On 10 May 2010 the Awards Committee adjusted the College of Teachers Qualification Framework (COTQF) to include all TESOL Level One courses at Level 5 National Qualifications Framework (NQF) equivalent.

The TESOL Level One courses offered by TCOT meet, if not exceed, the same requirements of those of other awarding bodies at Level 5 (NQF) equivalent.  

Distance learning and online learning TESOL programmes were assessed at Level 5 (NQF) and all face-to-face and ‘hybrid’ courses were assessed at Level 4 (NQF) equivalent to match those offered by other awarding bodies. Both these programmes were considered to be TCOT TESOL Level One courses and were only distinguished by the face-to-face Teaching Practice element.

To allow candidates to achieve the full benefits of a course equal to the Associateship but enhanced through the Teaching Practice, The College of Teachers will now offer all TCOT TESOL Level One courses at level 5 as Associateship and Associateship with Teaching Practice.

This internationally accredited course provides the candidate with a deeper understanding of the relationship between the theories underpinning the practice of teaching English together with guided, purposeful observations of qualified and experienced tutors.

A course at this level should include specialist learning and involve detailed analysis of a high level of information and knowledge in TESOL. There should be guided purposeful observations by qualified and experienced tutors. This should amount to a minimum of eight hours, four of which should be live lessons and then others may be videoed lessons or lessons in which the trainees are foreign language learners. If the latter is the case there must be structured observation tasks.
Perspective:

    * The Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL courses provided by the Centres of The College should be available to native and near native English speakers whose first or second language is English.
    * Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL courses provided by the Centres of The College should be suitable for those who want to teach internationally.
    * The Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL provided by the Centres of The College should give the candidate practical knowledge of the theories and practical elements of contemporary English teaching practice.
    * The Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL provided by the Centres of The College are encouraged to be made available internationally through both distance and face-to-face learning methods.
    * An Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL provided by the Centres of The College makes candidates aware of the importance of further professional development throughout their career.
    * An Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL provided by the Centres of The College should reflect current approaches to TESOL.
    * An Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL provided by the Centres of The College should encourage the candidate to experience what it is like to be a language learner.
    * An Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL provided by the Centres of The College should provide the candidate with a deeper understanding about the relationship between the theories underpinning their practice.
    * An Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL provided by the Centres of The College should encourage candidates to develop self-evaluation techniques and record progress throughout their course.
    * An Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL course provided by the Centres of The College should ensure candidates learn valuable work-life skills and help them develop a successful career.
    * An Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL course provided by the Centres of The College should provide access to skills books for teaching reading, writing and listening; pronunciation books and the accompanying tapes; as well as vocabulary books.

Who is the qualification for?

The Associateship of Educational Studies ‘with’ Teaching Practice is designed for those candidates who require a theoretical and practical background to TESOL through a distance-learning or face-to-face programme so when stepping into the classroom will have very clear understanding of the rigours of teaching English to native and non-native speakers.

Each course will have its own entry requirements however The College recommends the following as a minimum:

    * The minimum age to enrol on an Associateship ‘with’ Teaching Practice course is 18.
    * Trainees should have appropriate skills in listening, spoken, reading and written English.

Course structure:

This Associateship of Educational Studies ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL can be covered two different ways:

    * A taught course (minimum 120 hours) plus 6-8 hours' observed teaching practice.
    * A distance-learning course (minimum 150 hours) plus 8 hours' observed teaching practice.

This Associateship of Educational Studies ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL can be presented in two different ways, face-to-face and distance-learning providers. There must be a minimum timetabled period of 30 hours for reading/research, completing assignments and preparing lessons, some of which may be scheduled before or after the timetabled course. There should be a minimum of 100 hours where a candidate is interacting with a trainer, either in input sessions, tutorials, counselling or feedback sessions.

Distance-learning providers may allow their participants 18 months to complete a course.
Assessment outcomes:

An Associateship of Educational Studies ‘with’ Teaching Practice TESOL will give a candidate the developed skills and knowledge with a strong foundation in TESOL.

From 30 July 2010 the above changes will be reflected in certification and all publications. Candidates currently holding the Advanced Certificate at Level 4 are advised to print a copy of this statement to attach to their certificate when seeking employment and/or further training opportunities.  Former candidates who have lost their Level 4 certificates will have to follow the usual procedures in applying for a replacement, and this will state Level 4 as this was the original level of their certificate.  All certificates for candidates whose courses ended on or after 30 July 2010 will receive Level 5 certificates. Diploma and Advanced Diploma candidates are not affected.