International T.E.F.L Diploma

T.E.F.L. - Czech Certificate

The Boland School, providing comprehensive E.S.L. teacher training since 1992, has a high reputation as a quality provider of language courses and teacher training. Its teacher training program focuses on the practical. During the course, Boland T.E.F.L. Diploma trainees are able to teach classes of real students at several different levels, and also work with some of the most widely-used textbook series on the market. The trainees are also given the opportunity to participate in an internship at a Czech secondary school or at our partner school in Poland upon completion of the course. The Boland School in-house language school also provides trainees with unlimited observation opportunities auditing lessons of professional teachers as they teach regular classes of Czech students.

The Boland School program qualification is the internationally-recognized T.E.F.L. Diploma. The program also includes comprehensive lifetime job placement worldwide for its graduates.

The Boland curriculum also includes area-specific teacher training for English teachers interested in improving their skills and qualifications for the Czech job market. Trainees at Boland may also participate in this double-certificate program, working towards the international T.E.F.L. Diploma and simultaneously, the T.E.F.L. - Czech Certificate. The T.E.F.L. -Czech Certificate is an additional qualification geared specifically towards those wishing to work in the Czech Republic. It includes two components; Survival Czech language lessons, and Background. The Survival Czech lessons give those new to the Czech and Slovak Republics the opportunity to develop some basic language skills. The Background lessons inform the prospective teacher of the traditions, etiquette, history, culture and education system of the Czech and Slovak Republics. The topic of Czech/Slovak students and language learning difficulties is also covered, enabling new teachers to more effectively meet their students' needs in the classroom.

The School

The Boland School is a private language school and TEFL Teacher Training Center based in the Moravian capital of Brno in the Czech Republic. The language school is specialized in teaching English as a foreign language to Czech students and businesses and has earned an excellent reputation in this area as a provider of quality language instruction. The TEFL Training Center provides high quality, internationally recognized International T.E.F.L. Diploma teacher training TEFL certification. The Boland School has received accreditation from the Czech Ministry of Education every year since 1993. The school is also a member of IATEFL - the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, T.E.S.O.L. - Teachers of English as a Second Language, and the T.E.F.L.Board. In addition, the Boland school is a licensed AQA testing center. [A.Q.A.'s Certificate in English Language Skills -(E.S.O.L.) has been accredited in the U.K. by The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Q.C.A.]

The Course

A four and a half-week, full-time teacher training program held on site in Brno, Czech Republic, the Boland School T.E.F.L diploma program is geared towards preparing native speakers of English who would like to teach English as a foreign language abroad. The course consists of a minimum of 140 class hours, that is 112 sixty-minute hours. During the four and a half-week program, 18 class hours of real teaching time are guaranteed per trainee. There is also a nine-week part-time course option available. The part-time course covers the same material, but allows trainees time for other activities while learning at a less intensive pace. A maximum of 8 trainees are accepted into the program per course in order to insure the highest quality learning experience. The group of 8 works with our team of two to three trainers, and trainees are divided into two groups of four for all hands-on activities and presentations. All participants have the option of participating in our secondary school mini teaching internship free of charge upon graduation from the course.

Upon successful completion of the course, trainees will receive the International T.E.F.L. Diploma, which qualifies them to teach English as a foreign language. The trainees also have the option of choosing the dual certificate program, with the goal of attaining both the International T.E.F.L. Diploma as well as the T.E.F.L. Czech Diploma. The T.E.F.L. Czech Diploma is a Czech-specific qualification which shows potential employers that the bearer has received teacher training in specific areas of difficulty for Czech and Slovak students, as well as basic language instruction.

The Boland School has both a European and an Asian location, with teacher training centers and language schools in both regions (Czech Republic and China). This international presence allows us to offer our program graduates quality job placement assistance worldwide through our extensive, and ever-growing network of partner schools, all of whom regularly request our graduates for available positions. In addition, our TEFL Diploma graduates are also a reliable pool of job references for new teachers entering the field, ensuring that we can pass on current information on the availability and quality of teaching positions worldwide. The Boland School runs its own jobs site for Boland graduates online, and also the Boland TEFL forum where both old and new teachers can meet, network, get travel and job tips, and help each other with classroom issues.

