Will Such English Teachers Make the Grade?

The teaching of English via the internet is not something new. Many teachers have set up web-sites and have continuing success teaching English to speakers of other languages world-wide.

Let us look at one of them providing an advanced certificate in Teaching of English as a Foreign Language.

This company, known as TEFL Express conducts a 120 hours internet coaching which apparently is a preparatory course for you to become a teacher of English and to help prepare you to ace the ESOL examination administered by Cambridge ESOL Examining Board.

The course, judging by its outline, will provide exposure in most areas of English. Once you have proved yourself successful, you will be awarded an Advanced Certificate and can then proceed to teach English world-wide.

Essentially consisting of a core module;5 main module course and two specialization modules, you can study at your leisurely pace with the caveat that you must complete it within 100 days from the start of the course.

Let us look closely at the course outline in gist.

The core module (mandatory) is ‘The Principles of Teaching English’-basically language understanding and grammar points.

The 5 units encompass grammar, lexis, pronunciation and functions; the 4 learning skills and classroom management.

Of these, there are 2 specific units focused on preparation to take the Cambridge ESOL examinations.

The specialist modules to choose from include:

> Survival Teaching
> Young Learners Teaching
> Professional Teaching

As education today is getting more sub-standard and driven largely by fee income, my fear is without the required class-room teaching practice, teaching quality may be questionable. Can these 120 hour graduate really teach English adequately? Maybe some can teach at the most basic level.

Paper qualification is one thing, apparent recognition of skill is another. Performance is definitely key here.