TESOL Releases New Standards for Short-Term Certificate Programs
(PRWEB) September 21, 2015 -- TESOL International Association, the largest professional association for English language educators, announces the release of Standards for Short-Term TEFL/TESL Certificate Programs. TESOL initiated the development of these standards in response to the proliferation of nondegree short-term programs around the world offering certificates in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) or teaching English as a second language (TESL). The standards are intended to provide a framework for organizations to use in developing, implementing, and evaluating short-term English language teacher training programs.
Many people starting in the field of teaching English as a second, foreign, or additional language pursue an entry-level credential through various short-term certificate programs. These independent short-term TESL/TEFL certificate programs vary widely in quality and rigor, however, because no single organization officially oversees them, TESOL International Association developed the standards to help certificate programs provide the professional training necessary to ensure that English language teachers can meet their students’ needs.
The Standards for Short-Term TEFL/TESL Certificate Programs are divided into three strands: organization and program management, curriculum and instruction, and candidate standards. In recognition of the diversity of contexts, the standards are prescriptive in areas vital to the maintenance of a successful program but flexible where necessary to allow programs to adapt to the needs of their teaching candidates.
“For many years, TESOL has fielded requests to evaluate short-term certificate programs,” noted Executive Director Rosa Aronson. “The association is pleased now to offer standards that program administrators can use to measure their programs and a tool to assist in improving the quality of instruction provided to teaching candidates.”
An overview of the standards can be found on TESOL’s website. Interested parties can purchase the standards and program assessment through TESOL’s online bookstore.
For more information on TESOL International Association’s standards in other areas, visit the TESOL website.
About TESOL International Association
Founded in 1966, TESOL International Association is a professional community of educators, researchers, administrators, and students committed to advancing excellence in English language teaching for speakers of other languages worldwide. With more than 13,000 members representing over 150 countries, TESOL fosters the exchange of ideas, research, and peer-to-peer knowledge, and provides expertise, resources, and a powerful voice on issues affecting the profession. Through professional development programs, its international conference, special interest groups, and publications, TESOL engages tens of thousands of professionals to collaborate globally and create a world of opportunity for millions of people of all ages who want to learn English. For more information, please visit http://www.tesol.org.
Barry Pilson, TESOL International Association, http://www.tesol.org, +1 703.518.2512, [email protected]
Share this article