Course Syllabus

TEFL International’s certificate course exceeds all internationally accepted standards for ESL teacher training. The course is externally moderated by a Board of Academic Advisors that includes some of the biggest names in the English teaching field (BOAA) and has gained a global reputation for being one of the most effective and successful teacher training programs in the world today.

Course Syllabus Outline

Below is an outline highlighting the core elements of our course. Click Here for a more detailed version of the course syllabus.

The course is administered using the 6 following core components:

1. Teaching Practice

The most fundamental area of any TEFL/TESOL course and the main reason why online and distance learning programs do not measure up is that of the practical teaching component. Course trainees teach real students of English and put into practice the skills learnt on the course.

2. Foreign Language Experience.

The trainees receive training in an unknown foreign language to reflect on the experience of being a learner, and how this might direct their own teaching. The language is most often offered according to the local language at the course location.

3. Language Awareness

a) Grammar. Covers word classes, simple sentence elements, complex sentences and clauses, verb time and tense, aspect and conditionals and modals, phrasals and voice.

b) Phonology. Covers phonemics, word stress and intonation, sentence stress and intonation, rhythm and intonation, and connected speech.

4. Student Profile

Trainees work with individual students on rapport-building, error analysis and correction and addressing individual student needs. Three meetings with the student are required including transcription and error analysis of audio and written samples, culminating in a 60-minute session observed by a trainer.

5. Teaching Techniques.

This component of the course covers areas such as:

• Lesson planning
• Classroom management
• Establishing rapport
• Discipline in the classroom
• Managing equipment and teaching aids
• Creating materials
• Correction techniques
• Evaluation and testing
• Teaching vocabulary
• Teaching grammar
• Teaching receptive skills (reading and listening)
• Teaching productive skills (speaking and writing)
• Games in the classroom
• Songs in the classroom
• Teaching beginner students
• Teaching individual students
• Teaching business English
• Teaching young learners

6. Materials Project

All trainees must develop two sets of materials used during the teaching practice. Each set must be durable, capable of being used for more than one lesson context and easily portable. The materials may include visuals, realia, audio or video tape, cue cards and class handouts, but may not be photocopied from published sources. Trainees are required to adapt from commercial sources, or develop original materials. The summation of this project is a presentation to the trainers on how the materials were used, how they could be improved and how they might be used in another context.

Click Here for a more detailed course syllabus.

Course Assessment

The TEFL International TESOL course is assessed as follows:

• Teaching Practice 50%
• Material compilation 15%
• Unknown language Journal 5%
• Lesson observation Journal 10%
• Grammar Test 10%
• Phonology Test 10%

The teaching practice element is continually assessed and trainees are kept up to date on their progress through individual tutorials.

Successful trainees receive an official certificate showing completion of the course and overall grade. They will also be issued with a recommendation letter from TEFL International, reflecting upon their performance during the course.

The individual centers are always prepared to issue a reference and further information if requested.