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.

The College of Teachers will offer all TCOT TESOL Level One courses at level 5 (NQF) equivalent as Associateship TESOL and Associateship TESOL 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 candidates 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.
• Candidates should have appropriate skills in listening, spoken, reading and written English.
• Candidates will have a standard of education which would allow entry to higher education.

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 a minimum 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.