A TESOL certificate is highly recommended for licensed teachers from Canada and the United States who teach newcomers or are planning to teach abroad.
A teaching license or a degree in Education will put you ahead in some teaching programs abroad, especially in public school programs such as ADEC in the United Arab Emirates, NETs in Hong Kong, and EPIK in South Korea; however, a TESOL certificate is recommended for licensed teachers who want to teach English abroad and many employers often ask licensed teachers to upgrade their credentials to qualify for higher wages. This is because TESOL is a very specific subject and the methods used in the English classroom are not learned in a degree in Education. This article will explain more about the lesson planning formats, the teaching methods, and other topics licensed teachers would learn in a TESOL certificate course.
Read: Compare OnTESOL Courses
TESOL Lesson Planning
In TESOL, lesson planning is specific to teaching English. The formats that you will learn in an advanced TESOL Diploma program are Presentation-Practice-Production (PPP), Engage Study Activate (ESA), Teach Test Teach (TTT), and Task Based Learning (TBL). In the TESOL classroom, the role of the teacher is not to post new language rules in the board and teach the theory of the English language. Students want to learn how to use the English language, so teaching English is about teaching students how to communicate. The lesson-planning formats mentioned above have been designed to enhance fit perfectly with the methodology of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
The Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) method has been proven to enhance the students’ language acquisition processes. CLT branches into various approaches and the most popular ones are The Communicative Approach, Task-Based Learning, and Integrated Skills. At their core, real-life communication is key. This means that TESOL teachers need to present language rules in context and create real-life simulations for students to practice the language. Authentic material and role-play are integral parts of the Communicative Language Teaching method, and teachers are required to supplement the textbook with materials and activities that are meaningful to students. Watch the video below to learn more about using authentic material:
Why Grammar and Phonology Are Important in a TESOL Certificate Course
Few native speakers study grammar and phonology in school, while many non-native speakers study English at school and also take immersion classes in native-speaking countries This leads to embarrassing situations when students know more about grammar and phonology than their teacher. An advanced TESOL certification that includes grammar and phonology is recommended for licensed teachers who want to teach English abroad or at home.
Related TESOL Articles