The Instructors

The certificate program is taught by a team of qualified teacher trainers, each with many years of hands-on experience teaching English as a foreign language, in addition to university qualifications and teacher training experience. Each teacher trainer at the Boland School has also successfully completed the International TEFL Diploma 'train the trainer' program held at the school. There are also guest speakers who visit to lead units in their areas of specialization. Not only do the instructors and the guest speakers teach the courses; but each trainee is also given the opportunity to meet with them on an individual basis to discuss class planning, progress, issues, or other concerns during the regularly scheduled AT (available trainer) time each day.

Our head trainers:

Alisa Zmolek - USA
6 years of international EFL teaching experience
Alisa Zmolek (USA) has been interested in language and traveling since she was young. She studied Linguistics at the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, where she completed her B.A. in 2001. In the course of her studies, she focused on Russian and Eastern European history and language. She also spent an academic semester in Denmark followed by an academic year in Norway. She completed her international TEFL certification in Prague, Czech Republic and then took a teaching position in Poland, where she taught for four years. She completed her M.A. degree in Applied Linguistics/ TEFL Methodology at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland. She enjoys living in Brno and says it is the best city in the Czech Republic. Her teaching experience includes teaching Young Learners, Teenagers, Exam Preparation (FCE, CAE, IELTS, etc), General English for Adults and English for Specific Purposes (ESP). Alisa likes biking, reading, traveling and yoga.

David Mulvey - UK
15 years of international EFL teaching experience
David Mulvey (UK) completed his BA in English Literature in 1981 and worked in South Africa as the editor and feature writer for a magazine before moving into the field of English language education and training. He did his certificate in ‘Training the Trainer’ in 1990 at the Institute of Training and Development in London and completed his TEFL Certification in a one-year program with the British Institute in Paris, France. Since then, he has taught English in France, Greece and Indonesia, as well as the Czech Republic. David has experience teaching a wide range of levels and age groups, as well as in international examination preparation classes such as the Cambridge and ToEFL. David enjoys learning languages and can speak fluent French, and also has a good grasp of Greek and Indonesian. His hobbies include music performance and traveling and he considers himself a ‘life-long learner’.

The Curriculum

Our diploma course curriculum is divided into several areas of concentration, or ‘units’. The various units are taught by different trainers, providing for lots of changes of pace in the study program.

T.E.F.L. methodology. This unit provides a brief overview of standard teaching methods used in teaching English as a foreign language and focuses on ‘immersion’ methods for small to medium-sized classes (2 to 18 students) taught using only the target language (English).

Teaching English to foreign students. This part of the program introduces the prospective teacher to typical problem areas non-native speakers encounter when studying the English language. Pronunciation, usage, grammar problems and cultural differences are dealt with here. This program consists of several units. In addition to the standard curriculum, those interested in the Czech Teaching Certificate will receive tuition in Czech modern affairs, culture, and history. This program includes a unit on Czech students and language difficulties and also daily Czech language lessons, so that the prospective teachers have some basic familiarity with the students’ language.

New student assessment and lesson planning. The trainees are shown standard placement testing methods and are given the opportunity to practice applying the assessment results to lesson planning. In this unit, the trainees are shown how to plan effectively and are given time-saving planning tips, as well as planning outlines.

Basic grammar training. The trainees are given a complete overview of English grammar, focusing on its practical application in the classroom. This unit also includes error identification, correction and simple explanations, as well as how to follow up using interesting ways of practicing grammar in the classroom setting.

Classroom activities and supplementary materials. This is actually a series of units devoted to the topics of practical in-class training topics. In-class discussions, role plays, games, use of short writing activities, flash cards, pictures, and many more activity types are covered, each in a separate unit of its own. The material is dealt with hands-on, so teaching and practicing new on review material are all dealt with from the ground up. This means the trainees learn to create and implement activities in the classroom from the beginning, starting with class planning, then to the set-up, implementation, and follow-up stages. This area also covers the topic of classroom props and materials the teachers bring in to make a role-play or activity more effective and interesting.

Teaching English to children and teenagers. Though the Boland School T.E.F.L. Czech program is geared towards those planning on teaching mainly adult learners, this unit is offered as an introductory step towards teaching younger learners and mixed groups. The areas of standard teaching materials, and methodology are covered here, as well as topics which can be easily transferred to older age groups such as the role of music and games in the classroom.

Testing. An introduction to some of the most popular international exams including the Cambridge C.F.C, C.A.E., Proficiency and also the T.o.E.F.L. test is given in this unit, along with an overview of exam preparation methods and a sample of textbooks which may be used. The curriculum here also includes testing samples, grading and creation tips for general testing at all levels.

