Introduction to Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL)

Overview

Course details

In this course, you will develop your awareness of how to support the learning of English.

You will gain key practical tools and strategies to teach English as an additional language.

The course is structured in five units that will guide you from the basic principles of lesson preparation to practical application of the four skills in the classroom.

You will have the opportunity to put your newly developed knowledge into practice through ‘exit tickets’.

These are activities at the end of the unit, designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice, allowing you to receive feedback from peers and tutors, making this course a collaborative experience.

Who is this course for?

This course is open to anyone interested in understanding elementary TESOL principles.

You may want to choose this course if you are:

• considering to study an MSc in TESOL
• a Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) graduate preparing to work abroad as a Teaching Assistant
• an MFL graduate preparing to work in the UK with learners who use English as an additional language. 

As this is an introduction to TESOL, you don’t need to have a background in language, linguistics, or teaching.

This course will help you raise your awareness of TESOL principles and maybe even inspire you to pursue a TESOL career in the future.

Teaching format

This course is designed to be completed in five weeks.

You will explore a different TESOL area each week.

Course activities include:

• Short videos or texts designed to develop your understanding of key topics like classroom management or what happens in our brains when we read a text
• Comprehension questions to help you check your understanding of key ideas explored during the course
• Practical teaching scenarios and reflective questions to deepen your teaching practice
• Collaborative discussions to share your ideas with your colleagues and tutors.

Course requirements

To make the most of this course, you should have one of the following:

• a minimum English level of B2 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
• a minimum score of 6.0 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Learners typically spend six to eight hours per week in this course.