J Tefl (Sqt) Courses

Course details

The ACET Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to Second Level Students (SQTs) is aimed at state qualified teachers who are interested in ELT in the junior sector attending summer courses in Ireland. It would also be beneficial to teachers who have overseas students attending state schools. The course is recognised by the Irish Department of Education (QQI/ACELS) and is subject to regular inspections. On completion of the course, a successful participant will be eligible to seek employment as a teacher of EFL to Juniors in a State Recognised Language School in Ireland.

Admission Requirements & Fees

In order to be eligible for entry onto this course, ACELS requirements are that the participants must:

• Have successfully completed a course of study leading to conferral of a B.Ed or H.Dip (Education). Applications must be accompanied by a copy of relevant qualifications.
• OR Have completed a course of study leading to a B.Ed. or H.Dip (Education) and are awaiting conferral of certification. Applications must be accompanied by a letter from the conferring institution attesting that the course of study has been completed and that results or certificate is/are pending.*
• OR Be in the process of doing a H.Dip (Education) course of be in their final year of a B.Ed. course. Applications must be accompanied by a letter from the conferring institution attesting that they are undertaking a H.Dip.Ed. or are in their final year of a B.Ed. course.*

* You will only be eligible to teach on Junior courses in recognised ELT organisations upon successful completion of your B.Ed./H.Dip. (Education) courses.

Acceptance of candidates is based on completion of the Application Form and completion of Pre-Course Task

The Pre-Course Task consists of a 250/300 word essay on ‘Reflections on Previous Learning Experience’. The purpose of this task is to provide you with an opportunity to reflect on previous learning experiences. The task must be completed and submitted along with completed application form in order to fulfil the entry requirements.

Course Programme

In line with QQI/ACELS requirements, the course is 40 hours+ in duration and includes:

• A minimum of 30 programmed hours face-to-face contact between course trainers and participants
• The maximum number of participants on any course is 24

Course Assessment

The participants are assessed throughout the course and are required to complete 2 assignments, a peer/team teaching activity and an end of course exam. It is necessary to complete each separate component in order to pass and retakes are not permitted. In addition, all participants are required to have a minimum 95% attendance. Participants are regularly informed of their progress through feedback from trainers on the course.

Post-Course Certification Requirements

Following the successful completion of the course, participants are required to undertake and pass a supervised teaching component (STC). This usually takes place in the participant’s first teaching post in a recognised organisation. It needs to be completed, under the supervision of the Director of Studies or Principal, within three years of completion of the input course. An STC Report will be completed by the supervisor, signed and endorsed and sent to ACELS where the teacher is then registered and fully enfranchised. The teacher retains the original certificate and report.

Outline of Course Content

• Overview of Junior EFL Sector in Ireland: Learning about the learners, looking at students’ needs and interests, developing programmes of learning and looking at inter cultural awareness.
• Communicative Language Teaching Approach: Looking at practical/functional activities such as role plays, information gap activities and other communicative tasks and projects.
• Lesson Planning: Course participants learn to set learning objectives and integrating skills as well as selecting and adapting material.
• Classroom Management: The organisation of lessons (e.g. the setting up of classroom activities, giving instructions, eliciting information, concept checking, board-work and interaction patterns).
• Language Awareness: Introducing basic concepts of language analysis and use (e.g. tenses, parts of speech, form and function
• Teaching Skills: Course participants will look at receptive (reading & listening) and productive (speaking & writing) skills.
• Dealing with Vocabulary: Course participants are introduced to a variety of methods of presenting and recording vocabulary. Look at techniques to develop learner independence and autonomy.
• Materials Selection & Adaptation: Course participants have the opportunity to evaluate a variety of materials using a range of selection criteria. The course also deals with adapting authentic material suitable for use with Junior students.
• Evaluation: Participants are introduced to methods of testing and evaluating students. Also look at error correction and feedback techniques.

Course Attendance Requirements

According to ACELS guidelines, trainees are required to attend a minimum of 95% of the face-to-face input sessions. In addition, the required tasks and assignments must all be completed before a certificate will be issued.

We keep a strict record of trainee attendance, punctuality and participation and these will be commented upon in the final report. Those who attend less than 95% of the input sessions are deemed not to have met the attendance specifications and cannot be awarded a certificate.

Absences in excess of 5% may only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Applications for ‘exceptional absence’ have to be submitted in writing to the Course Director; a decision will be taken on a case by case basis. Applications must be supported with appropriate documentation.