Page 13 - ELG2104 Apr Issue 475

FEATURE .

plat
ms
online
for
Jumping onto online platforms
There’s so much available online for students and teachers it can be

hard to know where to begin. Here are a few suggestions

here are a vast number of online
platforms out there, with a huge range
of different purposes. Some provide
Tinformation, offer services or house
educational resources; some offer training
courses, others teach languages; some form
part of a blended course. The importance of
online platforms in the world of education has WORDS BY PETE SHARMA. PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK
been dramatically highlighted in the current
pandemic, with more teaching moving online
than ever before. Here we look at those
platforms with a range of purposes, including
some which help students gain university
places abroad, platforms which provide
potential teachers with initial TEFL training
and platforms created by ELT publishers.
Student information platforms
Two websites which help students find a
place at a university abroad are Studee Ltd
and TC Global.
Studee Ltd
studee.com
Studee Ltd aims to ‘match students with
universities all over the world’. Students
first fill out an enquiry form. The response
from the admissions centre, within 24 hours,
provides personal advice and guidance to help making it very similar in intent to Studee flagship courses are the 120-hour Master
reach a decision about where to study. Studee Ltd. The main reason to visit the site is for Certificate and the 150-hour IDELT online™,
then liaises with the university to help get the search engine, which allows users to look which culminates in the 150-Hour Bridge
students enrolled. Advice is offered on visas, for a university place based on a number of International Diploma in English Language
travel, working out a budget and sorting out parameters: location, which level of study Teaching. There is a useful course outline on
English tests. (undergraduate, postgraduate and research), the website. Participants must be at least 18 and
Particularly helpful are the descriptions area of study and subsequent specialisations. have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
of universities with useful information such Users can apply filters to refine their search by Bridge also offers short development courses
as global ranking number, type (eg, public/ preferred date of entry and whether full time, specialising in, for example, teaching business
private), number of international students, part-time or online and, of course, preferred English and teaching teenagers.
fee range. One reason to consider this provider is to
Insights are provided into a range of take advantage of any help it may offer in
Get a feel related topics through articles on areas such obtaining that all-important first job. You can
as personalised learning, online learning and download the Teaching English Online eBook
for some of the digital citizenship. Founded in 1995, TC and various country guides here, including
Global operates in 40 countries. Brazil, Spain, China, Japan and Thailand.
online schools
out there Teacher training courses The TEFL org
tefl.org/teach-english-online
The rise of interest in online teaching,
accelerated by the pandemic, has led to an The TEFL org may be of interest to teachers
interest in training courses in online teaching, wishing to enhance their online teaching
number of courses, number of nationalities and as well as introductory TEFL courses. Well- skills. This organisation now offers a Virtual
acceptance rate. Also useful are real student known and well-established CELTA courses Classroom Course as an alternative to its
reviews and articles, such as the aptly titled sit alongside newer options. Here are three 20- and 30-hour classroom TEFL courses.
‘Culture shock for international students’. organisations of interest to those wishing to Courses are delivered online over Zoom and
HQ is in Gloucestershire, UK. Services are break into the profession. cover how to plan, prepare and deliver lessons
free for students. The company itself is funded for all learner levels and age groups.
by universities. Its TEFL Jobs Centre is updated every week
Bridge ® and advertises teaching vacancies on behalf
TC Global bridge.edu/tefl of schools. There is a useful a table which
tcglobal.com Bridge Education Group was founded in lists 20 popular online teaching companies
‘Study anywhere in the world in just a few 1986. Based in Denver, Colorado, it offers and platforms. This is good place to visit to
steps’ announces the TC Global website, a range of online TEFL/TESOL courses. Its get a feel for some of the online schools
editorial@elgazette.com 13