Ready for a Change? Teach English and Travel Abroad!
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Overview of Elective Programs
Trainee teachers in the International T.E.F.L. diploma program have the option of participating in the T.E.F.L. - Czech Certificate elective course. The TEFL-Czech course is designed for those interested in teaching in the Czech and Slovak republics. It includes a survival Czech language course, an introduction to Czech students and Czech-specific language difficulties, background on the Czech school system, and even a condensed history and current events elective, so those who want to teach in the Czech Republic know what the major issues in the country are. The course is held on-site, parallel to the International TEFL Diploma program. There is an additional Certificate issued upon successful completion of this elective course.
The TEFL Language Awareness Certificate is a 90-hour TEFL Diploma preparation program that is done online working with your trainers and also with a group of peers working on the same program. The focus is to gain a better understanding of the English language and how it works (esp. the basic structure, grammar and phonetics) before beginning the full on-site TEFL Diploma course. This elective gives TEFL trainees to-be a great head start in the TEFL program and in their teaching careers because it is necessary for a good teacher to understand the basics of how a language works in order to teach it. There are 6 modules in the TEFL Language Awareness online TEFL training program. Applicants can sign up for the TEFL Language Awareness program a module at a time or as a complete course. The Boland TEFL Language Awareness Certificate is issued on completion of the full program, and university credit transfer is also available for the work done in the TEFL Language Awareness online elective course. For trainees who go on to complete the full TEFL Diploma course after that, the Boland School reimburses 50% of the Language Awareness program fees paid as a deduction towards the International TEFL Diploma course tuition.
The 30-hour online Introduction to Teaching Pronunciation certificate course is an online TEFL course that focuses on how to teach students to pronounce the English language properly. This is a two-module program; one focuses on sound production and forming words correctly and the other on how to help students to remember the correct pronunciation of words through use of the IPA (International Phonemic Alphabet). The Introduction to Teaching Pronunciation certificate program is done online, with trainer feedback and assistance.
Visas: Though citizens of most English speaking countries do not need a visa to visit the Czech Republic, those who plan to become long-term residents of the country do. The Boland School provides US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South African and other non-EU citizens with full Czech working visa support upon completion of the program.
The combination of an International T.E.F.L. Diploma together with our jobs site and job placement network enables our graduates to get started in a new career in the T.E.F.L. field in Europe, and elsewhere, directly after graduation. Additionally, our independent access jobs site and graduate forum mean that our graduates have comprehensive job placement support and access to a worldwide network of Boland graduates whenever they need it-even years after course completion.
Boland School graduates find top teaching jobs in the countries of their choice easily!
Why the International TEFL Diploma? Why Boland?
- internationally-recognised and respected qualification to guarantee worldwide employability
- highly individualized program to allow each trainee to develop their natural teaching abilities in a way that feels comfortable to them
- Extensive pre-course preparation elective certificate programs to help those who are planning further in advance to get a head start before actually going overseas
- guarantee of highly-qualified teacher trainers from English-speaking countries, each with many years of international teaching experience
- more intensive curriculum than other entry-level qualifications to ensure that trainees get the most out of their time investment
- more observed teaching practice, and more comprehensive grammar work than generic TEFL Certificate programs
- 8 trainees to 2 qualified trainers student-teacher ratio to facilitate hands-on learning, not lectures
- local certificate program to ease language barrier and cultural transition abroad for trainees
- online Introduction to Teaching Pronunciation and online TEFL Language Awareness Certificate electives for those who want to cover more in-depth material than is possible in four and a half weeks' time.
