Diploma Course description

The four units of the Trinity course

• Unit one: Grammar, Learning and Teaching,  Professional  Development
  A written paper taken in Barcelona or other Trinity approved centre. (There are centres in most parts of the world). The paper is 3 hours long and consists of a grammar section and choice of essay questions on learning and teaching and professional development. Our course prepares you to sit the exam in August, but you can opt for a different date if you feel you are not ready.

• Unit two: A portfolio of three projects
  These involve observation of other trained teachers, reflection on one’s own teaching and a research project of your choice related to an area of ELT which interests you. You work on the portfolio throughout the course, guided by a tutor. It is assessed by your course tutors and moderated by a Trinity examiner.

• Unit three: Phonology
  An oral interview on phonetics and phonology (30 mins). This is conducted by a Trinity examiner.

• Unit four: Teaching Practice
  Classroom demonstration of your teaching (60 mins) followed by a discussion of the lesson with the examiner (20 mins). You will also present a portfolio of 4  lessons which will have been observed and assessed by OxfordTEFL tutors. For this part of the exam you will be teaching students at OxfordTEFL in Barcelona.

Course Content

What the course covers and how it relates to the four areas of assessment for the Trinity Diploma.

For Unit One - The Written Exam

To prepare you for the written exam you will participate in on-line modules using our virtual classroom, and face-to-face revision sessions during the intensive teaching block. Modules include pre-reading, group and pair tasks, which often include live interaction, reflection on your teaching, discussion forums and short written tasks. In addition you will be required to do regular grammar and essay practice in preparation for the written exam, with feedback from tutors.

Here are some examples of the areas covered by questions in Part One of the Trinity Exam, which will be covered in your modules and reading.

• Grammar
  Linguistic analysis, which will improve your understanding of learners' difficulties and the nature of the English language and how it works, including an analysis of syntax, lexis and discourse.

• Language Learning and Teaching
  An in-depth look at the major theories of language learning and teaching which have influenced materials and teaching styles. An analysis of developments such as learner training, multiple intelligences, task-based learning and the lexical approach, which encourages you to reflect on your own practice and work towards developing it. Optional modules on teaching Young Learners, ESP and EAP are included here.

• English in the World
  Here you will develop your global view of English, looking at students' needs, economic and political influences on language use, models and varieties of English and issues relating to teacher training and development.

• Teacher Development and Teacher Training
  We look at how teachers develop themselves, and the role of more experienced teachers in helping others to develop through workshops, in house training and formal teacher training courses.

• Classroom Practice
  Here we look at the nitty-gritty of what we do in the classroom, including areas such as teaching the four skills, classroom management, error correction and teacher talk.

For Part Two - Coursework Portfolio and Project

There are three tasks here. The first involves you observing 10 hours of teaching by colleagues and other experienced teachers using an observation tool which you have devised.

The second task is a developmental record of your own teaching and requires you to monitor an aspect of your own teaching over a total of 15 hours of class time.

The third task is a short written research project.  You can write about something which you are interested in relating to areas such as teaching, learning, management or professional development. 

To guide you on the projects we have modules on the course dedicated to each task and individual tutorials where your tutor discusses plans, prompts you with ideas, gives feedback on drafts, and advises on background reading.

For Part Three - Phonology

Modules and workshops in this area of the course include the study of such areas as rhythm, stress, intonation, weak forms and individual sounds and how they relate to teaching.

You will become "fluent" in using phonemic script and increase your awareness of teaching techniques and strategies. The 30-minute interview with the Trinity examiner to assess this area of the course will include the presentation of a prepared topic of your choice, as well as a discussion of phonology in theory and in the classroom. Mock interviews with our expert tutors will help you prepare.

For Part Four - Classroom Teaching

Our trainers will observe your teaching and give you feedback during the course, encouraging you to develop your ability to reflect on your own teaching, and provide constructive feedback to fellow teachers. Teaching practice can be completed here in our Barcelona centre or if your centre has 4 or more candidates presenting for the Diploma, we can do the asssessment in your school. A team of tutors will come to you. This teaching will be observed and discussed with your tutor, and you will be given plenty of support with the Trinity criteria for the evaluation.

Four one-hour lessons will be assessed by your tutors and a fifth one-hour lesson will be externally assessed by a Trinity examiner.

For more information on our Trinity TESOL Diploma course, please don't hesitate to contact us, and a member of our team will be happy to answer you.

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