TEFL Certification Course in Ciudad Guzman, Mexico

  Mexico

• Other Cities in Mexico: 
Ciudad Guzman

Length of Position: 4 weeks - 120 hours

Description: The course is made up of the following three components:

1. Teaching Skills and Classroom Management

1.1 Training Sessions

You are required to attend all input sessions. These are facilitated by Via Lingua trainers. Input sessions are compulsory and cover issues which will be helpful in relation to work in the classroom. The sessions are conducted in a way which promotes active learning and encourages you to reflect on you past and current experiences, your progress on the course, established literature and relevant research findings.

1.2 The Observation of Experienced Teachers

At the beginning of the course, you will have the opportunity to observe a minimum of three lessons taught by qualified and experienced teachers. You will be required to make notes on the lessons and will be provided with a series of questions to guide your observations. Additional opportunities to observe experienced teachers may be provided at later stages of the course.

1.3 The Observation of Peers

Trainees normally teach in pairs, sharing a ninety-minute lesson. Each trainee teaches for 45 minutes and observes his / her partner for 45 minutes. The trainee observer is required to make brief notes about the teaching partner and offer insights during the post-lesson feedback session.

1.4 Teaching Practice with Groups

During the first week of the course you will be required to teach at least one forty-five-minute lesson. Thereafter, you will teach between two and three forty-five-minute lessons in weeks two, three and four of the course. You will teach a minimum of ten lessons with groups of students from at least three different levels of competence in English. It maybe possible for you to teach additional lessons or for some of the lessons to be sixty minutes in length. The trainers will advise you on the materials you will use and will ensure that there is a balance of lesson types, levels and sources of material (both commercially produced and authentic materials.)

All teaching practices with classes will be observed by trained and well-qualified staff and you will receive group or individual feedback from them at the end of the lesson. The first two teaching practices with groups will not be graded. Thereafter, this type of lesson will be graded. All training staff are required to work to the same principles with regard to language teaching. However, the practical advice you receive may differ from trainer to trainer because individual members of staff will each have their own preferred style of working. The diversity of idea should be seen as a bonus rather than as inconsistency.

1.5 The Individual Student Teaching Project

In addition to the teaching practices with groups, you will also be required to work with an individual student for two sixty-minute lessons. The work with an individual student will not be observed but you will be required to produce a comprehensive report on the sessions before the end of the course. This will be graded.

1.6 Guided Lesson Preparation Time

The training team will offer you extensive support during guided lesson preparation time. As the course progresses, you will be expected to become less dependent on the support of the training staff and to demonstrate your ability to work more independently.

1.7 Unknown Language Study

You are required to attend three one-hour sessions where you will learn a previously unknown language. The lessons enable you to experience the emotions felt by students of English as a Foreign Language and to be introduced to techniques for working with beginners.
You are required to attend three one-hour sessions where you will learn a previously unknown language. The lessons enable you to experience the emotions felt by students of English as a Foreign Language and to be introduced to techniques for working with beginners.

2. LANGUAGE AWARENESS

2.1 Analyzing Communication

You are required to attend a session which considers the issues relating to effective communication.

2.2 Grammar Awareness

You are required to attend training sessions which focus on developing your awareness of English Grammar. A variety of basic topics are covered, providing you with a solid foundation in relation to grammar awareness. The sessions are facilitated in such a way that you will develop skills in relation to the analysis of language as well as enhancing your knowledge base. Opportunities are provided to review appropriate teaching materials and activities and to reflect on the common errors which students make. You will also be provided with opportunities to engage in peer teaching activities in order to experiment with strategies for teaching grammar. Your development in this component is assessed in a number of ways, including the use of a final test.

2.3 Phonology

You are required to attend training sessions which focus on developing your awareness of the phonology of English. This is linked closely to the teaching of pronunciation. Your development in this component is assessed in a number of ways, including the use of a final test.
You are required to attend training sessions which focus on developing your awareness of the phonology of English. This is linked closely to the teaching of pronunciation. Your development in this component is assessed in a number of ways, including the use of a final test.

3. PERSONAL SKILLS AND QUALITIES

3.1 Observation of and interaction with trainees

This is an area in which potential employers are frequently interested. Not only are they seeking well-qualified teachers, but employees who exhibit a range of personal skills and qualities. They are looking for well-motivated teachers who are intelligent, hard-working, punctual, aware of student needs, good at working both independently and cooperatively, well-organized, able to meet deadlines and trustworthy. The ability to communicate effectively, engage in self-reflection and establish good rapport with students is of equal importance. During the course, trainers seek to demonstrate and encourage the development of these personal skills and qualities and to identify and record evidence of the trainees' accomplishments.

3.2 The Trainee File and the Self-Assessment Tasks

You are required to maintain a file which acts as a record of your development on the course. Clear guidelines in relation to the content of the file are provided and the file represents the main body of evidence which trainers can draw upon when assessing your grade for the Personal Skills and Qualities component. During the course you are required to complete six self-assessment tasks which are added to the file and form the basis for discussions with the trainers.

3.3 Individual Progress Sessions

You will meet with a trainer on a number of occasions during the course in order to discuss your progress. The self-assessment tasks will form the basis for part of this dialogue.
You will meet with a trainer on a number of occasions during the course in order to discuss your progress. The self-assessment tasks will form the basis for part of this dialogue.

Highlights: Known as "the cradle of great artists", Ciudad Guzmán is nestled snuggly between two mountain ranges and overlooked by the extinct "snow" volcano, El Nevado de Colima, and its sister volcano, El Volcan de Fuego (Fire Volcano), the most lively of the 22 active volcanoes in Mexico. It enjoys an ideal geographical location, in a beautiful area mid-way between Guadalajara and the beautiful Pacific coast.

Guadalajara, Mexico's second largest city, is about 60 miles to the north-east, and its modern, excellent international airport is less than two hours drive away. For all students attending the TEFL course, personal pick-up at the airport and transfer to Ciudad Guzmán will be arranged.

Ciudad Guzmán is a city rich in history and traditions, where old and new come together to make the perfect background for anyone wanting to gain valuable cultural experience while obtaining the skills and international certification they need to become a successful EFL teacher.

Qualifications:
* Native English Speaker or proof of English proficiency for non-native speakers
* University degree recommended but not essential

Cost in US$: 1500 USD / 1065 EUR

* Pick-up and hotel transfer from the point of arrival in Chania, Crete
* Welcome lunch and orientation tour
* All materials and tuition for the 4-week course, including examination fee
* Use of all facilities at the school (including unlimited internet access and kitchen/laundry facilities)
* Weekly Greek lessons
* Graduation lunch

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Mexico Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 10 maximum

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

Via Lingua International LLC's Mission Statement: Via Lingua Crete aspires to train high-quality teachers using the latest teaching methodologies. An important element of our course is experiential learning and all sessions involve task-based interactions. We are also proud to help our trainees develop self-reflective skills in their evaluation of their own teaching and learning.

Year Founded: 2000