Trinity College London’s head of TESOL qualifications, Ben Beaumont, explains why their CertPT is the next logical step
The thing I really like about our new Certificate for Practising Teachers (CertPT) is that it takes a step back from focusing solely on specific English language learning objectives and looks at the over-arching pedagogic 21st-century skills that teachers need. These include: the ability to evaluate resources, adapt and create resources, and reflect on resource use, all within a given context.
The CertPT course and qualification can be tailored to meet a specific cohort’s needs by drawing on the expertise of the local training team to decide on course content and emphasis. For example, because of the CertPT’s broader pedagogical objectives based on resource evaluation and development, a group of CLIL teachers can focus on CLIL resource design; if it’s for teachers making the transition from CertTESOL/CELTA to diploma-level courses, it can focus on resource design for communicative teaching, and so on. It can also be used for those working in a different sector, who want an ELT-focused training course. The course focus (eg, CLIL, CLT) is then indicated in a teacher’s qualification transcript, confirming their area of achievement.
As long as a course stays true to the pedagogical objectives of the CertPT, a training provider is free to create a programme relevant to a group’s needs.
This includes their language needs: as the course can be assessed plurilingually with English, Spanish and Mandarin, teachers who speak these languages and have an English level below B2 can still be assessed, using the language most suitable for them to demonstrate their knowledge. This is possible because the focus is on teaching knowledge and skills, and not solely language teaching.
Centres can also choose the mode of delivery (eg, in person or online), so teachers can choose how to study, as well as what to study, thereby increasing opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills they want to.
And, as part of the course validation process, we use third-party experts to review course timetables and planned content, thereby ensuring that the courses and sessions meet our strict requirements for CertPT- validated course providers.
As well as being a CPD qualification that meets teachers’ development needs according to their teaching context, at level 6 (between CertTESOL/CELTA and diploma), the CertPT enables teachers to demonstrate and be awarded for degree-level knowledge and skills, without having to undertake a full undergraduate degree.
Ben Beaumont is head of TESOL qualifications at Trinity College London and is particularly interested in sharing practice between educational sectors to develop teachers’ contextualised professional practice
