TESOL General Information

Certificate IV in TESOL:

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Course Code: 30537QLD)

Last Updated: 11/01/2006

1.0 - Introduction
2.0 - Course Content
3.0 - Assessment
4.0 - Course Outcomes

1.0 Introduction

The overall intention of this course is to prepare participants for the task of teaching English to people whose native language is not English.

Those enrolling in the Course need no previous teaching experience or qualifications. However, those who do will be more likely to have a higher skill level on completion of the Course.

Consequently, the variety of potential employment opportunities for Course graduates may depend on the participants pre-existing qualifications and experience. See Course Outcomes below for more information.

Language Training Institute began delivering TESOL Courses in 1998. Since that time LTI has trained hundreds of people from many walks of life to teach English to Speakers of Other Languages.

LTI graduates have found teaching positions both overseas and within Australia after completing the Course.

Non-native speakers of English have also successfully completed the Course.

2.0 Course Content:

To qualify for the Certificate IV in TESOL, trainees must complete the following:

Twelve (12) Core Units
Two (2) Elective Units, and,
Practice Teaching

The names of the Units are given below with the *Nominal Hours associated with the Units provided below.

*Please note that the "Notional Hours" are NOT the number of hours of attendance in classes.

Notional hours include in-class hours, self study, preparation for assessment and Prac Teaching. Various Courses or individualised programs of study will be configured with different proportions of each of these “modes” of study.

Please also note that not all electives will be available to all Trainees on every Course. Trainees will be advised on a Course by Course basis what electives are available for their Course.

Course Structure for Cert IV in TESOL: Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (30537QLD)

CORE UNITS – All units must be completed by all trainees.		Nominal Hours**
TEL001	Apply knowledge of relationships between language, culture and learning in TESOL contexts	10
TEL002	Analyse language	15
TEL003	Teach speaking	15
TEL004	Teach listening	15
TEL005	Teach reading	15
TEL006	Teach writing	15
TEL007	Teach English grammar	15
TEL008	Teach spelling and pronunciation	15
TAADEL401A	Plan and organise group-based delivery	20
TAAASS402A	Assess competence	15
TAAASS403A	Develop assessment tools	15
TEL012	Develop resource files	5
VPC020	Vocational Placement	20
CORE SUB-TOTAL		190
ELECTIVE UNITS – Two (2) of the following units must be completed. Not all electives will be available to all Trainees on every Course. Trainees will be advised on a course by course basis what electives are available for their Course.
TEL013	Evaluate TESOL methodologies
TEL014	Teach English for Academic Purposes
TEL015	Teach ESL to early childhood learners
TEL016	Teach ESL to primary school-aged learners	15
TEL017	Teach ESL to teenage learners	15
TEL018	Use music, art and drama in TESOL	15
TEL019	Conduct experiential learning programs
TAADEL403A	Facilitate individual learning
TEL021	Work with volunteers
TEL022	Set up community-based English classes	15
TEL023	Use computers to assist language learning

ELECTIVE SUB-TOTAL (2 Elective Units)		30
VOCATIONAL PLACEMENT HOURS (minimum)		20
Includes: Observation of an experienced teacher Practice Teaching (6 hours of which must be supervised) **Note: This is NOT the number of hours of attendance in classes. Notional hours include in-class hours, self study, preparation for assessment and Prac Teaching.
TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS		220

3.0 Assessment

Course participants will be assessed throughout the Course by means of written responses to workbook and other tasks, oral presentations in class, and in Prac Teaching performance.

4.0 Course Outcomes

Outcome A (for those with no previous teaching experience or qualifications):

Participants who do not have the qualifications or experience outlined under Outcome B below will be able to teach English in a less demanding and less professional capacity. For example:

To groups of visiting students on short term study tours
To small groups of migrants in a supervised and limited capacity for the development of general English skills
To overseas students on an individual tuition or small group tutorial basis
Overseas in Institutions not governed by Australian standards where predominantly conversational English teaching is required.

Outcome B (for experienced or qualified participants):

For participants who enter the course with
EITHER a recognised general teaching qualification
OR a recognised degree or diploma

AND

at least 800 hours of classroom teaching experience (eg in general TAFE teaching, or, overseas English teaching experience, etc)
the outcome will be that they will be able to:
teach English as a Second or Foreign Language in a professional capacity eg as an ELICOS teacher (ELICOS = English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students).
With respect to this outcome (where participants have the necessary pre-course qualifications and / or experience) this Course is written to meet the minimum contact hours and practice teaching requirements of being a "TESOL qualification" as given by the National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme (NEAS).

NEAS states that teachers in institutions registered to provide ELICOS Courses must have at least the following qualifications (quoted from the NEAS June 1993 guidelines, p 16 and 17):
(The following is a direct quote from NEAS Guidelines giving the full description of requirements for ELICOS teachers.)
EITHER
A recognised pre-service teaching qualification (see Notes 1 and 5)
plus or including
appropriate TESOL qualification (see Note 2)
OR
A recognised degree or diploma (see Note 3)
plus
at least 800 hours classroom teaching experience (see Notes 4 and 5)
plus
an appropriate TESOL qualification (see note 2)

Note 1

"A recognised pre-service teaching qualification" is a formal teacher training qualification awarded by an Australian University or College or Advanced Education, or its overseas equivalent. It may be:

Diploma of Teaching
Bachelor of Education
Bachelor's degree and Diploma in Education
Bachelor's degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Education Studies (TESOL)
Bachelor's degree and two-year Teaching Certificate

provided the combined course of study is at least three years full-time (or its equivalent) in length and is recognised in its country of origin as conferring "trained teacher" status.

Note 2

"A TESOL qualification", to be deemed appropriate, must result from a course of study having at least the following characteristics:

Content focus on English language, language learning, TESOL teaching;
A practical component including at lease six hours supervised and assessed practice teaching in TESOL.
No less that 100 contact hours in total devoted to (i) and (ii) above, or its equivalent in Distance Education Programs.

Courses in this category may be award courses at Master, Bachelor, Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate level. They may also be non-award courses, provided that they have been accredited by an appropriate authority. The appropriate authorities include the RSA-UCLES and the Australian State/Territory recognition authorities.

In the past, some TESOL courses at Graduate Diploma or Master level did not include supervised and assessed practice teaching in the practical component. Qualifications from such courses undertaken before 1993 should be found acceptable as TESOL qualifications, provided they satisfy (i) and (iii) above.

In the case of overseas non-award courses other than the RSA-UCLES a teacher should possess a statement of equivalence from the National Office or Overseas Skills Recognition.

Note 3

"A recognised degree or diploma" is one that is at least three years full-time (or its part-time equivalent) and is recognised as such in Australia.

Note 4

"Classroom teaching experience" should have taken place in recognised institutions, such as registered schools (government or non-government), TAFE colleges, AMES, accredited business or commercial colleges, accredited ELICOS institutions, universities, colleges of advanced education or equivalent overseas institutions.

Note 5

Colleges may employ teaching staff who have a recognised degree or diploma and an appropriate TESOL qualification, but who do not have either a recognised teaching qualification or 800 hours classroom teaching experience, as long as there is written evidence that the individual teacher has demonstrated outstanding competence in TESOL.
Such evidence may include:

A higher than pass grade in their TESOL qualification;
Documents furnished by previous employer
References from TESOL Course Directors.

As also stated in the NEAS guidelines:

"There may be isolated cases where the pattern of qualifications does not match those outlined here, but where either the teacher or the institution believes special consideration should be given on the basis of equivalence."

Language Training Institute

Language Teaching And Teacher Training