TEAL Training
Training, Professional Development and Certification
Throughout the year there are a number of opportunities for people who want training to teach EAL or provide settlement support to immigrants.
Teaching EAL (TEAL) to adults is a field of educational expertise with its own body of professional knowledge and skills. Programs generally look for a combination of training and experience when hiring staff. People who want to become Adult EAL teachers can earn TEAL certificates or degrees from several post-secondary institutions in Manitoba. For practicing teachers there are also a number of professional development (PD) opportunities offered each year through professional organizations. People who volunteer with EAL students can also participate in special training sessions offered throughout the year.
Training sessions for people working in the settlement field may also be available each year.
Teacher Education Opportunities
Here are a variety of courses and programs for individuals in Manitoba interested in becoming ESL teachers. The following information is a brief summary of those teacher education opportunities. For more information, contact the programs directly.
The University of Manitoba:
1. The Faculty of Education of the U of M offers courses at three levels of study. The Bachelor of Education (B. Ed.) offers six elective courses in TESL, and encourages B. A. Linguistics courses. The Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Education (PBCE) allows for a concentration of TESL courses. And the Master of Education (M.Ed.) provides for a major in TESL for experienced ESL teachers to take advanced courses and to do research and development in TESL. For more information and/or an application, Phone: (204) 474-9042 or (204) 474-9079.
In addition to the above course, the U of M Faculty of Education works in partnership with Continuing Education to offer a Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (CTESL). This certificate program of five courses is intended to provide initial preparation for teaching ESL or EFL. For more information, contact U of M Continuing Education at (204) 474-8190 or Faculty of Education at (204) 474-9042.
2. The Universities of Manitoba, Alberta, Calgary, Saskatchewan and Victoria have formed a consortium and collaborated on the design and delivery of a Certificate in Adult and Continuing Education program, which offers campus-based and distance education courses. Included in the certificate program are a variety of elective TESL courses. For more information on admission and program content, contact:
The University of Manitoba (204) 474-6685 or toll free in Manitoba 1-888-216-7011 ext. 6685.
The University of Alberta (403) 492-1501 or 492-7237.
The University of Calgary (403) 220-4725 or 220-4728.
The University of Saskatchewan (306) 966-5562.
The University of Victoria (604) 721-8737 or 721-7860.
The University of Winnipeg (204) 786-9491
1. The University of Winnipeg offers a variety of TESL and related courses through its Bachelor of Education program and its Faculty of Arts and Science. For more information, phone (204) 786 – 9491.
Providence College and Seminary
1. Providence College and Seminary, located in Otterburne, Manitoba, offers a Certificate of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CTESOL). The certificate can be taken for undergraduate or graduate level credit. The program can be completed in one year of full-time study by those without Bible College training. Those who hold appropriate Bible College credits can complete the one month intensive training program that is offered in both June and August or by attending classes at the College during the regular semester.
2. Providence College and Seminary also offers a BA in Intercultural Studies which has a concentration in TESOL, as well as an
MA in Educational Ministries and an MA in Global Christian Studies which have concentrations in TESOL.
For more information, write the registrar, Providence College and Seminary, Otterburne, Manitoba, R0A 1G0. Phone (204) 433 – 7488.
The University of Saskatchewan
1. The University of Saskatchewan offers a distance education Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (CERTESL). This is a home study program designed to meet the instructional needs of current and prospective teachers of ESL. For more information, contact the CERTESL Program, Extension Credit Studies, 326 Kirk Hall, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W0. Phone (306) 966 – 5563.
Professional Organizations
Professional organizations provide a vital opportunity for those interested in teaching EAL to meet colleagues, explore areas of interest and further develop their professional expertise. The following organizations address the needs of EAL teachers.
Teachers of English as an additional language in Manitoba (TEAL Manitoba)
TEAL Manitoba sponsors the TEAL Manitoba Conference in February of each year. This one-day conference presents internationally known EAL authorities as well as a variety of local experts. There are a number of workshops for teachers working with EAL learners in the early years, K – 12, and adult levels. For more information, visit the TEAL Manitoba website.
