Advanced Diploma TESOL and Advanced Diploma in TESOL with Teaching Practice

The single asterisked (*) items indicate the criteria for a Teaching Practice element, the addition of which changes the Advanced Diploma to an Advanced Diploma ‘with’  Teaching Practice. Course providers are expected to exceed the minimum requirements.

A: Entry profile

Successful applicants will have:
 
•    a degree or equivalent.
•    over 21 years of age.
•    two years'  relevant experience.
•    a competence in English, both written and spoken, that  enables them to follow the course as appropriate to a teacher of the language.**
 
**IELTS band 6.5 or above

B: Exit profile

A successful candidate at this level will be eligible for TESOL Teaching Qualified Status. Specifically the objectives of the course should enable a teacher at this level to demonstrate:

•    an in-depth understanding of English  language systems (grammar, lexis, phonology, discourse) commonly taught in  beginner to advanced syllabuses.
•    an ability to ascertain information about  the needs, background and motivation of the students.
•    an ability to employ  effective classroom management techniques. *
•    a knowledge of current  theories of language learning, (and their practical application in the  classroom). *
•    an in-depth understanding of current principles and  practices of ELT methodology.
•    an ability to use a range of effective  teaching techniques and activities appropriate to learners at a wide range of  levels. *
•    an ability to employ appropriate evaluation and assessment  techniques.
•    a knowledge of, and ability to use, a wide range of reference  resources.
•    a knowledge of, and ability to evaluate, select, adapt, create,  and use effectively, a wide range of teaching resources.
•    an ability to  design and execute plans for teaching over extended periods. *
•    an ability  to evaluate his/her own effectiveness as a teacher. *
•    an ability to play  his/her part as a professional colleague.
•    an ability to provide effective  support for teachers who have recently obtained a Level One qualification.
 
C: Length of course

Time tabled course hours:

•    a minimum of 150 hours.
•    there should be a  time tabled period of time to enable candidates to complete an additional 150  hours for the required reading/research, assignments and lesson  preparation.
•    some of this time may be scheduled before and/or after the timetabled course e.g. pre course reading and tasks, completion of assessed  elements.
 
Number of trainer contact hours:

•    a minimum of 120 hours where a candidate is interacting with a trainer, either in input sessions, tutorials,  counselling or feedback sessions.
•    if by distance learning mode - the  equivalent, using an appropriate combination of media: face-to-face interaction, video, internet etc.
 
Guided purposeful observation of qualified and experienced teachers:
•    A minimum of 10- 12 hours of which 4-6 should be live lessons.
•    The rest can be video based and/or peer observation.
 
D: Curriculum

English Language systems and their practical application to the level taught in advanced ELT syllabuses. The course will provide coverage of at least the following areas:
•    grammar.
•    vocabulary/lexis.
•    phonology.
•    discourse.
•    current principles and practices underlying a  wide range of methodological approaches.
•    current theories of language  learning and their practical application to the classroom.
•    classroom management.
•    materials and resources for reference and teaching  purposes.
•    current approaches to needs analysis, evaluation, monitoring and  assessment.
•    course organisation and planning for a range of teaching  contexts.
 
E: Assessment

The knowledge and skills specified in Curriculum will have been demonstrated.  Specifications to be made clear: the format, scope, course components assessed, and grading criteria:

•    A minimum of 10 – 12 hours of assessed teaching practice with genuine learners of which at least one hour to be externally assessed.  *
•    The practical teaching assessment to include planning, execution and ability to reflect on the lesson. *
•    Guidelines for judging a lesson of adequate standard to be available to the assessors/examiners. *
•    In assessing the quality of performance weighting given to the practical element must be no less than that given to the written element. *
•    Written work that demonstrates practical knowledge of those areas specified in Curriculum and which is externally moderated.
•    Internally assessed work to be assessed by more than one person.
•    There is to be a written examination of a minimum of three hours, which will be externally moderated.
•    Written work to meet standards of spelling, style and presentation appropriate for a teacher of English.
•    Steps must be taken to ensure that the written work is the candidate’s own the candidate must gain an overall pass in the written (and practical elements) * in order to gain the Level Two qualification.

