4 week, 130 hour course - get TEFL certified, get a job, get ready for an experience of a lifetime.
The Course
The international TEFL course offered at our Partner School will give you the training and qualifications
you need to begin a successful career as an English teacher. The TEFL certificate (Teaching English as a
Foreign Language) has become a necessary qualification for all teachers who wish to teach English as a
foreign language. Whether you are a first-time teacher or an experienced teacher in other subjects, the
TEFL certificate will provide you with the necessary skills to manage a productive classroom. The course
will provide you with the most current knowledge on EFL teaching, give you many hours of teaching practice,
and assist you in finding a job in Prague, or the rest of the world. For those wishing to pursue a
long-term career in the EFL field, the course serves as an excellent foundation for a Master's degree in
TESOL and applied linguistics, as well as careers in teacher training and school management.
Our Advantage
Even if you are not interested in staying in Prague, our Partner School's TEFL program has many advantages
that other programs do not or cannot offer. First, because Prague is considerably cheaper than any US or UK
city, the course and the cost of living is extremely affordable. Taking an equivalent course in the US, UK,
or Canada will approximately equal the same cost as your entire stay in Prague including airfare,
accommodations, tuition, and living expenses. Secondly, Prague's central location in Europe makes it a great
jumping point for other European countries you might like to teach in.
If you have already decided to stay in Prague, the main advantage with the program is that we are an actual
school in Prague with a long history of success. Many programs are only designed to administer TEFL. That
means small facilities, little contact with anyone else except other course members, a few teachers, and a
little teaching practice (which will involve you travelling to other schools and using their classrooms,
if available). Our Partner School currently employs 35 teachers and has 800 students. On a daily basis you
will be in contact with many teachers and students with whom you can connect and ask advice. Here are some
of the benefits that our Partner School's TEFL course offers:
- Highly-intensive TEFL certificate which meets all international standards and combines the most
effective instructional teaching methods through workshops, guest speakers, video, audio, trainer
observations, and teaching practice
- A member of both the UK’s College of Teachers and IATEFL
- Very reasonable price with many extras included
- Conveniently-located school minutes away for the city center
- 14 hours of teaching practice, observed by teacher-trainers, including four different levels: beginner,
intermediate and advanced classes (unique to our Partner School), and one-on-one business practice
- 90-minute complete teaching practice sessions (unique to our Partner School)
- Trainer observations of ESL methodology in real classroom settings (unique to our Partner School)
- Eight hours of survival Czech
- Intensive grammar workshops
- Lifelong job assistance - upon filling out the application below our staff begins searching for positions in the desired locations
- Excellent housing options and assistance
- Teacher-mentor program (unique to our Partner School)
- Dynamic learner-centered approach to teaching (e.g. students opinions are always discussed as opposed to criticized)
- Optimally-sized courses (8-12 trainees with a maximum of 14)
- Supportive staff who respond to any problems that trainees encounter in or outside of the course
- All course book and learning material
Course Details
For those who have never taught before, the idea of managing a language class (especially if you do not
understand your students' language) probably appears like a daunting task. In reality, it can be! The
internationally recognized TEFL certificate course we offer has been specifically designed to ease this
process and in one month turns apprehensive applicants into confident, professional teachers. However,
this in turn equals a lot of hard work. Our TEFL course is more demanding than most of the other schools
in the city.
Main components of the course are as follows:
- Actual observed teaching practice by our trainers of students at three different language abilities.
Teaching length begins at 20 minutes and ends with 90-minute practice sessions. Following this, each student
has a one-on-one feedback session with the teacher-trainer where they receive oral and written comments as
well as suggestions. Classes have about 6 to 14 real English students.
- Teaching practice of a single student. Since one-on-one teaching is very common with our business
clients, trainees will have to complete at least two 60-minute one to one lessons. We actually take you
to some of the top bank managers and other company executives in the city and have you conduct private
lessons with them.
- Acquisition of teaching methodology. Roughly 65% of the classroom workshops involve teaching the
most essential EFL basics to advanced classroom techniques. Interestingly enough, the procedures used to
teach the trainees are the procedures that will be used when they teach a classroom. This makes all
workshops highly dynamic interactive classrooms, where the trainee just does not read or hear about
methodology, but actually has it demonstrated on them. Teaching methodology is demonstrated by video,
audio, guest speakers, weekly assignments, and field trips.
- Language awareness. Can you tell me three differences between the present perfect continuous and
its simple form? Probably not, right? Most intermediate to upper-intermediate English students probably
would be able to without a great deal of difficulty. What is surprising, though, is that even many TEFL
graduates upon passing other TEFL courses still cannot answer this basic grammatical question. How do
we know? We ask it when we interview new teachers for our school. Do you know how many non-experienced
TEFL graduates have answered the question correctly...0. All native speakers instinctively know and use
grammar properly, while awareness and understanding of English is virtually nonexistent. Many TEFL
courses opt to brush over grammar basics or, at times, leave it out completely with the idea that the
graduate will pick it up later as they have more experience. This results in teachers who either fail a
job interview or who have students with greater grammar knowledge than they have.
