Page 29 - ELG2102 Feb Issue 474

Examining T
Examining Trinityrinity

A close look at a useful certificate

The Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to The main difference between CELTA and Trinity, apart from the
Speakers of Other Languages(CertTESOL) launched in 1980 fact that Trinity has 130 course hours, is that it validates courses
and is one of two certificates offered by an English exam board which meet its requirements. Its courses are particularly strong on
that also provides a suite of English language exams the teaching of phonology and pronunciation, and also include some
for students. exposure to foreign language learning.
The Trinity College London, a British exam board, was founded in Although the CertTESOL focuses on teaching adults, it also offers a
1877 to offer qualifications in music and now offers assessments in a 100-hour Teaching Young Learners Extension Certificate and has just
variety of areas, including performance arts and languages. introduced a 100-hour Certificate for Practising Teachers, covering
Its English language exams are widely used and its CertTESOL is areas from academic English to CLIL (see page 32).
one of a small number of TESOL certificates offered by an official The main disadvantage is that the name Trinity, while well-known
body (see box). It appears to be the only one listed on the Register of in Europe, Latin America and India, is less familiar to schools in East
Recognised Qualifications for England. Asia, though all the government schemes we looked at accept it.

The word TESOL is not unique to Trinity College London. Below are some of the main official uses of the term.
• TESOL stands for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. The term is used for many master’s degrees and by Trinity College
London for its Certificate, which is at level 5 on the recognised qualification for England (its diploma is at level 8). It also offers a level 7
certificate in Professional Training (see page 32).
• The Scottish qualification authority, SQA Scotland, offers a TESOL qualification for teachers of adult migrants.
• TESOL International is the name of the large US-based association of English language teachers founded in 1966. Its members include both
US teachers, most of whom teach in US schools and colleges, and teachers from overseas. It runs a large international conference. TESOL
has long offered professional development programmes and now has its own 140-hour TESOL core certificate.
• TESOL Asia is also an association and also runs conferences. It offers online teacher training.
• The Irish Department of Education has a state-recognised level 7 TESOL certificate.

Institutions offering Trinity London Town Online How often Full time Part-time Cost

Malta

EF Education First, San Giljan St Julian * * * * *
Contact: Alexandra.bianco@ef.com

New Zealand

IPU New Zealand Tertiary Institute Auckland * 1 x year * * NZ$3,500
Contact: TESOL@ipu.ac.nz

United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland

Ardmore Teacher Training Maidenhead 2 x year ✓ £1,040
Contact: Colin Spicer, ✓ 1 x year * * *
teachertraining@theardmoregroup.com

Ardmore Teacher Training Woking 1 x year ✓ £1,040
Contact: Colin Spicer, ✓ 1 x year ✓ *
teachertraining@theardmoregroup.com
Athena Teacher Training Bournemouth * * * * £1,399
Contact: John Kay,
info@athena-teacher-training.co.uk
Bishop Grosseteste University Lincoln * * * * *
Contact: Dr Smaragda Kampouri,
smaragda.kampouri@bishopg.ac.uk

Bradford College Bradford 1 x year ✓ £990
Contact: k.sawyer@bradfordcollege.ac.uk

*Contact institution for details
editorial@elgazette.com 29