Toput it briefly, many things!

Preface and review

As stated in previous posts, there is a common misconception that anybody can teach English so long as they can speak it. This is simply not the case. A TESOL qualification is proof that you have the knowledge and skills to deliver engaging and effective TESOL instruction to your students. Remember: If you have successfully obtained a TESOL qualification from a registered training organisation, then you are “TESOL certified.”

Since most certified TESOL courses require learners to demonstrate proficiency in a variety of areas, a successful completion of the course will also be proof that you can deliver lessons for a variety of different learners. Skilled teachers must be able to identify different learning styles and interests amongst the various different demographics amongst their students.

For example, an Intermediate project manager learning business English in Japan will have different needs to a group of Moroccan children who have just migrated to Australia. Not only will you have to adjust the complexity of your speech / instruction, but you’ll also need to adjust the content and topics, so that your students can get the most out of your lessons.

Certificate IV in TESOL –Giving you the tools you need

There is more to teaching English than oral communication. For a TESOL teacher to excel at their work, they will need to possess skills in many language areas, including (but not limited to) vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, reading, writing, test preparation, lesson planning, resource design and more. Certified TESOL courses will cover every section of these and will give you the confidence and know-how to deliver on these language areas.

One of the most common questions aspiring TESOL teachers face during their job-hunting is the classic: “How would you teach the difference between bored and boring?” Even if it’s your first time seeing this question, have a think about it for a moment. Now imagine trying to explain the difference to a beginner non-native English speaker. It’s not that easy, is it? Even if you grew up in an English-speaking country, questions like these aren’t ones we often think about, but knowing how to explain things like this is vital for a TESOL teacher.

For example, most native English speakers aren’t ever really taught what passive voice is, the difference between voiced and voiceless consonants, what a coordinating conjunction is or even the International Phonemic Alphabet (IPA). While this general knowledge might not necessarily be useful in most situations, these are vital aspects of learning English as a second (or third, fourth, etc.) language. The Certificate IV in TESOL offered by the Sydney Higher Education Institute, will cover all of these things, and reduce the chance of any embarrassing slip-ups while on the job.

Certification and its many benefits

There is a chance that you might be reading this and think “I already have experience as a TESOL teacher. That should be enough, right?” While it would be silly to discredit your experience, many organisations both Australia and abroad, might be hesitant to consider hiring you unless you have some form of TESOL certification.This may be because they’re unsure about bringing people on board without a qualification to support their application, or they may be required to have this stance due to governmental legislation.

Depending on the organisation, you may be able to secure more specialised roles or even a higher wage if you have the right qualification. With all this being said, TESOL work experience is valuable, but combined with the seal of approval that is TESOL certification, it’s a winning combination.

A common reason many people enrol with us is that they have prior teaching experience or qualifications, and they want to branch out their career into other areas. Included in the Certificate IV in TESOL course are videos that focus on and discuss teaching methodologies, tips on addressing cultural challenges which may arise in the classroom, and information on developments in Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) software. Even veteran teachers are often surprised at the new information they learn.

Having a deeper understanding of the intricacies of the English language can be helpful in your day-to-day life, as well. You may develop a deeper understanding of grammar and punctuation or knowledge on how the language characteristics of English present unique challenges to non-native speakers, depending on their first languages.

To sum it up,

TESOL certification is good for your progressing your career, improving your employability or earning-potential, further-developing your teaching skills or even just to deepen your understanding of the English language. Every person who has enrolled with us has their own unique reason for pursuing certification, and the benefits are many.

If you are interested in getting enrolled, learning more about TESOL certification, or if have any questions about the Certificate IV in TESOL course offered by the Sydney Higher Education institute, please don’t hesitate to contact: info@sydneyinstitute.org