Introductory Teaching Skills Course for Teaching Any Academic Subject

GAP Course Aims

The aim is to provide 'GAP' year participants with a wide-ranging course relevant to their needs when teaching in a variety of challenging situations and locations overseas. It will give you a good insight into what practical teaching involves, covering the basic skills required and giving participants the confidence needed to plan lessons effectively and to get up and teach them. The course is constructed to be of direct relevance to the situations we anticipate you will be facing, focusing on major topics such as making the best of limited resources, working with large classes, coping with mixed ability students and looking at issues of cultural difference. This initial orientation will form a sound base on which to build, thus helping to promote a successful and rewarding teaching experience.

>> Read about the GAP year Activity Projects

Course Profile

Throughout the week, the techniques and skills used by the teacher trainer(s) will be representative of those we recommend are employed in the classroom and will be highlighted accordingly. You will be encouraged and expected to participate extensively in all aspects of the course through pair work, group work, discussion etc.

The main areas covered are as follows:

Teaching Skills

• Classroom methodology - a practical introduction to modern teaching methodologies; a guide to lesson planning; the major principles of group dynamics and classroom management. This will be done in the context of examples of teaching a variety of subjects and ages depending on the type of teaching the volunteers will be expected to do, whether it is teaching Geography and History in South Africa or English as a Foreign Language in China.
• Personal assessment - an analysis of the volunteers’ own learning experiences and the qualities of an effective teacher.
• Focus on situation - a helpful guide to what to take, the type of student you will meet, their needs and expectations and coping with conditions and resources available.
• Classroom practice - during the week, participants will take part in a class as a student and regularly do peer teaching practice, (evening lesson planning required). In each case, the experience will be analysed to highlight practical aspects of teaching.

For those Teaching English as a Foreign language, the following areas will also be covered:

• Presentation and Activation of language – techniques for teaching new language as well as helping students activate and practise the language they have "learned".
• The Four Skills - a pedagogic view of what is involved in teaching the individual skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening and how they can be integrated.

CERTIFICATE AND TRINITY COLLEGE LONDON QUALITY ASSURANCE

Full 100% attendance of the course is expected by all participants, unless there are exceptional circumstances (eg illness). If your attendance falls below 80%, it will not be possible to award you a certificate. There is no formal assessment on the course but you are expected to contribute fully to it, as would be expected of a volunteer. Saxoncourt Teacher Training issues the Certificate and it will have the GAP logo on it. The training that you receive is quality assured by the International Examinations Board, Trinity College London. Thus the Trinity College London logo will also be on your Certificate with a statement of quality assurance. The Certificate is not a British Council recognised TEFL qualification. However Saxoncourt Teacher Training is a respected international teacher training organisation and Trinity College London runs validating schemes for pre-service and in-service professional TESOL qualifications ensuring that standards of training and assessment are established and maintained. Thus your Certificate will be useful in the future to show that you have participated in an introductory teacher training programme, provided and quality assured by professional and well-reputed organisations. The cost of the quality assurance is included in your course fee. There are no extra fees to pay.

Duration

Each course consists of 25 hours over a five-day week. The hours are 9.45 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.15.

Course Dates (2008)

• 14th - 18th July
• 21st - 25th July
• 28th July - 1st August
• Plus winter season dates to be announced