The SIT TESOL Certificate Course for English Language Teacher Training

The Embassy of the United States of America Offers

Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The Embassy of the United States of America in Managua is offering a training opportunity for qualified Nicaraguan English Language Teachers, to be held in the School for International Training (SIT) in Centro Espiral Mana, Costa Rica. The program is a one-month intensive training course for high intermediate/advanced teachers.  The participants successfully completing the course will receive a SIT TESOL Certificate in TESOL.

Overview

The SIT Graduate Institute TESOL Certificate is a 160-hour course which provides participants with professional knowledge and skills in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) as well as tools for their own reflection and growth as teachers. This innovative course curriculum is based on humanistic, experiential, and progressive teaching. The SIT TESOL Certificate is recognized worldwide.

The course provides practical training through teaching demonstrations, lesson planning and analysis, and practice teaching and feedback. Participants develop skills in teaching, speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar and culture. The course begins with a brief look at second language acquisition through the experience of being a learner. Participants then examine specific teaching areas each day, which they apply in their daily practice teaching of adult ESOL learners. Participants gain skills in analysis through examining their lessons with SIT teacher trainers. There is a maximum trainer-participant ratio of 7 to 1.

The SIT TESOL Certificate focuses on three main areas:

Learning Participants engage in a language-learning experience in order to explore the relationship between language learning, teaching, and aspects of second language acquisition from the point of view of the learner. This experience provides the foundation for the examination of teaching practices.

Teaching Participants examine the theory and practice of planning, teaching, grammar, culture, and assessing lessons in the four skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) through experiential activities, teaching demonstrations, discussions, lesson planning, materials development, and readings.

Classroom  Practice Participants put their new knowledge and skills into practice through daily teaching sessions. Trainers observe and facilitate feedback sessions after these lessons. Participants learn to reflect on and assess their own teaching as well as to examine the teaching of their peers.

Course Goals and Objective

Goals

By the end of the course, each participant will be able to plan, teach and evaluate an ESOL lesson using current theory from second language acquisition theory and their own experiences.

Objectives

By the end of the course, each participant will be able to:

1. Plan a lesson according to the framework provided.
2. Write specific, measurable and achievable learning objectives for his or her students.
3. Design experiences to help students encounter and clarify the meaning, form, use of language or language skill.
4. Design experiences to help students remember, internalize and fluently use the target language and skill in real communication.
5. Assess students’ progress in meeting the learning objectives.
6. Describe and assess their own teaching and make appropriate changes based on their own beliefs and current SLA theory.
7. Develop confidence in his or her ability to teach ESOL.

Requirements for Selection

• Nicaraguan citizens living in Nicaragua
• Highly motivated English teachers with 3 years of teaching experience in a Nicaraguan educational institution and commitment to future teaching career
• Excellent command of English (minimum 520 TOEFL score)
• Candidates passing the initial selection must complete a telephone interview with the SIT Center staff

Requirements for Receiving the Certificate

Each participant must:

1. Attend all of the course sessions.
2. Participate positively in all aspects of the course.
3. Communicate effectively in oral and written English.
4. Successfully achieve in oral and written English.
5. Complete all student teaching requirements:
   • Plan and teach lessons
   • Assess effectiveness of lessons
   • Work in a group
6. Successfully complete all course assignment. These include:
   • Three Reflective Essays
   • Three Extended Lesson Reflections
   • One Course Portfolio
   • One Inspiration Kit

Funding:

All costs for tuition, materials, and room and board are covered during the course. Bus fare, health insurance and incidentals will be jointly shared between the participant and the U.S. Embassy, Managua.

Download Application here

Available sessions:

• November 13- December 10, 2011
• January 15 – February 10, 2012
• February 26 – March 24, 2012
• April 29 –May 26, 2012

Application Deadline: November 25, 2011. (October 28, 2011 for 1^st session starting on November 13, 2011)

Applications can be sent electronically to: ChavarriaLM@state.gov

For More Information, Please contact:

Leda Chavarria
(English Language Coordinator)
Phone: 2252 7100 Ext. 7684
Mobile: 8806 9543
E-mail: ChavarriaLM@state.gov