-Nationally Accredited Course-

Download: QAL TESOL handbook 2010

Download: QAL TESOL brochure 2008

Certificate IV is designed to give students a broad understanding of the theory and practice of language teaching and learning.

Course Outcomes

The overall intention of this course is to help prepare the participants for the task of assisting others to learn English as a second or foreign language. However the potential vocational outcomes of the course for participants will depend upon the participants pre-existing qualifications and experience.

Outcome A:

Participants who do not enter the course with the previous level of qualification or experience outlined under Outcome B below will be able to teach English as a Second / Foreign Language in a less demanding and less professional capacity. For example:

• to groups of visiting students on short term study tours
• to small groups of migrants in a supervised and limited capacity for the development of general English skills
• to overseas students on an individual tuition or small group tutorial basis
• overseas in institutions not governed by Australian standards where predominantly conversation English teaching is required.

Outcome B:

For participants who enter the course with either a recognised general teaching qualification or a recognised degree or diploma and at least 800 hours of classroom teaching experience (eg. in general TAFE teaching, or, overseas English teaching experience, etc)

The outcome will be that they will be able to teach English as a Second or Foreign Language in a professional capacity eg. as an ELICOS teacher (ELICOS = English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students).

With respect to this outcome (where participants have the necessary pre-course qualifications and / or experience) this course is written to meet the minimum contact hours and practice teaching requirements of being a TESOL qualification as given by the National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme (NEAS). The NEAS guidelines state that the requirements for a TESOL qualification are a course comprising of:

1. content focused on English language, language learning, TESOL teaching;
2. a practical component including at lease six hours supervised and assessed practice teaching in TESOL;
3. no less that 100 contact hours in total devoted to (i) and (ii) above, or its equivalent in Distance Education Programs.

Competency Standards

This Course requires participants to meet the Train Small Groups Unit (BSZ404A) competencies of the National Package for Assessment and Workplace Training as a part of the Practice Teaching experience provided by the course.

Participants should consider completing the full Assessment and Workplace Training Competencies if they intend teaching on more professional level or in a more full time capacity in a competency based training environment.