We have been so busy recently, running CELTA courses at MTA that I haven't been able to update the blog- sorry. Our latest news is that we are running a 20 hour TESOL course on 31st March/1st April. It will cover the basics of grammar and ESL methodology. We believe that the course will be a useful qualification for those who will teach overseas in organisations that do not require CELTA. Also, if you already have a teaching qualification this would be a good addition. Some of the people on the course just want to find out if ESL teaching is for them and others are treating it as a 'pre-CELTA' programme.
We have been in discussion with International House and The British Council about the possibility of running the distance DELTA in the second part of this year. The great thing about the DELTA now is that you can do it by studying modules, so it's more flexible. Modules One and Three will be done online with IH London, whereas Module Two (which is teaching) would be done here at MTA. There would be an orientation course lasting two weeks around Easter 2013 and then your teaching could be observed when you like, in your own workplace with your own class. We've already had teachers asking us when they can start, so we are hoping it all goes ahead. We have heard that the DELTA is becoming recognised and even required (in some centres) in Australia for management positions. Fantastic, then, that for Module Three you can specialise in ESL Management. There's also the possibility of specialising in EAP or Young Learners for Module Three. I'll keep you posted.
The last thing is our TECSOL course, starting in August 2012. The Young Learners market is booming and we keep getting requests for 'teaching kids' inputs on our CELTAs. Now that the CELTYL is no longer available we have filled the gap with our TECSOL (Teaching English to Children who Speak Other Languages) course. The course will go for 5 weeks, with observation of an experienced teacher every morning in week one. This course will take place in the city centre school in the mornings only (9 am - 1 pm).
There is actually one more thing: Barbara is also presenting a section of her thesis on 'Developing Thinking in English for Academic Purposes classes' at La Trobe University on 12th April. Barbara has developed a new approach to EAP that we hope to include in our EAP workshops later in the year. We welcome teachers from university language centres to these workshops, as well as teachers who are invloved in EAP at other institutes. Details on our website soon!