- credit transfer for Boland International TEFL Diploma graduates for MA TEFL and MS TESOL degree programs at select universities
- one of the top price-performance ratio certification courses on the international TEFL market today
- international brand-name synonymous with quality
- tradition in EFL and TEFL Training since 1992
- locations in the two biggest TEFL markets worldwide; Europe and Asia
- TEFL Diploma program graduates working in almost every country in the world
- TEFL qualified and internationally-experienced teacher trainers
- small training groups of up to 8 students per group for highly-individualized development of each trainee's skills
- 12 hours of practice teaching and 8 hours of observed teaching with real students per trainee
- individualized attention for trainees in job placement, and comprehensive placement options even years after course completion
- daily consultation time with trainers for advice and assistance built into schedule
- additional online certification programs for those who would like just a 'taster' or for those who want to improve their skills
- lifetime unrestricted access to Boland online job site, Boland forum, and networking opportunities with the graduate community
- tourist and working visa acquisition assistance, and accommodation location services both before and after the course
- opportunities in TEFL career development through credit transfer towards further TEFL education (MA TEFL / MS TESL) and training options (IETTC TEFL Trainers Certificate)
- job guarantee in Europe
- location two and a half hours from Prague in a clean, modern city, filled with culture, good night life, and lots to see and do
- low cost of living -less than one-third the costs of accommodations, dining and night life in Prague
- low-cost university dormitory accommodation, as well as private apartment accommodation available to Boland trainees
- facilities and classrooms in same building as on-site language school provide good practice teaching and employment opportunities
- comfortable TEFL lounge for relaxing
- free unlimited broadband internet access and WiFi wireless internet on-site for all trainees for the duration of the course
- more than 40 language schools in the Brno area provide excellent post-course employment opportunities
- comfortable family hotels and apartment/flat accommodations provide fully-equipped kitchens and convenience for € 310 (about $442 USD) per month
- good public transportation connections to Prague, Bratislava, Vienna, Krakow and many more great tourist locations
- great Moravian hospitality, and friendly people!
 Boland-Brno office staff Misa and Tereza |
 Boland-Brno operations manager Jindra |
Boland actually also offers a range of online TEFL preparation programs; the 90-hour TEFL Language Awareness Certificate and the 30-hour Introduction to Teaching Pronunciation. These programs can be done at home, a module at a time, at your own pace, and include extensive feedback from your trainers and online peer group. The online courses allow an introduction to language teaching for those who want to get a head start before travelling abroad for their Diploma program. A high-quality online course can also help those who are unsure if TEFL is right for them, but it cannot replace the actual classroom experience with real students.
Why TEFL training on-site in Brno, and not just online?
- first and foremost, real classroom experience. There's nothing like being there and doing it to see if you like it!
- qualification is accepted worldwide, no risk of employer refusal due to poor quality of your credentials
- online TEFL certificates that do not include observed and graded teaching practice are not accepted in EU countries
- opportunity to practice teach with both children and adult groups at all levels BEFORE signing an employment contract
- job support on-site in Europe done by people who live here and can give real-life job tips and advice, not just internet links to recruiters
- TEFL office support staff to set up job interviews and presentations by recruiting schools, BEFORE you enter the job market
- guarantee of high-quality local references given to prospective employers who need to talk to a live person
- mobility in the job market without needing to go back and get a 'real' qualification
- a great way to ease through culture shock with people who've been in the same situation, and can help you get your bearings
- a head start on the language and learning about the culture in 'safe space' before you have to strike out on your own
The Boland School runs a mini-internship program at a Czech secondary school and also a paid internship at our partner school, Lingua Nova, in Poland. Through this program, Boland School graduates are offered the chance to improve their teaching skills before moving into long-term employment. In both the Czech and Polish internship programs, our newly certified teachers have the chance to experience a professional teaching environment while gaining practical teaching experience and cooperating with professional Czech and Polish educators. The program is free of charge to our course participants. Accommodation is provided free of charge to all interns. The internship program is available year-round, but as places are subject to availability, early sign-up is recommended. Taking part in the internship program involves an additional time investment on the part of the trainees.
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In addition to being accredited by the local Board of Education,
the Boland School also has a formal credit transfer agreement with Anaheim University (USA).
All Boland School TEFL Diploma courses fully meet British Council criteria for employment within the British Council and at British Council-accredited language schools.
The Boland School is a member of the following professional organizations:
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The T.E.F.L.Board |
The International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language |
Webmaster: ORAX, s.r.o., Vystaviste 1, 648 80 Brno, www.orax.cz |
© Boland 2008 |