Teaching English-as-an-Additional-Language to Adults in Manitoba (TEAM)
TEAM provides a variety of professional development opportunities throughout the year, including an annual Teacher/Learner Conference in the fall and a teacher PD event in the spring. For more information, visit the TEAM website.
Overseas Work (Paid and Volunteer)
Organizations that provide opportunities to teach EFL overseas are listed in books such as What in the World is Going On?, a CIDA/CBIE publication.
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Looking for an Adult EAL Teaching Position
In this section teachers will find a Career Resource with information about the various Adult EAL programs in Manitoba. In addition, teachers interested in teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) will find some useful suggestions, many shared by practising EFL teachers around the world.
Employment and Hiring Information: A Career Resource for Prospective Adult ESL/EAL Teachers
This Career Resource was developed in response to a need identified by TEAM (Teaching EAL to Adults in Manitoba). It is intended to provide prospective teachers with information about the various programs that employ Adult EAL teachers in Manitoba. The information includes some program features, staff size and student population, hiring criteria and employment conditions. It also indicates the application process and a contact name for further information.
Employment and Hiring Information Guide: A Career Resource for Prospective ESL/EAL Teachers 2005 (PDF 283KB)
Employment and Hiring Information Guide: A Career Resource for Prospective ESL/EAL Teachers 2005 (WORD Document)
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Going to Teach English Abroad? Here's Some Information and Advice...
There are many more English language teaching jobs world-wide than there are native-speaking teachers to fill them. Canadians usually find jobs reasonably easily in areas such as Latin America, Asia and Eastern/Central Europe. The highest paying jobs in Asia are in Korea and Japan. Elsewhere, the best salaries are paid by employers in the oil-producing countries of the Arabia Gulf. The only job markets which are difficult to break into are those in other English-speaking countries, Western Europe (unless you have a European Union passport) and Africa. If you are hoping to go overseas and teach English, there are some things to know.
To begin, there are a number of acronyms used in the profession to describe different teaching situations:
- TEAL (Teaching English as an Additional Language) involves teaching immigrants in English-speaking countries. Note: EAL is the term adopted for use by the Province of Manitoba.
- TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) involves teaching people, usually in their own countries, who want to use English for business, leisure, travel, etc.
- TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) involves teaching immigrants in English-speaking countries.
- TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and ELT (English Language Teaching) are terms which cover both TEFL and TESL. TESOL is also the acronym for an American professional association called Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
Teaching EAL or EFL is an area of educational expertise and, although it is possible to get a teaching job with no training, most good EFL schools prefer to hire teachers with some credentials in the field. In competitive markets, it is advisable to get a certificate to improve your employment chances. EAL/EFL teacher training courses may take 3 to 18 months to complete, depending on the type of credential and whether it is full or part-time. There are several programs in Manitoba that offer EAL/EFL teacher education programs.
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Generally, courses of only a few weeks duration are considered to be of limited value if you want to be hired as an EAL teacher in Manitoba. Even overseas, many of the good employers require a more substantial credential although there are some recognized exceptions. One such exception is the four-week CELTA/RSA offered by Cambridge University, which is a well-recognized certificate worldwide. In Canada, the CELTA/RSA is offered at the following Canadian locations:
Columbia College, Vancouver
E-mail: jrjanz@columbiacollege.bc.ca
Web Site: www.columbiacollege.bc.ca
International Language Institute, Halifax
E-mail: study@ili.halifax.com
Web Site: www.ili-halifax.com
Kwantlen University College, Vancouver
E-mail: celta@kwantlen.bc.ca
Web Site: www.kwantlen.ca/esl/celta
Language Studies Canada, Toronto
E-mail: celta@lsc-canada.com
Web Site: www.lsc-canada.com
As in any profession, even with training, most teachers would agree that it is once on the job that a lot of learning takes place. However, most EFL teachers would urge you to get some training prior to going abroad, even if it is a short course. It will give you an invaluable starting point, some helpful teaching strategies and suggestions for good teaching resources to get you going.
