Introduction to the Course
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Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Date: Monday, 16 October 2023, 1:37 PM
Course:
Language
Book: Introduction to the Course
Description
From this introductory unit, you will learn how more about how to use the course, what you will cover in this course and how this course is
assessed.
Table of contents
1. Welcome to the Course!
1.1. Duration of the Course
1.2. Course Content
1.3. Navigating the Course
1.4. Course Assessment
1.5. Quizzes
1.6. Writing a Bibliography
1.7. Study Guide
1.8. Contact Us
1. Welcome to the Course!
Congratulations on starting our Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) training course. You have now taken your first step to
becoming a qualified TEFL teacher, with fantastic opportunities to live and work across the globe.
Teaching English opens doors to travel and employment. It can be a wonderful way to spend a short time living overseas or an amazing
lifetime career. Regardless of the route you choose to take, this course will introduce you to the concepts and skills that you need to start the
journey.
You might be experiencing a mixture of feelings right now. You might be nervous, excited, or just curious. But don’t worry, think of all the
amazing experiences you’ll have as a certified TEFL teacher.
Our recommendation is to take the course a step at a time, take as many notes as possible and enjoy each unit.
1.1. Duration of the Course
The course takes, on average, 180 hours to complete, plus additional time to complete the course assessments. Most people complete the
course within about four months.
You have an allocated timescale to work through the course from the date that you are enrolled, and you will see the expiry date on the course
home page on the right-hand side of the screen. Don't forget the time shown is for all your courses, if you are enrolled on to more than one!
Please don’t view the course as something to rush through. The more time you take to think, reflect and read around each subject, the more
confident you will be once you are standing in front of your first class.
1.2. Course Content
Unit 1: Introduction to TEFL (approximately 5% of course)
After reflecting on our choices to teach English as a Foreign Language, we move on to looking at the history of teaching methodologies. We
will analyse the advantages and disadvantages of a range of teaching methods through the years. The unit then looks at how people learn a
second language and the theories behind this. We will also look at the different working contexts of EFL.
Unit 2: Initial Lesson Planning (15%)
This unit of the course focuses on the importance of lesson planning. We will look at how to write the first page of a lesson plan by
considering:
The practicalities of the lesson
The learners’ ages, levels and background
The size of the class
Learning styles
We will examine how these points influence how we will structure and run the lesson. We will also explore how to write clear lesson aims and
outcomes and predict the problems we might face during a lesson.
Unit 3: Structuring your Lesson (25%)
In this section we will look at how to structure a typical TEFL lesson in more detail. We will examine the pros and cons of different teaching
techniques before moving on to each individual stage of a lesson.
You will learn about:
Defining lesson stages
Warmers and coolers
The PPP method
Ending a lesson
You will also look at an example lesson plan, written to a level 5 standard.
Unit 4: Making it Work in the Classroom (35%)
This section of the course explores how to give yourself the best possible chance of delivering your lesson successfully. You will learn about:
How to create a good teaching environment
Classroom management
Helping students learn
Unit 5: Teaching Vocabulary (45% including assignment)
Teaching vocabulary is a very important part of teaching English as a foreign language. In this section you will explore different techniques to
present vocabulary to your students.
You will learn about:
Teaching Meaning, Form and Pronunciation
Presenting vocabulary
Checking students’ understanding of new information
How to support students in remembering and producing vocabulary
Unit 6: Teaching Pronunciation (55%)
Pronunciation is the key for your learners to be understood correctly when speaking English. In this section we will look at skills and
techniques to teach pronunciation.
You will learn about:
Word and sentence stress
The phonemic chart
Producing single sounds
Connected speech
Teaching Pronunciation
Unit 7: Teaching Grammar (65%)
Teaching our learners grammar can be a daunting experience but don't worry, in this section we will cover all the grammar essentials needed
to make you an expert.
You will learn about:
Grammar basics
The tenses
Further grammar
Teaching grammar
Unit 8: Teaching Young Learners (75% including assignment)
As teachers of English as a foreign language, we are very likely to be teaching young learners as well as adults in our careers. How does this
differ from teaching adults? In this unit we will explore who young learners are and how to plan engaging lessons for them.
You will learn about:
Young learners, their motivations and learning styles
Effective lesson planning
Different teaching contexts
The impact on lesson planning and resources
Classroom management
Safeguarding issues such as bullying and social media use
Unit 9: Teaching the Four Skills (85%)
We take reading, listening, speaking and writing for granted in our own language. In this section we will look at the skills and techniques we
can use to help our learners improve in these key areas.
