Award-Winning TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Certification Training in Algonquin, IL

Varsity Tutors can enroll you in a supplemental TESOL certification training program designed to help you further your career as an English teacher. TESOL is a professional certification offered by a number of universities and private language companies. It's commonly sought after by educators who specialize in teaching English to non-native speakers and often used to validate one's proficiency at teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL). Earning a TESOL certification is useful for a number of reasons. It can open a lot of professional doors, giving you access to a broader network of jobs around the world. In some cases, you might even be required to hold a TESOL certification (or an equivalent) in order to be considered for a job, or in some countries, to meet the visa requirements.

If you've done any research on teaching English to non-native speakers, you might have come across something called the TESOL certificate. While its name looks similar to the TESOL certification, they're completely different programs. The TESOL certificate is offered by an organization known as the TESOL International Association. This group is a professional organization that offers premium resources that can help you further your careers as an ESL teacher, as well as several TESOL International Association certificate programs that are completely independent of the TESOL certification. With that said, both programs are designed to help career-oriented teachers further their skills in teaching ESL. Regardless of whether you're looking for help preparing for the TESOL certification or one of the TESOL International Association certificate programs, Varsity Tutors can help. Read further to see how we can assist you with preparing for a TESOL certification course.

Is There Anything I Need to Know Before Taking a TESOL Certification Class?

If you want to receive a TESOL certification, you'll first be required to complete a TESOL program offered by an accredited institution. As a general rule, these programs don't require participants to take a comprehensive final exam in order to pass. Instead, you'll be expected to demonstrate your skills in teaching, lesson planning, and classroom management in a classroom environment.

It's also important to know that TESOL certification programs are neither standardized nor are they administered by a single governing body. Many different universities and language academies offer TESOL certification, and while these programs generally cover the same content, they're not completely identical. For example, some programs are short and only run for a few weeks, while others last for multiple semesters. As a general rule, programs offered by universities tend to last between two and four semesters.

Even the prerequisites for receiving a TESOL certification can vary from one institution to another. Some programs require nothing more than a high school degree or GED, while others may require you to possess a bachelor's degree. Be sure to research the requirements of the organizations you're interested in before applying.

With that said, there's one thing you can expect from a TESOL certification program, regardless of which institution you choose: the practicum. It's standard for participants to teach non-native English speakers at some point during the program. In other words, you'll be expected to teach one or more open lessons, and you will be evaluated by your lecturers based on how well you perform during these lessons. This can be intimidating for anyone, even the most experienced educators. Fortunately, you can brush up on your teaching skills by enrolling in a supplemental TESOL certification class before the time.

What Are Some of the Advantages That Come With Completing TESOL Certification Course Provided By Varsity Tutors?

Our TESOL certification course is a supplemental class designed to help you prepare for an official TESOL program. Your lessons will be covered by a professional instructor who has experience teaching English to non-native speakers and is familiar with the structure of various TESOL certification programs. Participating in these courses allows you to learn new pedagogical approaches that can make your lessons fun and engaging. Every lesson covers a different topic related to teaching ESL, with the general structure of the course aligning with your in-class TESOL program. Follow along in a collaborative learning environment as you look at different ways to teach grammar, help students improve their pronunciation, and plan activities that leave pupils feeling excited and fulfilled.

Above everything else, the aim of our TESOL certification class is to help people learn how to become more effective teachers. Because you'll be studying alongside others pursuing the same TESOL certification, you've got the opportunity to collaborate with your peers at any point during the lessons. On top of that, these lessons are also a great way to get you thinking like a teacher. Your instructor can teach you how to sharpen your analytical and critical thinking skills, so you're able to consider multiple perspectives when problem-solving. This can help when dealing with students who struggle to understand your lessons.

What Are Some Topics Covered During TESOL Certification Training?

Since TESOL programs don't typically have comprehensive tests, our TESOL certification training courses aren't set up to prepare you for a final exam. Instead, they're designed to help you improve your teaching skills so you're better equipped for your practicum. What's more, your instructor is able to cover a number of helpful topics that can aid you in becoming an effective ESL teacher. Want to learn more? Let's take a look at some of the material featured in TESOL certification courses.

Part of being an effective teacher is learning how to engage your students, and being able to do that means learning how to plan lessons. There are a number of reasons why you should set aside some time during the week to lesson plan. It gives you the chance to think about your students' needs and preferred learning styles. From there, you can start incorporating a number of different activities into your lessons so that you're able to connect with more students. This can help keep students engaged and having fun as they study English, which usually makes them more open to participating in classroom activities. If you'd like to learn how to create better lessons, our TESOL certification training courses can help. You can explore new ideas for activities, look at different ways to engage with students from different age groups, and even explore ways you can integrate real-world material into your lessons for a more authentic language-learning experience. Because you're participating in a collaborative environment, you'll have the chance to share ideas with your peers. Everyone in the course is pursuing the same TESOL certification as you, and some may already have some teaching experience under their belt. That means you can learn new perspectives, techniques, and teaching philosophies that you can draw upon when interacting with ESL students from different backgrounds.

