Overview
Our TEFL Certificate Program thoughtfully combines current trends in language teaching pedagogy with traditional best practices in the language teaching field. Whether your aim is to teach adults, children, or both, our program content carefully addresses these unique audiences. This is a full-time, daytime program.
Benefits
- Choose from a 3-month program of TEFL coursework or a 6-month program of TEFL coursework plus TEFL internship
- Learn best practices of various current and traditional methodologies from distinguished teacher-trainers
- Study together with native-English speakers in integrated classes
- Attend local and/or regional professional CATESOL conferences to explore the most recent trends and developments
- Further your career as an English teacher while networking with professionals in the TESL/TEFL field
- Observe teachers in American ESL classrooms and then plan and conduct a lesson at an American school
- Practice your teaching skills in a classroom setting
- Develop the skills you need to succeed in further post-graduate studies in TEFL and related fields
- Gain a competitive edge in the global English teaching job market with opportunities for TEFL internships within our own industry-leading ESL programs
Curriculum
Theories Survey
Find out how people learn languages as you compare first language and second language acquisition and child and adult foreign language learning. Understand the learning theories that are the foundation of various teaching methodologies, and develop strategies that you can use in your own teaching situations.
TEFL Practicum
Prepare to be a successful ESL/EFL teacher. Cover principles for effective teaching and classroom practices. Practice teaching a variety of classroom activities focusing on different language skills. Evaluate peer presentations orally and self-presentation in writing. Observe or present communicative activities in authentic ESL classes and present a cultural lesson at a local school.
Teaching English as a Career
Prepare to teach overseas in three phases: finding a job, preparing to go, and living/working overseas. One-on-one meetings will help you assess your goals, review resources necessary for the application process, and raise awareness of what you will encounter in living and working in a different country. Receive guidance on resume building, interviewing skills, and your country of choice in depth. Have the opportunity to observe on-campus ESL courses and discuss these observations with your peers in class.
Methods of TEFL
Explore current methods for teaching specific skill areas such as speaking, listening, reading and writing with an emphasis placed on communicative teaching techniques and theories. Develop lesson plans, materials and instructional aids for your classroom, and learn how to motivate your students to study and learn by using a wide variety of language games and techniques.
Teaching the Skills
Learn general principles and strategies for effectively teaching the English language skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking, pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Topics will include needs assessment, setting objectives, and selecting and using the appropriate materials.
Teaching Pronunciation Skills
Receive an introduction to the fields of phonetics and phonology as they relate to second language learning. Learn about practical issues and methods in the teaching of pronunciation, along with pronunciation problems common to many ESL students. Students will also have a chance to practice and improve their own pronunciation.
Teaching Young Learners
Examine theoretical issues and pedagogical practices surround the teaching of EFL to young learners. Learn to recognize the differences in young learner age groups, understand basic concepts of childhood language development, and utilize different strategies and basic principles of classroom management and motivation of young learners.
Language Diagnostics and Assessment
Improve your understanding of assessment strategies, gain new insight into the purpose of testing and interpreting test results. Discuss, analyze, and practice formal and informal ways of assessing your student’s speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
Internships
For an optional last course and for an additional fee of $2,900, you have the opportunity to apply academic theory and gain practical experience in UCI’s industry-leading ESL programs for up to three months.
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