Language awareness covers about 1/3 of classroom workshops, which is followed by a comprehensive grammar
test. All trainees must score 80% or higher to successfully pass the course. In the event of failing, each
trainee is allowed two chances on equivalent exams, which they can take after the course.
- Observation of experienced teachers. Trainees observe an experienced trainer in action on a
weekly basis. This serves to show trainees how a productive classroom is supposed to look and sound. The
teacher's lesson plan is synchronized with the methodology that has been taught in the previous workshops.
This enables students to not only learn about specific teaching techniques, but also see them practiced in
a real setting. Trainees are given observation worksheets and then give feedback to the trainer on what
they saw and what worked from their point of view!
The following are the categories that you learn to master:
| Language awareness |
Teaching grammar |
| Teaching reading |
Teaching writing |
| Teaching listening |
Teaching speaking |
| Teaching pronunciation |
Teaching one-on-one students |
| Teaching group classes |
Beginner |
| Pre-Intermediate |
Intermediate |
| Advanced |
Business English |
| Lesson planning |
Time management |
| Classroom Management |
Using video, audio and outside resources |
| Troubleshooting |
Effective use of textbooks (not just reading them) |
Teacher Mentor Program (TMP):
This program is unique to our Partner School and was created specifically by teachers to ease the transition
from being a trainee to a full-time English teacher. The most stressful, demanding, and important time in your
teaching career is during the first two to four weeks of real teaching. Most teachers make the majority of
their mistakes during this time period. New teachers are simply not used to teaching different classes at
different times and in different places. A second problem is simply a matter of experience. As it is with
all careers, everything learned in the course will take time before it sinks in and becomes instinctual.
This is true for all methodology and grammar. The problem is that you will have the same students for a
period of five months to a few years. With practice students, they almost expect you to make mistakes and
are not upset when they happen. Real students who have paid a considerable amount of money for private
lessons may not be as forgiving and have greater expectations.
Trainees who request the teacher mentor program will be assigned an experienced teacher who will act as
their consultant. This includes, but is not limited to, help with grammar, lesson planning, directions to
client offices, trouble areas, teaching techniques, as well as finding and exploiting resources. The Teacher
Mentor Program begins when you actually start working and lasts for four weeks. No matter what school the
teacher decides to work for, all teachers remain applicable as long as they are teaching in Prague.
The investment for the teacher mentor program is only $220.00 USD. The TMP is completely optional. This
investment goes directly to the teacher mentor who each new teacher is paired with. Furthermore, if a
trainee signs up for the TMP, they can at any time change their mind during the TEFL course or afterward
and receive 100% of their money back.
Requirements.
The course requires the applicants to have University-level reading and writing skills. We also require that
applicants have University level schooling and have a (BA/BFA) diploma. However, if the applicant has
extensive business experience or teaching experience, exceptions can always be made. The majority of TEFL
students range from age 20 to 30; however there is no age limit and it is not uncommon for people beyond
their 50's who are looking to try something new to take the course.
If you are not a native speaker, you must have fluent ability in English. It is required that all
applicants submit the application form on this site (it can be emailed) and, if you are not a native
speaker, have an interview with our director of studies in Prague or one of our other recruiters. If you
are located in Prague, you can opt to have the interview in person. For other candidates, the interview
will be over the phone.
Grades. Grades for the class are evaluated based on teaching performance, completion of exercises,
attendance, professional attitude, growth, participation, teacher-trainer observations, student evaluations,
and the grammar exam. The criteria for the grades are listed below:
Teaching performance. The level and effectiveness of how you teach. Emphasis on using TEFL methodology
as well as creativity. Marks are also based on lesson planning.
Completion of exercises. Involves completing all homework/workshop assignments correctly and on time.
Professionalism. Trainees are required to dress and act in a professional manner. While practice
teaching trainees are required to wear nice clothes (collared shirts, no tennis shoes). Trainees are also
graded on their general attitude with the program. Of course, if a student has a problem or a complaint
about the course, this will not affect their grade.
Growth. Students are also graded on their personal teaching growth. This includes confidence,
understanding of teaching concepts, and overcoming initial problems with teaching.
Participation. Students are required to participate and be active during course discussions and
workshops.
Teacher-trainer observations. You are required to attend at least one observation a week along with
thoughtfully completing an observation sheet.
Student evaluations. Trainees are graded on how well their practice students thought they did and
whether they would take a course with this teacher.
Grammar test. All trainees must score at least an 80% on a grammar test that is given during the
last week of the course. If a student fails the test, they will have two more chances to get a successful
pass. Assistance will be given to any student who is worried about the test or needs extra help.
Attendance. Our Partner School is very sympathetic with the stress, fatigue, and unexpected problems
that can arise while living in a foreign country and how these factors affect attendance. However, the
course is very demanding and student teachers will inevitably fall behind if workshops or other activities
are missed. Student teachers are required to attend all classes. Student teachers who miss over 80% of the
course without the consent of the head teacher trainer, course manager, or the director of the school, will
receive an immediate fail for the course. The rule being that a student teacher who cannot attend his or
her own teacher training course will probably not be able to attend his or her own work. All missed class
activities must be made up by the trainee before any certificates are given.
At the end of each week, student teachers are evaluated on each of the above categories.