Materials. This unit provides an introduction to some of the most popular textbook series used in international E.S.L. teaching including Headway, Streamline, Market Leader, English File, and our own textbook series Here You Are! Trainees in the course will also receive free copies of the grammar reference standards by Murphy and also Swan, as well as a set of standard classroom teaching aids.

Audio-visuals. The prospective teachers have a chance to get familiar with some of the T.E.F.L. audio-visual standards in this section. How to work with cassettes and videos in the classroom including method, planning, and follow-up are all covered in this unit. Recommendations of good tapes and videos for classroom learning and the chance to watch and listen to some of them are also provided.

10.

Teaching. All of the above points are incorporated into real classroom teaching; first in front of the training group to get feedback and then with ‘real’ students and an observer. The course includes 18 to 20 class hours of classroom teaching time per person. The trainees first gain valuable classroom experience through peer (practice) teaching, and then move to teaching regular Czech and Slovak students in a real lesson setting.

Job Placement

The Boland School offers full-service job placement to its T.E.F.L. course graduates. We consider it our responsibility to personally ensure that our graduates have the largest possible number of teaching posts to choose from. At the Boland School, we take a personal interest in each graduate, and offer job placement assistance and tips whenever needed, even years after course completion.

Working permit and visa assistance: For those trainees who do not come from European Union countries, we can also arrange working and residence permits. This service allows non-EU citizens a much wider range of legal employment opportunities in the Czech Republic.

Our job placement assistance starts during the course: During the TEFL Diploma course, there is a series of 'jobs' units which focus on the local and international job markets for English teachers, as well as on how to write a TEFL Cv, apply for jobs, what to ask at interviews, how to assess contracts, etc. We also keep a log of available positions all over the world. The log is updated almost daily and that, combined with our personal approach to job placement, gives our graduates a head start on finding a position upon graduation. Additionally, the Boland School runs its own private jobs website for program graduates. The site contains 'our picks' of the new jobs posted on the internet and various print publications, and other graduates' and experienced teachers' comments about the jobs on offer. The jobs website may be accessed by all Boland graduates for a lifetime. Additionally, the site allows Boland graduates to network with each other to learn more about various schools, and choose the best employment opportunities for themselves. This, combined with our hands-on networking approach to the job hunt, means that not only are our trainees well-prepared with professional resumes, photos, and TEFL job interview and contract tips, but they also have a good selection of teaching jobs all over the world from which to choose.

As a part of the job placement service, the school also offers daily consultation with a job adviser during AT (available trainer) time each day to help find the right job to suit each person’s requirements.

Course Dates and Schedule

The courses are held monthly. Upcoming course dates in which there are available places are:

Full-time course dates:
	March 17^th	-	April 15^th 2008
	April 21^st	-	May 20^th 2008
	May 26^th	-	June 24^th 2008
	June 30^th	-	July 25^th 2008
	August 4^th	-	August 29^th 2008
	September 1^st	-	September 30^th 2008
	October 6^th	-	November 4^th 2008
	November 17^th	-	December 16^th 2008

Part-time course dates:
	February 11^th	-	April 15^th 2008
	March 17^th	-	May 20^th 2008
	April 21^st	-	June 24^th 2008
	May 26^th	-	July 29^th 2008
	June 30^th	-	August 29^th 2008
	August 4^th	-	September 30^th 2008
	September 1^st	-	October 31^st 2008
	October 6^th	-	December 16^th 2008

Four and a half weeks being a very short period of time in which to learn what is basically a new profession for most of the trainees, the schedule is quite intensive. In order to increase the efficacy of the course and alleviate the need for 'cramming', all trainees are sent an online course preparation packet upon registration so that they have the opportunity to study up on their grammar and learn some of the classroom basics before the course begins. Approximately 4-8 weeks before course begin, trainees are also sent out a series of five short pre-course tasks to help ensure that everyone starts the course with the same basic background knowledge. Once the course starts, trainees should plan on being at the school from 9:30 a.m. to 18:30, Mondays to Fridays throughout the course. There are, of course, breaks - the longest being the daily lunch break and study time at noon each day. Student teaching is generally between 17:00 and 19:00. Trainees who are not scheduled to teach on a given day have the option of staying to observe their peers, utilizing our reference library for study or course preparation, reviewing their own teaching performances on videotape, or simply going out on the town or to relax. There are generally no classes on weekends, though in the month of December, classes also meet on Saturdays in order to compensate for the holiday break.