Assignments which between them should cover the following:

•    Knowledge of the language systems.
•    Awareness of the theory underlying methodology.
•    Understanding of learners, their needs and their capacities.
•    Evaluation, monitoring and assessment.
•    Materials preparation and use.
•    Lesson and course planning.
 
F: Quality Assurance

1. The qualification will be validated by The College of Teachers:

•    The external validating /examining scheme must be independent of the course providers.
•    The standardisation and moderation procedures will follow the College’s procedures for the Associateship (which in turn follows standard HE practice).
•    The names, experience and qualifications of all chief examiners, moderators and external examiners will be approved by the Awards Committee.
•    Complaints and disagreements about the awarding or non-awarding of qualifications will be handled by The College’s appeal procedures.
•    Statistics on current and past examination results and number of candidates entered will be made available to the Awards Committee from time to time.
 
2.  To be eligible for accreditation, a qualification will have been in existence for at least two years, or evidence of at least two years’ piloting and evaluation will be available.
 
3. Course trainers will be approved by the Awards Committee and they and their Centre must become members or Institutional Members of The College thereby accepting its  Code of Professional Practice, which means that there is an ongoing programme of training and standardisation for all a Centre’s trainers.

Minimum requirements for main course trainers will normally be a TESOL Diploma qualification or its equivalent and five years’ recent and relevant teaching and training experience.

New trainers will undertake an appropriate induction programme, approved and monitored by the validating body, and which includes one or more of the following:

•    The observation of all or part of a course.
•    Briefing/training/mentoring by a trainer who has considerable experience of the course handbooks, guides and manuals.
 
4. The College reserves the right to make visits to ensure that the full programme is being delivered and that teaching and learning standards are being maintained.
 
5. Course entry requirements will be clearly specified in the pre-course publicity.

6. There will be clear specifications of the academic resources available to trainers and candidates:

•    A range of resource books for teachers which cover the areas specified in the curriculum.
•    A range of up-to-date teaching materials covering all relevant language areas and skills at  the levels covered by the curriculum.

7. There will be suitable and sufficient premises for the delivery of the course, including provision for private study where appropriate.
 
8. There will be effective measures for the evaluation of the course by participants and evidence that action is taken on areas where dissatisfaction is expressed.
•    Uses of mid- and post course questionnaires, focus groups etc.
•    An opportunity for participants to meet the assessor/examiner in order to give opinions on the course.
•    Checking by assessors /examiners that feedback from participants is acted upon by course providers where appropriate.
•    An external complaints procedure.
 
G: Standardisation Procedures

1.    Stated minimum requirements for all external assessors/moderators:

•    A TESOL Diploma Level qualification or its equivalent.
•    A minimum of five years’ experience as a teacher of English.
•    Recent/current experience as a trainer on courses at Level Two.
•    A record of professional development, e.g.  Attendance on INSETT courses and professional conferences.
 
2.    All examiners/assessors will be required to be up-to-date in developments and standards of the course.
•    Examiners/assessors to undergo appropriate  briefing/training on at least an annual basis
•    Evidence of the evaluation by examiners/assessors of the relevance and usefulness of training to be provided.
 
3. Effective induction procedures for new examiners/assessors successful completion of a training programme and/or guidelines which cover all relevant areas:
 
•    course content.
•    management.
•    administration.
•    assessment procedures.
 
3.    The performance of examiners/ assessors will be monitored. Examiners/assessors whose work or attendance at briefing/training events is unsatisfactory or infrequent will be removed from the panel.

•    performance records to be kept.
•    satisfactory feedback received from course  trainers.
•    course assessments to be moderated by a chief assessor/  examiner.
•    a selection of written assignments to be double marked.
•    all written examinations to be double marked.
 

On 5 July 2010 the Awards Committee further decided to combine the Diploma TESOL and the Advanced Diploma of Educational Studies TESOL (TCOT TESOL Level TWO) to make the qualification clearer to employers. The course which meets the requirements of a Level 6 (NQF) equivalent will be defined exclusively by Teacher Practice. For candidates that have still to complete their Diploma TESOL will be awarded an Advanced Diploma in TESOL at Level 6 (NQF) equivalent but will not receive the notation of ‘with Teaching Practice’.