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Monday, 27 March 2006

A desire to travel and teach overseas are just two prerequisites for a new program being offered at the University of Adelaide. The third is a tertiary qualification.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is an intensive four-week course, which gives students a practical qualification to teach overseas or in Australia.

The program's first group of students recently graduated with a nationally accredited Certificate IV in TESOL.

Students, including two with doctorates, came from a variety of backgrounds, including teaching, training and industry.

A unique factor of the University of Adelaide TESOL course is the tertiary level entry requirement, which ensures a very high standard, according to Liz Pryzibilla, Director of the Centre for Professional and Continuing Education.

"Students learn the latest teaching strategies to help non-English speaking people become proficient in English," Ms Pryzibilla said.

"For those suitably qualified and registered, a TESOL certification is the minimum accreditation required to teach English as a second language. With a rapidly growing demand for TESOL teachers within Asia, the career opportunities for our graduates are increasing all the time."

TESOL teachers are also in demand in South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

In 2005, the University of Adelaide was selected to design and deliver an English Language and Teaching Methodology program to secondary school teachers in Dalian, China.

Dalian's municipal government made grants available last year for introducing English training programs. The University of Adelaide has signed a 3-year contract to run the program, which also incorporates cultural and industry specific activities.

For those interested in finding out more about the University of Adelaide's Certificate in TESOL, please contact Professional and Continuing Education on (08) 8303 4777 or visit the website at www.adelaide.edu.au/elc/courses/tesol. The next course starts in July.