CYL - Certificate in the Teaching of Young Learners Seville, Spain

Teacher Training in Seville, Spain

CYL Course Description

Possessing an initial qualification in teaching English to speakers of other languages (CELTA or similar) our trainees may be new to Young Learner teaching or wish to gain fresh ideas and a formal qualification after several years’ experience of children’s classes. This 50 hour+ course provides an extensive overview of teaching younger learners, aged 4-16 years.

You will gain hands on practical experience of giving 3 hours of assessed lessons to at least 2 age groups through the teaching practice component, and also benefit from observing tutors’ and peers’ lessons. Our input sessions will provide insight into the methodology behind teaching YLs, with plenty of valuable classroom ideas provided, which are consolidated in 2 practical written assignments.

The course consists of:

1. Input sessions:
   • 20 sessions of approximately one hour and 15 minutes each, amounting to 30 hours of input time.
   • This will also include observation and analysis of videos of YL classes.
2. Teaching Practice:
   • Each participant will be observed teaching Young Learners classes by an approved tutor for a minimum of 3 hours.
   • These classes may be the teacher's own classes or special Teaching Practice classes created for the course.
   • There will be a minimum of 45 minutes tuition time (pre-lesson guidance and post-lesson feedback) given for each hour of teaching.
3. Observation of Experienced Teachers:
   • Each participant will observe experienced teachers of Young Learners teaching for a minimum of 4 hours.
   • For each of the hours of observation, participants must complete an assigned observation task.
4. Tutorials:
   • Each participant will be given a minimum of two tutorials which will involve the discussion of observation tasks and the trainees' general progression up that point of the course.
5. Written work:
   • Each participant will need to complete two written assignments.
   • These will be set and submitted during the course. A third optional assignment for a further endorsement of the trainee’s experience, will be set during the course but can be submitted up to two years from completion of the course.
   • In addition, there may be homework tasks set after some input sessions.
6. Age groups:
   • The course is not designed with one particular age group in mind.
   • Input sessions cover the complete range of young learners (from 3 years-teenagers).
   • Teaching Practice will be concentrate on two or three particular age ranges.

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Entry Requirements

Course participants must:

• be competent English speakers;
• be at least 18 years old;
• have had some initial training in ELT - suggested minimum: CELTA or equivalent;
• display an interest in the teaching of Young Learners.

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Assessment

Grading:

The assessment of trainees will be based on a portfolio kept by the trainee and including the following:

• lesson plans and materials for each lesson taught
• completed observation task
• written feedback/evaluation of teaching practice, given to trainees by colleagues and tutors
• tutorial summary sheets
• assignments
• homework tasks

There are three possible grades and they are as follows:

Pass

Pass grade is awarded to candidates who have demonstrated the following:

1. Lesson Preparation:
   • Candidates have shown that they:
     • have understood the basic concepts of language development in young learners and are able to use this information to inform their planning/approach;
     • can plan lessons appropriately to suit the age / stage of development of the learners in their classes;
     • select appropriate language at different levels;
     • are able to predict the kinds of linguistic problems young learners may have with a particularlanguage point, and prepare lessons that help learners overcome these;
     • identify appropriate aims for lesson stages;
     • design lessons which are appropriately staged and varied;
     • focus clearly on new language;can select materials / tasks and activities appropriate to the age / level of the learners.
2. Teaching Skills:
   • Candidates have shown that they:
     • adapt their teaching approach and style appropriately to suit learners at different age ranges;
     • can engage young learners in a variety of motivating learning tasks;
     • clarify the meaning, form and phonology of new language items, where appropriate;
     • check the students' understanding of language items;
     • provide appropriate language-focused practice activities;
     • develop the skills of reading and listening;
     • develop the skills of speaking and writing;
     • respond to errors effectively and with sensitivity;
     • manage groups effectively;
     • adjust their own language to meet the level and needs of learners.
3. Interpersonal Skills
   • Candidates have shown that they:
     • can establish a good rapport;
     • are able to motivate their learners;
     • ensure pace if appropriate;
     • show awareness of learners as individuals as well as a group;
     • teach with sensitivity to the learners' needs, interests and background.

In addition, participants need to demonstrate ability in the following two areas:

1. Professionalism
   • Candidates show that they:
     • participate in the course as a reliable member of a team;
     • are able to assess their own strengths and weaknesses objectively;
     • attend to all administrative matters as required;
     • are able and willing to respond to feedback and act on it, where appropriate.
     • Written work
     • Pass candidates will produce assignments which demonstrate the ability to reflect and consider the issues affecting the teaching of English to young learners.

Distinction

This is awarded to candidates who demonstrate an excellent command of a wide range of teaching skills appropriate to the teaching of young learners.

Lessons are well-planned and carefully adapted to suit the needs, and the stage of development of the learners.

Candidates will demonstrate excellent classroom management skills, appropriate both to the age and educational background of their students.

Candidates may show strengths with one age group in particular, but it is important that these candidates have demonstrated the ability to adapt their approach to teach at least at two different age groups.

In addition, candidates will have:

• submitted assignments demonstrating an above average sensitivity to the issues influencing the teaching of English to young learners;
• made insightful contributions in input;
• shown a high degree of professionalism.

Fail

This grade is awarded to course participants who fail to demonstrate that they can consistently plan and teach effective lessons to young learners, according to the criteria described above.

Certificates and Reports

Certificates will be issued by International House to all course participants who have fulfilled the requirements of the course and completed all assignments at a satisfactory level. Each trainee will also be issued a Report written by one of the tutors on the course.

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CYL (Certificate in Young Learners) Dates & Fees:

Apply now!

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How to pay

NB:

• Note that a deposit (250 EUROS) should be paid within 7 days of a place on the requested course being offered to secure a place on the specified dates. Also, if accommodation is requested, a deposit for the booking of the accommodation may be required.
• The deposit is non-refundable.
• The balance of the course fees (495 EUROS) needs to be paid together with the accommodation fees at least 6 weeks before the course commencement date.

All payments need to be done in Euros via bank transfer, free of charges, into the StudyCELTA bank account in Seville, Spain (bank account details will be provided in the invoice, once the application has been successful).

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