The difficulties of learning a language

Initial introduction to learning a foreign language and the difficulties involved in teaching and learning.

Speaking and pronunciation

How to teach speaking and pronunciation is presented, showing:

• What speaking activities look like;

• Practice drills for fluency and pronunciation;

• Role play and related techniques.

To reinforce what you have learned, you  will design your own speaking and pronunciation lesson plans using EFL books and material currently used with EBC's clients.

Vocabulary

How to teach vocabulary. A range of strategies to present, remember and test vocabulary are taught. Ideas for vocabulary work in the class are discussed. Through group work, you will practice the elicitation techniques you learned in class.

Listening

How to teach listening is presented, showing what real life listening in the classroom is and what listening sequences look like. To reinforce what you have learned, you will design your own listening lesson plans using EFL books and material currently used with EBC's clients.

Reading

How to teach reading is presented, what is really involved in real life reading and what reading sequences look like. To reinforce what you have learned, you will design your own reading lesson plans using EFL books and material currently used with EBC's clients.

Writing

How to teach writing is presented, showing tasks that stimulate writing, how to give feedback on writing and what writing sequences look like. To reinforce what you have learned, you  will design your own writing lesson plans using EFL books and material currently used with EBC's clients.

Grammar: Language functions and analysis

How to teach grammar. Grammar practice games and activities are investigated, showing you how to turn grammar into a fun and interesting lesson. You will also learn how to teach the most important English language functions.

Structure and Organisation

Trainees are presented with strategies on how to present explanations and instructions based on levels and age. Also presented are teaching models that influence current teaching practices. To reinforce what you have learned, you will design and present your own teaching structures.

Teacher language

The theme "taught or entertained" is investigated, presenting actual teaching strategies used by experienced teachers on "how to teach and entertain." The importance of clear instructions is discussed. To reinforce what you have learned, you will demonstrate the proper language to be used when teaching.

TEFL for children

What difference does age make to language learning is investigated. You will learn practical techniques for teaching children.

ESP (English for Special Purposes) Business English

You will learn about ESP (Business English), its definition, terminology, areas of specialisation. How to prepare ESP lesson plans, ESP books and supplementary material are discussed. Practical ESP lesson management strategies and ESP concept checking exercises are presented. Based on different areas of specialisation, you will develop your own ESP lesson plans to be presented on teaching practice sessions.

Classroom Interaction

Patterns of classroom interaction, questioning drills and group work will be discussed. You will learn about classroom discipline and how to deal with discipline episodes.

EFL Course books and Supplementary Material

The most widely used EFL course books are introduced, different equipment to use, their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. You will develop your own learning resources to be used during teaching practice sessions.

Delivering feedback

You are presented with feedback techniques, learn how to correct students and how to correct mistakes in oral and written work.

Individual (One to One) Teaching

You will learn about individualisation strategies and lesson preparation for one to one teaching. You will put into practice the learned theories in an individual (one to one) project to be presented later in class.

Group lesson planning

You will plan 8 lessons in groups with the guidance of your trainers. These lesson plans will serve as the basis for future teaching practice to both peers and non-English speaking students.

Individual lesson planning

Individual lesson planning for individual practice teaching sessions.

Teaching practice

There will be 8 teaching sessions. On some occasions prospective employers may attend your classes.

Peer group teaching practice

There are 8 micro-teaching sessions where you teach practice lessons to peers which are: observed, assessed and critiqued by both peers and teachers.

Essay assignment

Your individual essay assignment requires you to research and write a 500 to 700 word essay on a relevant TEFL/TESOL topic.

Teaching practice critique

There are verbal and written feedback sessions from students, peers and teachers.

Job Workshops

You will be introduced to the requirements of the job market, job interview questions/answers, world-wide possibilities discussed and most importantly practicing teachers will come in to speak about their "real life" job search experiences.