The Trinity CertTESOL is an Ofqual regulated qualification (search for Trinity CertTESOL), listed at level 5 on their Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), meaning that it is a graduate certificate-level qualification equivalent to a second year of a bachelors degree. It is accepted by education authorities, immigration departments and visa offices worldwide as a benchmark qualification in the industry.

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Requirements for course applicants

 

In order to be eligible to be enrolled onto a CertTESOL course, you must have an advanced proficiency (CEFR C1 / IELTS 7) in English, which is assessed during the admissions interview.

 

You must also hold academic qualifications of a level to enter university (A-level / SAT or equivalent), and have appropriate motivation to join the course.

 

These details will be confirmed at interview, and Language Point Teacher Education reserve the right to refuse admission to the course based on performance during the admissions interview.

 

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Admissions to the course

 

Applications for the course should be made through the online application form. Once you submit the form, you will be sent a pre-interview task to complete, in preparation for the 40-minute admissions interview, during which we will discuss your previous experience (if any) as a teacher, learning experiences and methods, and go through the pre-interview task to assess your technical language knowledge. You will also complete a short written task.

 

After acceptance onto the course and full payment, you will be sent a Pre-Course Task, containing important language awareness, methodology and course information in order to prepare for the start of the course. You will have to provide scanned copies of your ID document, up-to-date CV and highest academic qualification for enrolment.

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Applicants may be asked to enrol onto the course two weeks before the course start date to receive feedback on their pre-course tasks in preparation for Week 1 of the course.

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Study time

 

The total study time of the CertTESOL is 130 hours, which means that in addition to the work you do on the admissions documents and pre-course pack, you should spend around 10-15 hours per week on the videos, tasks, tutorials and self-study that are necessary to complete all course modules successfully.

 

However, this will vary from week to week and from trainee to trainee, and some modules will require more hours than others. This means that you will be required to manage your time effectively, and prioritise any other commitments you have during the time you are enrolled on the course.

 

The Language Point CertTESOL is delivered through a combination of self-timed study, weekly online group tutorials and individual online meetings with your tutor. The course typically takes an average of around 10-15 hours per week of study time.

 

Timetabled session dates and times are confirmed in week 1 of the course, and are arranged according to trainee availability. If any session content is missed, recordings of all live sessions are shared with trainees so that they can catch up and ask questions with their tutor.

 

Timetabled hours for the CertTESOL:

 

Every week: One group tutorial (60 minutes every Thursday or Friday)

Weeks 6, 7 and 8: 20-30 minute live individual tutorials to provide feedback on draft assignment work

Week 7: 4 Unknown Language lessons (60 minutes + 15 minute post-lesson debrief)

Weeks 9-12: 6 x 60-minute teaching practice lessons, each of which requires pre-lesson planning and post-lesson live tutorials to help you prepare for your observed teaching

Week 12: Materials Assignment interview practice (20 minutes per trainee)

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Course Structure and Content

 

The Language Point Online CertTESOL divides the content of the course into 6 modules, each of which is assessed through a structured written assignment to be submitted at the end of each module, as follows:

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Module 0 - Week 1  Course Introduction

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Meet the trainers 

Induction to the online platform

Advice for success on the course

How to approach course assignments

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Module 1 - Weeks 2-3   Language Awareness 

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Word class

Morphology and syntax

Grammatical structures and functions

Vocabulary and lexical theories

Teaching language skills

Phonology and pronunciation theory

 

Assessment: Language Awareness coursework assignment, a summary of structure, function and usage of one grammatical area covered in unit 1 of the course (750 words approx.)

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Module 2 - Weeks 4-5   TESOL Approaches and methods

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Language teaching and learning theory 

Approaches to grammar 

Vocabulary and pronunciation teaching

Lesson structures and outcomes-oriented instruction

TESOL methodologies and techniques

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Assessment: TESOL methodology quiz (1 hour)

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Module 3 - Week 6   Guided Observation

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Assignment guidance for completion of Module 3 assessment

4 hours of video observation of experienced TESOL teachers     

Feedback tutorials and assignment guidance

 

Assessment: The Guided Observation Journal, a reflective evaluation of 4 hours of observation of TESOL teachers (2500 words approx.)

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Module 4 - Weeks 7-8   Learners and learning

 

Assignment guidance for the Learner Profile and Unknown Language Journal assignments

ESOL learners, their needs and preferences

An outline of common TESOL settings

 

Assessment:

1) The Learner Profile, a full background, needs analysis, language analysis and design of a recommended course of study for a learner of English (5000 words approx.)

2) The Unknown Language Journal, a record of 4 hours spent as a learner in beginner-level lessons held in a language that is completely unfamiliar to you (2500 words approx.)

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Module 5 -  Weeks 9-10   Teaching Practice A

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Lesson planning and delivery routines

Supervised lesson planning tutorials

3-4 hours of live classroom teaching, observed via video

Post-lesson reflection tutorials with your peers from the course

 

Assessment: Teaching Practice Portfolio entries 1-3: A record of the first 3-4 hours of your observed classroom teaching, including lesson plans, materials and post-lesson reflections for each TP lesson

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Module 6 - Weeks 11-12   Teaching Practice B / The Materials Assignment

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Supervised lesson planning tutorials

3-4 hours of observed teaching practice lessons

Post-lesson reflection tutorials

Materials design, task design and delivery

Guidance on how to complete the Materials Assignment (500 words approx.)

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Assessment:

1) the Materials Assignment practice interview and feedback (30 minutes) 

2) Teaching Practice Portfolio entries 4-6

3) Synchronous Language Awareness / methodology exam (1.5 hours)

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Moderation - Week 12

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Live group interview (30 mins)

Live Materials Assignment interviews (15 minutes per trainee)

                

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Contact with ESOL learners during the course

 

Two of the course assignments require you to make contact with ESOL learners, either to work with them on the Learner Profile assignment (Module 4) or to teach observed lessons (Modules 5 and 6).

 

The Learner Profile assignment requires you to spend two one-hour sessions and one two-hour session with a learner, either online or face-to-face, to deliver an interview, language tests and to teach a 1-1 lesson. 

 

In addition, the Teaching Practice element of the course requires you to teach at least 6 hours of lessons with groups of ESOL learners at two different levels of study. This is a valuable opportunity for you to make contact with real English language learners, and organise some online or face-to-face teaching with them.

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If you have access to your own students you are welcome to use them, be aware this is something that you should organise ahead of time, and you will be provided with guidance into how to achieve this.

 

If you do not have access to students, do not worry, Language Point will provide assistance with this, we have a pool of students signed up for free classes with trainees.

 

Please ensure that you have this important aspect of the course organised before you start Modules 4, 5 and 6, as completion of the related assignments will not be possible if this is not possible at that time.

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Teaching Observations

 

During Modules 5 and 6 of the course, you will teach your 6 hours of observed teaching, which will require you to video or stream your classes for submission to course trainers for evaluation.

 

This is best achieved by using 2 cameras, or cellphones, positioned with one camera facing you and the other facing the students. Before starting your assessed teaching practice, it will be necessary to perform an a/v check with the equipment you intend to use for this, by recording a short video in the room where you will be teaching and sending it to your course tutor.

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Methods of payment accepted

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Bank transfer and credit/debit card.

 

After being accepted at interview to reserve your place on the course a £400 deposit is required with the remainder payable 2 weeks before the start of the course.

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Applications received within one month of the course date starting must be paid in full to reserve a place on your requested dates.

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Further questions or enquiries

 

If you have further questions about the structure, content or organisation of the course, feel free to contact us, and we will get back to you with the information you require or see our Trinity Cert TESOL FAQ page