Prices

	EU	USD
Registration fee for the Intl. TEFL Diploma course:	€ 250	$ 398
International T.E.F.L. Diploma, 140 class hours, incl. certification and materials	€ 1050	$ 1668
T.E.F.L. - Czech Certificate, 20 class hours, incl. certification and materials	€ 75	$ 119
Additional Programs:
TEFL Language Awareness Certificate –full program (Modules 1-6), incl. Introduction to Teaching Pronunciation course as free of charge bonus. 50% tuition reimbursement for those who follow this program with the International TEFL Diploma	€ 480	$ 714
TEFL Language Awareness Certificate Module 1	€ 80	$ 130
TEFL Language Awareness Certificate Module 2	€ 80	$ 130
TEFL Language Awareness Certificate Module 3	€ 80	$ 130
TEFL Language Awareness Certificate Module 4	€ 80	$ 130
TEFL Language Awareness Certificate Module 5	€ 80	$ 130
TEFL Language Awareness Certificate Module 6	€ 80	$ 130
Introduction to Teaching Pronunciation	€ 100	$ 150
School subsidised single-room apartment accommodations -33 nights*: (full-time course)	€ 365	$ 580
School subsidised single-room shared apartment accommodations -69 nights*: (part-time course)	€ 830	$ 1318

Course price includes: all materials and certification fees, free broadband internet access at school, job placement and accommodation location assistance upon course completion, access to Boland T.E.F.L.-jobs site, optional primary school internship.
*Accommodation prices may fluctuate slightly, depending upon Czech crown exchange rate. All accommodation fees are paid on-site in local currency

Field Trips

There's a lot to do and see in the area around Brno, and spending a month in Moravia gives our trainees the possibilities to travel and go on excursions and field trips on weekends. There are one to two (depending on the interests of the group) 'official' field trips included in the course program. The whole group coordinates with our field trip organizer and guide to choose the destination, and then those who are interested join us on weekend excursions to some of the main tourist attractions in the area. See the field trip section under 'Brno Area' for a list of some of the group favorites.

Accommodation

The school can arrange accommodation for trainees in one of several family hotels and apartments located near the school. Some accommodations are within walking distance, others are just a short bus or tram ride away. All are conveniently-located near public transportation. A room at a family hotel or apartment will provide each trainee with their own room. There is a bathroom and fully-equipped kitchen, shared with one to two other trainees. The approximate cost for a private room for the course duration is € 365 ($580 USD), payable in Czech crowns on-site. We also provide university dormitory accommodation with single and double rooms from € 300 ($476 USD). The Boland School can assist with campsite accommodations for budget travellers, and also with booking regular hotels, for those interested in more luxurious accommodations. The price of accommodation is not included in the tuition price and trainees may choose their own accommodation elsewhere, if they would like.

Registration and Tuition

As only 8 trainees are accepted into each course, the course registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. To register, it is necessary to fill out an application form (click on APP. form) and either submit it directly from the site, or send it to:

The Boland School
Křenová 66
602 00 Brno 12
Czech Republic

The completed application form may also be sent to the course coordinator at info@boland-czech.com* or faxed back at 420 541 241 674. Upon receipt of your application, you will be sent a registration confirmation slip confirming your place in the course, tuition payment information, and also information regarding the training preparation packet. This packet contains study materials for the course and is followed up by a set of five short course preparation tasks e-mailed to each participant. A non-refundable fee of € 250 ($398 USD) is also due upon registration. Tuition for the full, four-week course is € 1050 ($1668 USD). This price includes all materials needed for both the course, and the mini-internship, as well as all examination and certificate fees. The TEFL-Czech elective course tuition is € 75 ($119 USD), and may be paid in advance, or on-site. Accommodation and weekend field trip bookings are optional, so their costs are not included in the price. Tuition paid by credit card or bank transfer must be paid in full two weeks before the first day of the course. Upon request, tuition may also be paid in cash upon course begin. Course tuition may be refunded up to two weeks before course begin, but is non-refundable after this time.

*Please be sure to add this address to your e-mail 'friends' folder so that your spam filter doesn't send our response to your junk mail folder.

Webmaster: ORAX, s.r.o., Vystaviste 1, 648 80 Brno, www.orax.cz