You will learn how to improve students’
speaking: Accuracy versus fluency, approaches for teaching speaking, ideas and top tips
listening: Different types of listening, structure of a listening lesson, types of activities
reading: Different reading skills, choosing the right text, teaching ideas
writing: Approaches to teaching writing, reviewing and correcting student work, top tips
Unit 10: Using External Resources in the Classroom (100% including assignment)
Every day we are surrounded by authentic material and resources that we could use in our classes, but how do you choose what to use? In
this section, we look at how we could adapt this material and use it as a teaching tool.
You will learn about:
Using coursebooks
Authentic materials such as songs, leaflets and shampoo bottles
Computer Aided Language Learning
Unit 10 also gives you advice on taking your next steps; from how to find and apply for teaching jobs around the world, to the first day of
school at your new job. We will also provide links and titles for resources we think will be useful to you as you begin your teaching career.
1.3. Navigating the Course
Getting Started
When you first enter the course, you will find yourself at the Course Home Page. This sets out a panel with links to each unit of the
course. Simply click on the link to the unit you want.
Structure of the Course
When you are within a unit, you can see the Table of Contents on the right hand side, which sets out links to each of the chapters within that
unit. Each of the 10 main units of the course has the same structure.
Moving Through the Course
At the bottom of each page of course material, you will find two arrows.
Click on the arrow pointing to the right to move forward. This will guide you through each page of the course in the correct order.
Click on the arrow pointing to the left if you want to return to the previous page.
When you have reached the end of a section of the course, the arrow to the right will be replaced with an arrow pointing up. This will take
you back to the Contents page.
1.4. Course Assessment
End of Unit Tests
At the end of each unit, there is an End of Unit Test. They are designed to check that you have understood the points we have covered before
you move on. You must achieve a minimum of 75% to pass these tests and unlock the next unit.
Look back at your notes if you need to. The End of Unit Test is in the same format as the quizzes; you need to check the grey box to the left of
the question for the number of marks available for each question - sometimes you need to choose more than one answer!
Please note: You have an unlimited number of attempts to take these tests, and they do not contribute to your overall grade at the
end of the course.
Written Assignments
Throughout the course, you will write 3 assignments as part of your course assessment:
End of Unit 5: Vocabulary lesson plan + written essay
End of Unit 8: Grammar lesson plan + written essay
End of Unit 10: Skills lesson plan + written essay
You will be provided with full details about course assessment at each assignment stage.
Once you have submitted your work, you will be assigned a tutor and will receive detailed feedback via email. Your work will be marked within
seven days of submission. Please be patient; we mark as quickly as we can.
Important information:
You are given three attempts to pass each assignment, so please don't worry if you don't pass your first attempt.
Your tutor will contact you with your result, and if you haven't passed, they will give a written explanation of the changes you need to make.
Rather than resubmitting a brand new assignment, you just need to to follow their feedback, make the changes, and submit your work the
same way you submitted your first attempt.
Once you pass your assignment, the next unit will be unlocked, and you will be able to progress through the course.
Passing the course:
After you have completed and passed all the assignments, you will receive an email confirming that you have passed the course. Your
eCertificate details will be sent shortly after you have passed the course, once it has been verified by our external regulator.
You must pass all three of these assessments to gain your TEFL certificate.
1.5. Quizzes
Throughout the course, you will find quizzes; they review the material introduced in the unit as well as checking what you already know. Some
quizzes are only for reflection on your ideas.
Click on the link to go through to the quiz page. Each quiz has clear instructions about how to use it. Please note: once you start a quiz, it
needs to be completed in one sitting. However, you can have as many tries as you like!
Check the grey box to the left of the question for the number of marks available for each question - sometimes you need to choose more than
one answer! You also have the option to flag a question if you are unsure and wish to come back to it once you have been through the
remaining questions.
1.6. Writing a Bibliography
When you reach the assessment stage of the course, you will need to write a bibliography. Use Harvard referencing for your bibliography,
which generally follows this format:
Last name, First Initial. (Year published) Title. City: Publisher, Page(s).
For example: Baker, A. (2006) Ship or Sheep? Cambridge: CUP, p.16.
1.7. Study Guide
Your study guide contains an explanation on each unit to help guide you
through the most important aspects of your course. We point out what you do
and don't need to memorise, and make suggestions on what to takes notes
on to help you later with your assignments.
You'll also find a reflective task at the end of each unit summary. These will
help you with your assignments and also when you are planning lessons for
real life classes.
When you reach your assignments in Units 5, 8 and 10 you'll find helpful
hints within the guide! These hints will remind you which parts of the course
to revisit before you start writing you lesson plan.
Study Guide
Before printing the guide, check your printer setting to make sure each page
fits to the printable area!
1.8. Contact Us
For any queries related to the course, please contact us by email:
teflsupport@gatehouseawards.org
