Today, it is almost impossible to be approved as a tutor on any of these courses if one does not have a Cambridge DELTA Diploma.
Although not necessary to have attended a trainer training course or to have a Masters in TEFL/TESOL or Applied Linguistics in order to be employed in one of these courses, Cambridge ESOL requires prospective CELTA and DELTA tutors to go through an extensive induction period, supervised by an Authorised Teaching Awards Centre involving:
- putting together a portfolio of trainer training tasks, documents and materials
- observing/following one or more courses at an accredited centre
- being observed by one's supervisor (usually to Course Tutor)
- being assessed for their portfolio work and trainer skills by a specially appointed external Cambridge Assessor.
I consider this is a very positive development, although it does create issues for very experienced (and often highly sought after!) teacher educators who find themselves interested in becoming approved CELTA and DELTA approved tutors at this particular juncture.Still, although the system may have its drawbacks for a small number of exceptions, as a rule it forms a very good code of practice for the profession. And I believe that Cambridge ESOL are, in a way, attempting to declare the profession's coming of age.
A HISTORY OF THE PAST – TEACHER TRAINER OR TEACHER EDUCATOR?
I have been a teacher trainer for many years, more years, in fact than I have been a teacher educator. My career as a teacher trainer began when I was literally pulled out of the classroom by a highly perceptive Academic Director who saw some potential in me and who threw me into teacher training head first!CURRENT PRACTICES & CHOICES
These days there are numerous Trainer Training courses available to anyone interested in teacher education. To name a few, Marjon's (The University College of St Mark & St John in Plymouth) runs a very good one; Warwick University has an MA in TEFL, specializing in teacher education.You do acquire some skills through practice or by being mentored by good teacher educators, but the shortcut to faster development is by following a good course and it is well worth the effort and cost.
Without one, you may eventually get to your destination but it will take you a much longer time to achieve what you can learn in a much shorter time.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A TEACHER TRAINER/EDUCATOR?
The Council of Europe stipulates that those involved in the training of professionals should have received a minimum of 400 hours of training themselves, which is a good point to think about, not just regarding teacher educators.
Apart from evidence of extensive training (ideally including a DELTA and an M.A. in TEFL or Applied Linguistics), here are some of the qualities I look for in anyone who wants to work as a teacher trainer/educator at my training institution.
I look for educators who...
- have extensive and varied classroom teaching experience
- are experienced and highly skilled in lesson & materials design
- are familiar with a wide range of materials available, published in print form and online
- have extensive experience of training and supporting adult learners
- have experience of having been observed by others themselves
- are able to deliver lessons using a wide range of presentation/teaching modes
- are highly polished classroom practitioners/master teachers themselves
- are confident and supportive individuals
- have an interest in their own ongoing professional development/ new technologies do not frighten them and they are keen to develop and learn
- have thorough understanding of the theoretical assumptions underpinning classroom techniques/ lessons/ materials/lesson shapes, etc.
- are highly proficient in the language of instruction (English) with outstanding language awareness
- have observed other teachers extensively and seen different ways of giving feedback to trainee teachers
- are mature, balanced, objective and have a reflective approach to teaching and teacher education
- are in full control of their teaching style and classroom persona
- are keen learners and sharers and are generous about sharing what they know with other colleagues
But what I want to stress is that my ideal candidate will have both the high polish of a good teacher trainer as well as the depth of understanding of a good teacher educator.
CAN EVERY GOOD TEACHER BECOME A TEACHER TRAINER/EDUCATOR?
Many of you may have noticed that many of the qualities mentioned in the previous section are also highly desirable qualities in a teacher!So, can a good teacher become a good teacher trainer/educator?
There is one major (in my own view always) attribute which is absolutely necessary, the ability to analyse the teaching process and classroom practices for the benefit of one's trainees.
So to balance out my very serious post, I've included a couple of photographs from training sessions which were wonderfully inspiring and great fun for trainees and their tutor! Do you have any questions?
About the AuthorMarisa Constantinides is the DOS of CELT Athens, a teacher education centre in Athens which offers TEFL, Cambridge CELTA and DELTA courses to teachers from all over the world.
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