In addition to the above suggestions, here is some advice for the trained/untrained novice teacher, which has been provided by some experienced EFL teachers worldwide:
- "Find a mentor, an experienced teacher that can give you some suggestions and ask for help. I would suggest that the newbie be polite, learn to focus and limit their requests, and realize that not everything will be fixable at once. The first thing they should do when they find someone willing to help is to ask that person to come observe them and give them tips on simple things they might do to improve."
- "Join the local English teachers association, whatever name it goes by. Join! Go to meetings! Ask questions! Get ideas! Learn! It's called professional development, and doing it may help turn the new teacher into the kind of professional who can help the next newcomer who has discovered that speaking the language isn't the same as teaching it.
In addition to the professional support it can provide, the local English teachers' association can be a source of personal support as well. There will be local people who can explain the culture and introduce you to facets of it (outside the classroom) that you may otherwise not have discovered. There will also be other expatriates, some long term veterans, who can help you with moments of adjustment both personal and pedagogical. And rightly or wrongly, you will be accepted immediately and treated as a professional equal merely by signing up."
- "Try to learn a bit of the language of your country of destination either before you depart or when you get there. Not only will it help you communicate with the people around you, but you can also learn valuable teaching strategies when you yourself are a language learner. (From bad teachers you learn what NOT to do!)".
- "Develop some cross-cultural sensitivity and knowledge. Try and do some reading about the customs and practices of the country you will be visiting. Once there, recognize that the cultural beliefs and customs of your host country may be unfamiliar to you, but different does not equate with wrong. Become observant of cultural behaviour, especially so that you avoid making too many cultural gaffes that offend your hosts. There are a number of books with information about the culture of various countries and tips on making your stay overseas enjoyable.
What to Take with You
If you are a traveler who hopes to teach some English during your trip, you may not want to be lugging a bunch of books around with you. If you do get a job teaching EFL, probably your colleagues or even your predecessor will provide you with some resources to get you going. If you have been hired by a foreign school before departing your home country, ask the school if they provide teaching resources. If you want to go armed with some materials, any of the following suggestions, which come from EFL teachers, may be helpful. (For ordering information, consult the various publishers' web sites). Adult EAL Curriculum and Teaching contains additional resources.
"How to" books
The Practice of English Language Teaching by Jeremy Harmer (Longman)
Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener (Heinemann)
Teaching by Principles by H.Douglas Brown (Prentice-Hall Regents)
The More than Just a Native Speaker by Don Snow (TESOL)
Exploring Second Language Reading, by Neil Anderson, (Newbury House)
Teaching ESL Writing by Joy Reid (Prentice-Hall Regents)
Teaching Second Language Writing, by Cherry Campbell, (Newbury House)
The ESL Miscellany (Pro Lingua Associates)
Teaching English Worldwide: A New Practical Guide to Teaching English by Paul Lindsey (available from ALTA Books)
Zero Prep: Ready-to-Go Activities for the Language Classroom by Laurel Pollard and Natalie Hess (available from ALTA Books)
Grammar Reference
Grammar is frequently a mainstay of EFL instruction. Hopefully you'll be able to teach it in context as it relates to various language tasks, but likely your school and students will want it taught as a focused-on subject. You don't necessarily have to be really knowledgeable in grammar when you start out, but you should be able to find the answers to your students' grammar questions, such as "What part of speech is the word NOT?" Remember many EFL students have to pass challenging language exams to pursue their university education, and grammar is frequently a major feature of those exams. Here are some favourite grammar books of both teachers and learners:
Practical English Usage by Michael Swan (Oxford University Press)
A Practical English Grammar by Thomson & Martinet (Oxford University Press)
EFL Classroom Books
Grammar Games by M. Rinvolucri (Cambridge University Press)
Jazz Chants by Carolyn Graham (Regents)
Dictionaries