Another important skill that every educator should have is good classroom management. Unruly students take away from everyone's learning experience, and you need to know how to handle them in a way that doesn't escalate the situation. It doesn't matter whether you're teaching kindergarten, elementary-aged students, teens, or adults, there's probably going to come a time when you'll encounter a disruptive student. The way you choose to handle this situation will impact the way students perceive your lessons. If you're too lenient, you could lose control of the classroom. This is something you especially want to avoid when teaching ESL, as it typically means that your students will revert back to their first language rather than practice their English skills in class. However, if you're too strict, you could scare or anger your students. This can also be a problem because when students don't feel comfortable, they typically don't like to participate. A TESOL certification training instructor can teach you how to handle disruptive students in a way that doesn't take away from the learning experience. You can learn several different methods to help get students back on track. Sometimes solving a problem student is as simple as paring them with a partner who can help them, or implementing activities that work with their preferred learning style. With the help of our courses, you can learn how to assess the situation on a case-by-case basis, identifying the needs of the disruptive student and looking at how you can help them succeed.

Of course, classroom management and proper lesson planning aren't the only teaching skills you need to know. Good ESL teachers also need to know how to teach the following five language skills effectively: speaking, listening, reading, writing, and pronunciation. Unless you're working as a self-employed ESL teacher, you probably have a textbook curriculum that informs you on how to teach these different skills. While it's important to follow the curriculum, understand that not everyone benefits from standardized material. People learn differently, and the only way that you're going to be able to engage with all of your students is by adopting a multifaceted teaching approach that speaks to multiple learning styles. If you need ideas of how you can diversify your teaching methods, our TESOL certification training class can help. Every lesson gives you the chance to learn an alternative approach to teaching. Pay attention to how your instructor engages everyone in your class, and try to replicate some of those same methods in your personal lessons. Also, don't hesitate to ask your instructor for advice when needed. They can recommend supplemental material you can introduce into your English classes, give you tips for adapting games and activities so they fit with the theme of your current lessons, and offer advice on how to incorporate multiple teaching styles into your activities. Over time, you can learn how to take almost any popular activity and transform it into a game that targets a specific skill, like listening or pronunciation––and once you're able to do that, you'll be better equipped to help all your students improve their English skills, even the ones who've struggled to get ahead.

A lot of ESL teachers find grammar to be one of the most difficult subjects to teach. For starters, native English speakers learn grammar differently than non-native speakers. While you probably learned complex grammar rules at some point during grade school, chances are, you've forgotten the specifics of the different verb tenses. You probably know what's correct by how it sounds, and you automatically pick up on the nuances between tenses like present perfect and past perfect, but you may not know the specific rules off the top of your head. As you already know, ESL students don't learn this way. They don't know what sounds right or wrong and need to know the rules to avoid making any mistakes. Sometimes, they just want to know why a certain verb is irregular or why we use the present perfect tense to talk about events in the past. Unless you've studied English grammar or you already have experience teaching it, you probably don't know how to answer these questions off the top of your head. Don't worry, most English speakers don't. But you can learn how to teach grammar more effectively through our TESOL certification training courses. Follow along as your instructor shows you how to demystify grammar using diagrams and easy-to-understand explanations. Learn how to introduce complex grammar rules in a way that doesn't overwhelm and confuse your students, and explore various ways to connect grammar rules with concepts students have already mastered. If you can help students overcome their challenges with grammar, you can remove one of the biggest barriers preventing them from participating in class––the fear of making a mistake.

Will I Be Able to Fit a TESOL Certification Training Class Into My Busy Schedule?

We understand that you've got other obligations. Between school, work, and personal responsibilities, most people don't have the time to take a training course on top of their other obligations. That's why we've tried to make our training program as flexible as possible. Let's look at some ways you can participate in this program without overworking yourself.

One of the ways we tried to make our lessons more convenient is by adding multiple courses throughout the week. When you register for a TESOL certification training program, you'll have the option of choosing between several available courses. Each course meets on a different day and time during the week. Choose the time slot that works best for you. That'll be the time you meet for lessons.

You'll also notice that we offer two different types of courses, a two-week and four-week course. Pick which course you want to enroll in based on your own needs and preferences. Both courses cover the same content and have the same amount of hours, but the two-week version is more intensive. It's usually the preferred choice for people who're looking to complete our program as soon as possible. If you have a particularly busy schedule or you'd rather spread your material out over a longer period of time, the four-week TESOL certification training course can offer a more relaxed learning experience.

Did you know that our courses give you the freedom to study from anywhere? The last thing most people want to do at the end of the day is to spend more time sitting in traffic. You already spend enough time traveling to and from work or school, which is why we've chosen to host our lessons online through the Live Learning Platform. This gives you the opportunity to study anywhere that's comfortable for you. Choose to collaborate with your peers and instructor from the comfort of your own home, from the library, or at your favorite coffee house. It's completely up to you. All you need to get started is a reliable internet connection and a computer or portable device. Also, don't think that the lessons are any less engaging just because they're online. Our courses are 100% live, giving you access to lectures in real-time using smart tools like virtual whiteboards and video chat. That way, you can participate in activities, ask questions, and collaborate with your classmates in a learning environment that simulates traditional classroom lessons.

How Can I Get Started?

Now that we've looked at some of the benefits that come with our TESOL certification courses, let's look at how you can get set up. If you'd like to participate in a collaborative learning environment that helps prepare you for your TESOL practicum while also teaching you how to be a well-rounded ESL teacher, we can help. All you have to do is contact Varsity Tutors and speak with one of our educational consultants about the TESOL certification training course. We're available to answer any additional questions you may have about the program. If you do decide to register, we'll place you in the next available course that aligns with your current schedule. If you're not able to find time to study right now, don't worry. New courses open up at the beginning of every month, so you'll always be able to join one of our courses at a time that works best for you.