Page 50 - ELG2102 Feb Issue 474

ADVERTISING FEATURE .

Bridge any gaps any gaps
Bridge

Anna Hearrell, Bridge’s product manager, explains to Melanie Butler

how this international teacher training organisation empowers educators

Governments seem increasingly keen visits by ACCET
on EFL teachers with certificates as well assessors to check
as a first degree. What are the essential that our online and
elements of a certificate course? onsite programmes
Understandably, governments and language meet strict quality
institutes want to hire well-prepared standards.
teachers. There are four essential elements Many of our
of internationally recognised TEFL/TESOL courses have
certification. also received
1) Hours of certification: 120 is the university credit
standard number of training hours recommendations
required by most schools worldwide. by the American
2) Methodology and application. Yes, Council on
schools want teachers who have an Education’s Credit
understanding of ESL/EFL teaching Recommendation
methodology, but more importantly, they Program, whose
should be able to apply that knowledge. members comprise English to teenagers, teaching English as a
So, an essential aspect of training is approximately 1,700 accredited, degree- freelancer and many more.
practising newly learned skills, like granting colleges and universities.
lesson planning. What your readers may not know is What about teachers who want to stay
3) Interaction and reflection. Training that a shortcut to verifying the quality of in the profession, but don’t have time
shouldn’t happen in a vacuum. an American TEFL/TESOL organisation for a masters?
Another important element of quality is checking their web address. The suffix The best teachers are lifelong learners,
certification is support for teachers’ .edu (as in bridge.edu) is exclusively so we focus on making professional
development. In addition to exercises, granted to post-secondary institutions development accessible for all. In addition
quizzes and video teaching demos, and organisations that are accredited to our Specialized Certificates, teachers
trainees on our courses value the by an agency on the US Department of can take micro-credential courses, which
feedback they get on assignments from Education’s list. are short, affordable trainings (they can be
their personal tutor, and the interaction Outside the US, we have recently been started for free!) to keep their skills sharp.
with peers of different experience levels accredited by UK-based Aqueduto, whose Topics include teaching English using video,
and backgrounds in discussion forums. membership includes International House English as a global language and teaching
4) And, of course, accreditation. World, NILE and the British Council. the International English Language Testing
System (IELTS) exam prep.
Government-backed accreditation Certificates can be one size fits all. For teachers with their sights set on
doesn’t exist for teacher training You train to teach adults and end up graduate studies, our university-affiliated
courses in the UK. To have legal status, teaching four-year-olds. What is the International Diploma in English Language
training certificates must Bridge solution? Teaching (IDELTOnline) is another option.
either be issued by a We want to empower It’s unique in that it can be taken not only
university or listed The best teachers at all stages of their for college credit accepted by over 1,700
on the register of teachers careers, so a one-size-fits- universities (like many of our courses),
recognised qualifications all approach won’t work. but also as a direct pathway to a graduate
by the national regulator. are lifelong Instead, we offer modular, certificate or master’s degree programme with
Can you explain the customisable training our university partners. Well over half the
US system? learners that lets teachers create students who enrol in the IDELTOnline plan
In America, the a roadmap to their to take it for university credit.
US Department of own success. Among the advantages students cite is
Education does not accredit For example, our most popular that this course is far less expensive and
institutions but instead provides oversight course, the 120-hour Master TEFL/TESOL time-consuming than a master’s degree. It’s
to an accreditation system comprising Certificate, is great for new teachers because 100% online and the university credit can
approximately 60 different agencies. At it starts with a foundation in methodology, be deferred, so they can opt to come back
Bridge, for example, we are an accredited then expands on that with training in working months or years later to apply it toward their
post-secondary institution, which means that with two commonly taught groups: young graduate programme.
our programmes and institution have been learners and business professionals.
vetted by an accrediting agency (ACCET Other teachers are ready to move beyond
– the Accrediting Council for Continuing the foundations and learn in-demand skills.
Education and Training) that is recognised by Our Specialized Certification in Teaching
the US Department of Education. English Online, which covers the tools, Anna Hearrell is product
This status is not easily earned and technology and teaching methods unique manager at Bridge.
must be renewed every five years through to the virtual classroom, is a great example.
a rigorous process that includes campus And we offer other specialisations: teaching
50 February 2021