Many teachers said you probably don't need to take a dictionary because they'll have them at the school. However, the dictionaries that have been
suggested include the following:
Oxford Picture Dictionary – comes in various bilingual editions (Oxford University Press)
COBUILD New Student's Dictionary (Collins)
The LTP Dictionary of Selected Collocations (LTP)
Other Handy Resources for the Canadian Teaching Abroad
Gateway to Canada by Virginia and Monique Sauvé (Oxford University Press)
"Take Part: Speaking Canadian English" by Lucia Pietrusiak Engkent (Prentice-Hall Regents)
Amazing Canadian Newspaper Stories by Susan Bates (Prentice-Hall Regents)
Listen to the Loon by Joan Roberta White (Oxford University Press)
Miscellaneous Items (if you have the space in your luggage)
A basic cookbook
Authentic materials, such as
Take out menus from restaurants
Newspapers, including the Sunday comics
Clothing catalogues
Advertisements from supermarkets
A file of pictures from catalogues and magazines
Tapes of songs that are clear and easy to understand (extra points if you take the lyrics, too)
Calendars with days and months written in English
Personal photos of family members, pictures of your house, kitchen, backyard, car, the street where you live, pets, everyday life
Web sites for EAL & EFL teachers
Because you often don't know the level of your learners until you arrive, it is difficult to select classroom books to take with you. Even if you are told you will be teaching a particular level, it is not unusual for it to be changed unexpectedly. However, there are many terrific web sites for EAL & EFL teachers that offer great activities, exercises, games and other materials to download. You just have to find a computer with internet access...
Here are just a few of the many sites you can find online:
The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) at www.language.ca has the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000 online and will soon have the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000 ESL for Literacy Learners. While neither of these is a curriculum, the performance outcomes they describe are invaluable references for the teacher doing curriculum or test development. An ancillary document, the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000 Guide to Implementation is also available in hard copy from the CCLB. This resource has suggestions for using the Canadian Language Benchmarks 2000 for curriculum and course development, including needs assessment, setting learning objectives, methodology, resource selection and evaluation.
Dave's ESL Café at www.eslcafe.com. This website is very popular. It has activities for learners to learn vocabulary, grammar, slang and much, much more. There is a good section for ESL/EFL teachers and links to many other ESL web sites.
OZ ESL Online at http://www.powerup.com.au/~ozesl also has lots of good ESL activities. This web site is from Australia, so it includes a lot of information about Australian culture.
The English Professor at http://www.theenglishprofessor.com is another good web site with many activities for people at different levels.
EnglishLearner.Com at http://www.englishlearner.com has a variety of activities and tests to help students learn English.
Spelling it Right at http://www.spelling.hemscott.net has lessons to help families improve their spelling.
Free English and Spelling Lessons at http://www.say-it-in-english.com has lessons for learners at different levels of difficulty.
The Web English Teacher at http://www.webenglishteacher.com has links to many different web sites and also has some lessons and activities on line.
TESL-L
TESL-L is a well-moderated listserv with a variety of interest sections. It provides a stimulating forum for electronic discussion. Experienced and novice teachers alike can receive great practical advice from ESL and EFL teachers in diverse teaching situations worldwide. You can join by sending a message to LISTSERV@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU with the following command:
SUBscribe TESL-L yourfirstname yourlastname
For example: SUB TESL-L Charlie Canuck
Once you've subscribed, you will receive instructions on joining their sub-sections and posting messages. They also have an archive of past postings and longer documents, such as articles, lesson plans, surveys, conference info, etc.
And finally...
Enjoy yourself! Not only will your sojourn in another country provide you with fabulous lasting memories, but your experience teaching EFL overseas may also lead you into a dynamic, stimulating and rewarding field of work that will bring you into contact with the people of the world.
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