What its all about

"Tell me and I forget,

Show me and I see,

Involve me and I understand"

-Confucius

Teaching Practice

As a practical course, a large portion of your time is spent teaching foreign learners, planning for and reflecting on your lessons, as well as observing other trainees teach. You teach to a broad range of learners from beginner to advanced levels.

All of your lessons are designed around the premise of helping the learner to communicate better and more effectively in English. Each of your teaching practices also targets a particular skill such as reading, writing, listening, and speaking, as well as specific language systems, for example grammatical, lexical, and phonological. This combination helps develop your ability to accurately assess and help your learners with their specific needs. Class sizes during your teaching practice generally range from 6 to 18 learners. The language learners themselves typically range in age from about 10 years of age to around 70. They are Czech as well as other nationalities.

Observation of Experienced Teachers

Trainees experience 3 hours observing experienced teachers. This opportunity to watch teachers at work in real life situations helps you see different, practical ways in which the teaching methodology can be applied.

Classroom Management

We understand that for some, just the thought of addressing a large group of learners may cause anxiety. We provide you with coaching and practice, thus making your transition into the role of the teacher more comfortable. Additionally, you receive guidance and insight on managing a group of learners, maintaining interest and motivation on the part of the learner, and communicating effectively with your learners.

Language Analysis

Many new teachers feel they lack the conscious knowledge of how English grammar works. The course covers the key points of structure, including grammar tenses, time, and aspect; lexis, the vocabulary of English; and phonology, how the sounds of English are produced. Our aim is for you to arrive at a point where your learners' questions about grammar and structure are interesting and fun, rather than intimidating.

Language Skills

Learners of the English language need to develop their ability to read, write, speak, and listen. Additionally, they must be able to integrate these abilities with the language structure - grammar, lexis, and phonology. You will learn how to effectively implement skill and structure-based lessons that enable your students to reproduce the English language more clearly and effectively.

Methodologies

There are many different methodologies and approaches to teaching English and research is still ongoing as to the best ways to help learners. We introduce you to the most useful of these methodologies including Authentic Use, Restricted Use, Clarification and Focus (ARC), Present Practice Produce (PPP), Test Teach Test (TTT), Task-Based Learning, and the Lexical Approach. Exposure to these various methods enables you to make informed decisions about which materials to present to your learners in a variety of teaching situations.

Lessons in a Foreign Language

You will experience lessons taught entirely in a foreign language, allowing you to see and feel first-hand what it is like to be a language learner for the first time. These practical lessons provide further demonstration of management and instruction in a classroom where the teacher and learner do not share a common language. Trainees complete a journal of this experience, paying careful note to the thoughts and feelings encountered during the lesson, as well as the effectiveness of various classroom techniques.

CEF = Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

The Common European Framework provides a common basis for the elaboration of language syllabuses, curriculum guidelines, examinations, textbooks, etc. across Europe. In our seminar you will learn about the background of the Framework, its important contents (the global scale, self-assessment grid, and portfolio), and about the CEF implications such as mutual recognition of qualifications gained in different learning contexts.

Business English, English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and Young Learners

EFL teachers can find themselves in a wide variety of classroom situations. The techniques and principles learned on the course can be applied to various contexts. We cover the above areas individually, preparing you for the different demands of different types of learners, allowing you to adapt your teaching as appropriate.

Professional Development

Teaching English is rewarding because you can continue to learn and develop your career throughout your entire life. In just four weeks we prepare you to start teaching quality lessons for learners of English. However, we want you to continue to learn and develop even after the course is over. At the end of the course, we provide trainees with information on the most up-to-date materials, topics, and websites pertaining to each specific aspect that was covered in the ITC course, so new teachers can have access to continuing education no matter where they are in the world.

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded the ITC International TEFL Certificate, all trainees are required to:

• Attend 100% of the course. Any missed inputs or course components must be made up at an additional fee per input/component.
• Participate fully in all inputs, workshops and Teaching Practice critique sessions.
• Complete and maintain an overall passing average in Teaching Practice.
• Complete and maintain an overall passing average in all non-teaching components including: language assignments, unknown foreign language assignments, one-to-one needs analysis project and overall classroom participation and performance.