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Courses
TESOL Professional Training offers a number of non-credit professional development courses that can be taken both online and on campus. These courses can be requested by an institution or organization for groups of least 20 teachers. Please see the Programs page for a list of recent programs.
FOR ENGLISH LEARNERS
FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS AND SUPERVISORS
Courses may be either 5 weeks or 10 weeks. Some courses have the option to be offered in either format. 5-week courses are very practical and strategy oriented. 10-week course are more aligned to a graduate level of coursework that focuses not only on the application of best practices, but also promotes understanding of the theoretical basis for these practices. Coursework in the 10-week courses is more rigorous and also works to develop participant writing and academic skills in English.
Course Schedule
Youth Leadership Challenge Course:
The YCLC course has an additional two weeks of orientation prior to the course start date to help participants become accustomed to the online learning environment and to conduct pre-course interviews.
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10-week course + 2 weeks orientation |
| Spring 2015 |
TBA
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| Summer 2015 |
TBA |
All other courses:
All courses have an additional one-week orientation prior to the course start date to help participants become accustomed to the online learning environment.
Schedule for 2015*:
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10-week course + 2 weeks orientation |
5-week courses + orientation |
| Spring 2015 |
TBA
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TBA |
| Summer 2015 |
TBA |
TBA |
*TESOL Professional Training Centers can customize course dates as needed.
If you are interested in requesting one or more of these courses for a group of teachers, please contact us by e-mail (tesolpd@umbc.edu) or click here.
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Youth Community Leadership Challenge
The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) TESOL Professional Training Programs in cooperation with UMBC's Shriver Peaceworker Fellow Program (http://shrivercenter.org) is now offering the Youth Community Leadership Challenge (YCLC) Course, an exciting, new online course geared for young adults with intermediate level English language proficiency and capacity for leadership.
Note: This course was originally designed to extend opportunities for alumni of the English Access Microscholarship Program, and is available to embassies, bi-national centers and similar institutions.
Course Description: Teenagers are our world's future leaders. Through this Youth Community Leadership Challenge (YCLC) Course, teenagers can become empowered as leaders and agents of change in both local and global communities. This 12-week online intermediate-level English course for teenagers is designed to improve English language proficiency while students build their leadership skills and learn about community development and social responsibility. This will be a unique opportunity for teenagers nearing the end of high school through early university to explore themselves in relation to their family, culture, local community, country, and world. By the end of the course, they will develop real-life projects and become social entrepreneurs who can make a difference in and contribute to their local community and our world.
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Teaching English to Young Learners
5 or 10-week online course
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce participants to the theory and practice of teaching young learners in the EFL classroom. The course will investigate approaches for teaching language within a meaningful context as well as different techniques for making language input comprehensible and encouraging student participation. We will look at the major principles that govern language teaching based on all of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. In addition, we will study both traditional and modern instructional strategies and techniques for teaching EFL and look specifically at the application to young learners, including the classroom language necessary to teach English through English. Through individual learner-centered activities, virtual collaborations with a mentor, and group activities with learning teams, participants in this course will explore various aspects, from theory to practice, of teaching EFL to young learners.
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Teaching English to Teens
5-week online course
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce participants to the theory and practice of teaching teenagers English as an international language. Teachers will explore ways to engage teenagers in activities that emphasize communication in English using all four language skills while strengthening their self-esteem and their cultural identities. Through project-based learning, teachers will work together to build a portfolio of activities and lessons appropriate for their teaching context. Participants will watch instructional videos, read articles, watch screencast lectures, participate in online asynchronous discussions, and have the option to participate in synchronous chats.
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TESOL Program Administration
10-week online course
Course Description
This 10-week online professional development course will provide an overview of the main issues and best practices in TESOL program administration. This will include program development and evaluation, curriculum development and evaluation, teacher supervision and training, and leadership and management skills. It will also provide professional development for language program administrators to communicate effectively in the workplace and become skilled in conflict and crisis management. The course will include reading and viewing online materials and participating in a community of practice with other colleagues. It will require reflection on, analysis of, and application to their current position and institutional context.
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Methodology for TESOL: Best Practices
5 or 10-week online course
Course Description
This course is designed to provide participants with current methodologies associated with teaching English language learners (ELLs) of different ages in various learning contexts. Participants will discuss and practice a wide variety of strategies and techniques for teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). While exploring best practices for teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing, including grammar and vocabulary, participants learn how to create an effective and communicative language classroom for all ELLs. In addition, participants will examine what best practices means in the context of teaching English in the 21st century, where English is an international language and the use of English incorporates modern technologies.
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English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Assessment
10-week online course
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce participants to the theory and practice of foreign language assessment and testing. Participants will explore the differences between assessment and testing and how they can be used to make effective decisions to support teaching and learning. Participants will also learn important concepts to consider when developing assessments and tests, such as validity, reliability, and practicality, as well as different kinds of assessments and tests (formative, summative, diagnostic, proficiency, achievement, product-oriented, process-oriented, alternative assessments). In order to develop capabilities in assessing ESL/EFL learners’ performance in all four skill areas and content areas, participants will learn to write test specifications, develop items, analyze and edit items, and put together assessment instruments for a variety of purposes.
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Professional Writing for Teachers
5-week online course
Course Description
This 5-week course provides intensive preparation for writing professional articles, conference proposals and presentations. EFL teachers have so much to share with colleagues, but may need practice and encouragement through the proposal process. Participants will explore the writing process from drafting to submission, and receive guidance on how to get published in professional journals and how to create and facilitate professional development and conference presentations.
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Educational Technology for TESOL
5 or 10-week online course
Course Description
This practical hands-on course provides English Language Teachers with strategies and opportunities to learn about and with educational technology. Using technology to teach and support English instruction motivates learners and provides many unique ways to practice language skills. Participants will discover how web based resources, like wikis, blogs and websites, as well as hand held tools like cell phones, tablets and cameras can enhance English language instruction and interaction. Social networking tools like skype and facebook will also be explored for their language learning capabilities.
Technical Requirements for Online Courses
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