeling that you are being judged. However, if you want to do teaching practice, at the end of the course you have the option of the ACTDEC Teaching Practice Portfolio Scheme.
• Many students find that when they complete a class-based course they often end up with a file of notes and handouts that are difficult to access at a later date. However, at the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive and well-organised pack of detailed reference material that you can refer to whenever you want.
• No extra payment is required for examination fees since you will be continuously assessed through assignments as the course progresses.
• The course modules are digitally printed and have a strong metal binding which allows each file to be opened flat.
• The course is very competitively priced.
• The course fees include all learning materials, personal tuition, feedback, and postage/packaging.

Summary CTM syllabus

This accredited course represents around 250 hours of study, including completion of the tasks and the assignments. The material consists of 600 pages in four modules, each containing four units:

CTM Module 1 - The Fundamentals

• Language teaching, language learning: approaches to teaching English
• Working in the classroom: the teacher, the classroom and teaching skills
• Language awareness: the grammar of English and how to approach it
• Issues in presenting new language: how to do present language in a practical way

CTM Module 2 - Teaching the Four Language Skills

• Speaking - how to teach speaking skills: teaching the sounds, stress and intonation of English
• Listening - how to teach listening skills: practical approaches you can use in the classroom
• Reading - how to teach reading skills: practical ideas in teaching intensive and extensive reading
• Writing - how to teach writing skills: from individual sentences to descriptive passages

CTM Module 3 - Practical Skills for the TESOL teacher

• Lesson planning: a template for the preparation of your lessons
• Teaching vocabulary: how to teach new language quickly and clearly
• Practical language activities: a collection of practical and enjoyable teaching activities
• Testing in the classroom: a practical approach to assessing your students

CTM Module 4 - Theory and Practical Application

• An Introduction to Linguistics: an overview of the major areas of linguistic study that have contributed to TESOL
• An Introduction to Psycholinguistics: an overview of theories of language acquisition and their application to TESOL
• More on Lesson Planning and Teaching: more practical ideas on how to plan your lessons
• Preparing Your Own Material: a range of effective ideas on developing classroom materials

Tasks

Each unit comes with a range of tasks that will provide you with valuable practice in the main ideas found in the unit. After completing a task you can refer to the feedback notes at the end of the module.

At the beginning of your course you will be assigned a personal tutor who will provide you with comprehensive and constructive feedback on your work. You may also want to follow up particular issues, so at the end of each module we encourage you to ask your tutor questions relating to the course content.

Assessment

You will be assessed on a total of twelve assignments - one of which is an essay-type answer of about 1500 words - the others being practical exercises relating to the content of each unit e.g. multiple choice questions, lesson plans language awareness activities.

Your personal tutor will mark your work and your assignments will be graded in one of five bands A to E; any work that does not achieve band D or higher can be resubmitted.

Certification

Successful students will receive two certificates:

• a Certificate in the Theory and Methodology of TESOL from ETC
• a Certificate in the Theory and Methodology of TESOL with Accredited Teacher Status from ACTDEC.