More about Global Crossroad's TEFL - Greece Course

TEFL/TOSEL Greece is a 4-week residential course resulting in the receipt of the internationally recognized Certificate in Educational Studies in TESOL and Teaching Practice Certificate -accredited by the College of Teachers and held at our partner-center in Chania, Crete (Alkion Hotel).

Course Aims

The overall aim is to provide a thorough TEFL/TESOL course, which includes a balance between the theory and methodology of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), and to thoroughly prepare you for teaching in any abroad environment.

Arrival and Orientation

Upon arrival, you will be given a welcome pack consisting of various practical information such as: to how to get around the city (map, public transportation timetables, places of interest) local doctors who speak English, hairdressers, restaurants and shops where English is spoken, essential and emergency telephone numbers, cell phone information, etc. Additionally, our student coordinator will always be there to help you with their extensive local knowledge.

An Intensive Course

The Greece TEFL/TESOL course is both intensive and demanding. There is a lot to be learned about teaching and learning in just four (4) weeks. We are highly committed to producing the best teachers possible and will be working with you to ensure that your (and our) teaching meets the highest of standards. This means that during the course, you will be mainly concerned with various elements of lesson-planning, teaching, etc. In effect, available time for sight-seeing may be limited during the week but we have already prepared a relaxing social program for the duration of your stay with us. You will also need to sleep and eat properly to be able to cope with the stress of working long hours. Therefore, we recommend you leave any plans concerning extensive tourism until after the course. Having said this, it is our experience that if you follow our recommendations, you will be able to enjoy both the course and the sites. Very often, trainees comment that despite the hard work, they found the course to be an invaluably challenging and rewarding learning experience.

Weekly Schedule

This will normally consist of input sessions in the morning, followed by lesson preparations and teaching practice. You will observe demo lessons taught by your trainers - other trainees teach as well, in addition to yourself. This will allow you to learn from your peers. After teaching practice, a feedback session is held where both trainees and trainer sit together and exchange constructive criticism as well as reflect on the different lessons observed. The focus is on reflection as we believe this to be the most important component of the TEFL/TESOL course. What really matters - more than a great classroom-based performance - is for you to be able to reflect on your own and others' teaching experience and learn from it for your future development.

A typical weekly schedule may look like this:

09.00 am - 13.15 pm: Input sessions
13.15 pm - 14.30 pm: Lunch
14.30 pm - 16.30 pm: Preparation for teaching practice
17.00 pm - 18.30 pm: Teaching practice
18.30 pm - 19.30 pm: Feedback session

Course Outline and Contents

The TEFL/TESOL course consists of both theory lessons and teaching practice. In the theory lessons, an experienced teacher trainer will introduce you to a number of different methodologies and approaches in TEFL/TESOL. In these theory lessons, called "input sessions," you will also learn about the grammar and phonology/pronunciation of English as well as reflect on ways of reconciling theory and methodological principles with day-to-day classroom practice. Special workshops will also be held to provide an insight into teaching young learners, teaching Business English and teaching for examinations as well as how to adapt the general methodological principles relating to these specific situations. Both input sessions and workshops are designed so that you take part in dynamic activities and discussions where you are encouraged to actively participate and " learn through doing " - guaranteeing you will not be bored. Additionally, you will receive input on "professional development" in addition to learning about various career paths in TEFL/TESOL as well as ways of keeping abreast of new developments in the TEFL/TESOL world (symposiums, conferences, workshops, ELT magazines, websites, literature, etc).

The main components of the course are:

1. Study skills
2. The Study of English

• grammar
• pronunciation: phonetics, stress, rhythm and intonation
• lexis

3. The Teaching and Learning of ESOL

• basic principles: motivation, learning styles, communicative competence
• reading and listening skills
• speaking and writing skills
• visual aids
• errors and error-correction
• teaching young learners
• Business English
• testing

4. Lesson Planning

• lesson stages and plans
• lesson delivery
• classroom management

Classroom Practice

You will complete a minimum of six hours' teaching practice observations and feedback with real foreign language students - observed by the trainer. This will be followed by feedback sessions between the tutor and trainee. You will be graded on different aspects of your teaching performance, and receive an overall grade for the lesson. This practical side of the course will enable you to learn from first-hand experiences about the particularities of the TEFL/TESOL classroom and about Teaching English as a Foreign Language. This element will also equip you with the techniques and teaching tools needed to become a versatile TEFL/TESOL practitioner able to deal with a range of different teaching situations and environments when teaching English abroad.

Observation of Experienced Teachers

Apart from learning from your and your peers' teaching practice, as part of your TEFL/TESOL training you will be able to observe experienced teachers delivering lessons to the very students you will be teaching. These will normally be your own trainers and you will then have the privileged opportunity to learn from a professional in the field of TEFL/TESOL doing what they do best: teaching English as foreign language to a group of non-native English language speakers.

Unknown Foreign Language Course

As part of your TEFL/TESOL training, you will be asked to step into the shoes of a 'foreign' language learner and take a three-lesson course in a language unknown to you. This will give you the opportunity to see things from a student's perspective so that you can accurately identify a number of things which require addressing when teaching your lessons. The unknown language experience is often an eye-opener which sensitizes trainees to learner needs and develops their empathy towards the way students feel in the EFL/TESOL classroom. Trainees within these courses frequently comment on how much they learned from this experience, which they regard as one of the strongest aspects of the TEFL/TESOL course.

Assessment and Grading

The theoretical components of the TEFL/TESOL course are continually assessed - there are no written examinations. You will be given tasks throughout the course, which are submitted for assessment by your tutors. These tasks are graded and returned with comments and guidance for your development. The course sessions are always conducted in small groups with on-going support and instruction -- helping to ensure your successful completion of said course.
At Global Crossroad, we pride ourselves on personalized support and small groups; we are constantly available to offer individual support and coaching. Combined, these two elements ensure your success pertaining to the TEFL/TESOL course.

Upon successful completion of the course, trainees are awarded a certificate with one of the following grades:

A1 - Distinction
A2 - Excellent
B1 - Very good
B2 - Good
C - Pass

Course requirements

In order to earn a Certificate of Educational Studies in TESOL, candidates need to pass both the theoretical and practical course components of the TEFL/TESOL course. In addition, full attendance is required. This means you need to attend all scheduled input sessions and teaching practice slots. Exceptions can be made in case of illness verified by a doctor, in which case trainees normally have to make up for missed input sessions or teaching practice. This is normally arranged between the trainee and trainer or course director - maintaining the trainee's and the school's best interests at heart.

 Course Accreditation

For TESOL and TEFL courses to have international recognition, they need to be validated and accredited by an external, officiating body. Nowadays, The British Council ( www.britishcouncil.org ) is the primary organization which sets and safeguards the minimum standards for TEFL or TESOL courses and must meet acceptable qualifications to teach English as a foreign or second language in their accredited schools around the world.

The British Council recognizes any UK university, UCLES, Trinity College and The College of Teachers as valid accrediting bodies. Your success in finding a job can be hindered if your qualification is not accredited by one of these - especially if you aspire to teach in reputable schools where often the minimum requirements are a TEFL/TESOL accredited certificate.

Course Recognition

TEFL-Certification in Greece is accredited by the College Teachers in the UK . Therefore, each trainee receives a Certificate of Educational Studies in TESOL upon successful completion of the course.